Mental Health Awareness Month: Can We Eliminate The Stigma of Mental Illness?

Very good post. You did your research and gave a lot of helpful links.  Important issue. I have depression (treated) but I have learned to be upfront about it and not ashamed. Thanks fopr this. Blessings, Barbara

I'm going to take issue with that list of 10 things that help because I don't think they apply to mood disorders like depression or bipolar and it seems like they're supposed to. It's a pretty common list but it's seems made by someone who's never personally had experience with depression or has had entirely reasonable situational depression. It's different being depressed and just one day getting it because of something terrible happening.

"Connect with others"

Easier to say than do. When you're depressed people don't want to be around you. Some forms of bipolar can make you extremely attractive to other people some of the time but in the depression part especially, no one wants to be near you. Reaching out to them often results in being shunned because you're not "fun" or "happy" enough. Example, when someone you love dies, everyone you know is probably very willing to work with you to help you get over it. They're supportive and understanding because they can see the immediate reason for your sadness. When you've just always been that way, only other depressed people tend to understand.

"Stay positive"

Any therapist worth their salt will tell you that someone with a warped view of life will not be able to stay anything. The illness doesn't turn off at the flip of a switch just because someone tells you it should. You can work towards it but "staying" anything also implies that you were positive in the first place. If you WERE positive, there likely wouldn't be a mood disorder.

"Get enough sleep"

Aaaaand bonus, mental illnesses like mood disorders (rather than schizophrenia) mess with your sleep sometimes making it literally impossible to get any. Then there's the medication that throws that off as well. Most people don't choose to stay awake 2-3 days straight for no reason.

"Take care of your spirit", "Create joy and satisfaction" and "Deal better with hard times"

That goes back to staying positive. If it were so easy as just a choice one day then no one would be depressed. It's too easy to tell someone "just do it" without realizing putting that as an easy choice is demoralizing and to a point insulting. It's the "cheer up" mentality from the normal parts of society that make it hard.

Eat well and get professional help?

Read about mental illness in homeless populations, nutrition in poverty and how having minimal access to regular medical care let alone mental health care affects poorer populations. Tons of studies.

Thanks for sharing this, I know many people can relate to these feelings. Doctors are the front line, and as long as they continue to make patients feel shame over their condition, the stigma can never be eliminated.

Thanks for commenting.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
Also at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ )

Great post. As someone who used to work in mental health I know the whole stigma issue only to well, now not only professionally but personally. A few years ago I became ill and had a doctor tell me it was all in my head and that I was depressed (turns out I have a neurological and cardiac condition). All of a sudden I became a patient, one of my patients, it was more confronting than I could have ever imagined. I knew it theoretically but personally it was a slap in the face. In that one appointment I went through all the stigma in my own head. I was shocked that even though I knew professionally that there should be no stigma (I never judged my own patients) I was instantly feeling all the shame and judgement that my patients had expressed. I should know better.

I did seek counselling for many of the issues I went through whilst I was dealing with the social and psychological changes associated with my whole life changing unexpectedly. Whilst many people were supportive there were many who looked at me like I might start speaking in tongues or needed to be locked up. It was a real eye opener.

I have written a bit on my blog (I also write about mental health issues for support groups for my illness) about the challenges of dealing with the stressors of living with chronic illness and the grief involved when life throws you a curve ball. Also about the dismissive nature of doctors who throw certain diagnoses around without thought. So many people continue to feel weak or ashamed for seeking help for mental health issues. Yet would not think twice about going to a doctor for other illnesses eg heart disease. Breaking through the stigma not just for the wider community but patients themselves is a hard path, but a path we definitely need to take.

http://bobisdysautonomia.blogspot.com/2009/09/grief-and-dysautonomia.html

Michelle Roger writes for Living With Bob (Dysautonomia) ( http://bobisdysautonomia.blogspot.com/ )

Thanks for your comment Emily. Your blog looks great.

Good luck on your 5K run.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
Also at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ )

Thanks for your comment. I agree that "brain health" sounds like a better term.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
Also at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ )

Great post! I missed the party, but my blog documents my life as I am recovering from a season of depression. (here's the link if you're interested in reading: http://habitsofahealthywoman.wordpress.com/)
There are definitely ways to get help and it is important for people to know that and to feel comfortable enough to reach out for help!

Thanks for speaking out.
-Emily

Excellent stuff!

I say "brain" health.

I'm pretty sure we should petition the world to begin using that term, too.

One Friday night, I loaded up my life and headed out... ( http://isledance.blogspot.com )

Thanks Sarah, I'm glad you felt you could share this here. I think you'll know when (or if) it's the right time to share this on your personal blog, but if you have reservations I wouldn't force it.

Thanks for sharing.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
Also at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ )

My blog is focused on my life with my two sons, one of whom is profoundly autistic, but I was diagnosed with significant clinical depression about 8 months ago. I haven't written about it yet, I think part of it is the stigma and worrying about exposing myself that much, but maybe I should...

Sarah

http://planetjosh.squarespace.com

Hi Meg. Thanks for the links.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
Also at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ )

Bring Change 2 Mind is another big movement right now aimed at getting rid of the stigma.

http://www.bringchange2mind.org/

Sincerely,

Meg
www.raisingbipolar.com ( http://www.raisingbipolar.com )

Your blog looks great. I definitely think that writing about mental illness helps to decrease the stigma. Even more important, people in similar situations read it and realize their not alone. And I'm sure it brings them hope to see that others are living and surviving with something that makes them feel totally helpless.

Thanks for sharing your link.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
Also at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ )

I am a mental health blogger talking about my battle with depression and quest to live healthy inside and out. I am trying to get over the stigma of depression. Maybe blogging about it will bite me in the butt someday but for now, it has totally helped me.

http://losingtheshadow.blogspot.com/2010/05/national-im-blogging-about-m... ( http://losingtheshadow.blogspot.com/2010/05/national-im-blogging-about-mental.html )