Bill Clinton

Mental Illness: Are you its friend or foe?

June 10th, 2010 |

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CHESTERFIELD – If someone told you he or she had diabetes, how would you react? If you are like most people, you would express sympathy and concern, offer your support and reassurance and feel confident that your friend’s condition would improve with treatment. Now, if that same friend told you he or she had a mental illness, what would you do?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “an estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older (about one in four adults) suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.” People with mental illness are our neighbors, family, friends, co-workers, classmates and church members.

Unfortunately, too many people respond negatively when confronted with someone’s mental illness, and this only fuels the stigma surrounding the diagnosis. The reality is a mental illness is no different from a physical illness. Conditions like depression, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders affect a person’s body physically just as heart disease or diabetes do. The emotional and psychological aspects of mental illness make supportive friends and family even more important to a person’s recovery.

By being there and offering your support, companionship, emotional strength and acceptance, you can make a big difference.

So, how do I help exactly? First, do not blow off a person’s worries; instead, express your interest and concern. Do not change the subject when a mental illness diagnosis comes up—ask questions, listen to ideas and be responsive. Second, ask what you can do to help. If other people make insensitive remarks, do not ignore them—take time to educate people so that they understand the facts about mental illness. Lastly, treat people with mental illness just as you would those with any other serious but treatable conditions: with respect, compassion and empathy.

Bill Clinton once said, “Mental Illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all.” This problem will not just go away because we turn away. The truth is, mental illness can happen to anybody and can affect anyone at any time. That’s why everybody needs to understand how mental illnesses can affect individuals, families, and communities. It is also why we all need to learn how we can support our family, co-workers and friends who are living with a mental illness. Caring friends can make a real difference. The question is – are you ready to be that friend?

via Mental Illness: Are you its friend or foe? | SCNow.