You are Not Alone
In recent months, the suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain served as sad reminders that even people who seem to “have it all’” can struggle with depression. The truth is, mental health issues affect millions of Americans every year. They can range from depression to anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and specific phobias. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), which is the largest advocacy organization in the country for those living with mental illness, one in five adults in the United States experience some form of mental illness each year, and one in five youths ages 13 to 18 experience a severe mental disorder at some point. Despite the likelihood that we or those we love may be affected by mental illness at some point in our lives, too many still view it as shameful or dismiss it as not a “real” illness.
Potential Consequences of Silence & Stigma
The effects of these attitudes can be damaging. Shame can lead to silence. The idea that it’s not a “real” illness can contribute to the notion that we should be able to simply “power through it” or “shake it off.” In essence, these approaches stigmatize treatment and often mean that conditions go without medical attention. Lack of proper care can have a wide range of negative outcomes for suffering individuals and society at large. Left untreated, people with mental health issues are more likely to miss work, drop out of school, suffer from chronic medical conditions, be hospitalized, end up homeless, and take their own lives. Because of its permanence, suicide is the most devastating result, especially given its prevalence in the young. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in America, but it is the third leading cause of death for young people ages 10 to 14 and the second for those 15 to 24.
Ending Silence & the Stigma
“With 1 in 5 individuals, families and friends needing help, the secret based on stigma, guilt and shame must end,” said NAMI Pinellas County president Rosalie L. Bousher. “No longer should we wait and watch for social tragedies to strike and then ask the question, ‘How and why did this happen?’ We need to speak out now.”
Diagnosing mental illness isn’t always easy. Each illness has its own signs, but some symptoms that may indicate a problem include excessive worry/fear, extreme mood and/or behavioral changes, avoiding friends/family/activities, alcohol or drug abuse, difficulty in perceiving reality, or suicidal thoughts.
If you are worried about yourself or a friend or family member, don’t be afraid to reach out. Bousher notes that early intervention is “one of the keys to recovery.” So start a conversation, offer support as a friend or family member, and get advice. It’s important to learn all you can, so reach out to a doctor or a mental health authority for more resources. Don’t think that you can fix it by yourself. Don’t think you have to fix it alone. “Remember, you are not alone,” she said.
NAMI Offers Education And Support
Both the issue of mental health and the prospect of how to get help (or be of help) can be overwhelming. NAMI can help. Its mission is to provide education, support, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by mental illness regardless of their ability to pay. NAMI provides an extensive online information center so that people with mental health issues as well as family, friends, and caregivers can learn more. It also offers extensive support programs for families, peers, and individuals. NAMI’s support groups, education programs, and advocacy “provide life-changing outcomes that can turn despair and dark years into self-resilience and HOPE,” Bousher said.
Silence and the stigma born of ignorance can be dangerous. With its extensive network of support, NAMI strives to eliminate both.
Informational Sources
You can follow NAMI on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NamiPinellas/ and you can find a complete list of NAMI resources, both local and national, at http://nami-pinellas.org/resources/
For more detailed statistical information mental health issues as well as the potential consequences of illness and the lack of treatment, visit https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-By-the-Numbers
Crisis Contact Information
For more specific information on crisis resources go to https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/NAMI-HelpLine#crisis
You can also reach out directly to NAMI at its Crisis Hotline: 1 (800) 950-NAMI or text “NAMI”” to 741741.
If you or someone you know needs help NOW, you should immediately call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-8255 or call 911.
Tina, I am so grateful to you for writing this article. The stigma of mental health is so strong. I have been attending NAMI support group meetings, taken the Family to Family and the Advocacy courses offered for free by NAMI and have just joined the Board of Directors. Starting in September I will be teaching the Family to Family class. It surprises me that there are not more families attending the Family Support Group and the Education meetings. I have learned so very much about how to help my family member with mental illness. The classes have changed my attitude, helped allay my fears and given me tools to better deal with my family member who has schizophrenia. Thank you for helping us get the word out that help is available to everyone.
Thank you for the article and thank you, Rosalie, for the information. NAMI provides Support, Education and Advocacy to families and persons affected by mental illness. NAMI has been training law enforcement officers for over 20-years in the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program. Law enforcement is how many get their FIRST treatment for mental illness.
[…] Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). If one person suffers, we all do. Please take a moment to read this, and if you know anyone that might need some support, share it with them […]