MENTAL ILLNESS

By: Tricia Pluta

Mental Illness is one of the last and worst stigmatized illnesses on the planet, yet researchers say 1 in 4 adults suffer with some form of mental illness and 1 in 10 children suffer with a serious mental illness. As a collective society we base most generalizations and stereotypes on what we see, the visual. We assume if there is someone balding and sickly, they may be undergoing chemotherapy. If someone's arm is in a cast, we can safely assume they broke it. What about our minds? It's not always so easy to tell but there are signs. I've listed a website below for you to check if someone you know is suffering. Why is this somehow less important than cancer or other serious diagnosis? Mental illness can be terminal if left untreated. If statistics were this high for another disease there would be an outcry of support and funding. We need to change our mindsets. I have found that most mental health facilities also offer drug rehabilitation services. This does not mean that everyone with a mental illness is a drug user and vice versa. I feel this adds to the negative connotation and stereotype. We have made some strides in the war against mental illness but there are social battles yet to be won. Most all mental illnesses are treatable or at least controllable. Yet due to stigma, so many needlessly suffer. Our brain is one of the most vital organs in our body, yet it remains neglected for the most part. People feel as though it will take care of itself, this is untrue.Some of the side effects of mental illness are depression, anxiety, homelessness, loss of job/income, flashbacks and suicide. We must not fear what we cannot see but do our best to understand the condition and exercise compassion.

We now know that alcoholism is a form of mental illness, twenty years ago you would have just been labeled. Now it is recognized as a disease that most people are genetically predisposed to. We need to be more tolerant as individuals and speak up to de-mystify this illness. Chances are you know or have know someone who is or was seriously suffering. If you saw someone in a wheelchair struggling, you would most likely lend a hand. It should be no different with mental illness. Even just an attitude adjustment would go a long way. You could be instrumental in saving a life. Be tactful, as you would with anyone who is ill, sometimes intervention is the only way to save a life. Be brave and kind for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Below is a link to resources, signs and contacts in the Philadelphia area.
                                                      mhapa.org