Tuesday's Topic: Fighting Stigma

Cast from shackles which bound them, this bell shall ring out hope for the mentally ill and victory over mental illness.
—Inscription on Mental Health Bell

In 1949, Mental Health America launched its first Mental Health Week, which eventually transformed into May being Mental Health Month. History of Mental Health America notes the past century of strides that have been made in order to improve mental health care and increase awareness.

When faced with the daily struggles of mental illness, it is easy to get caught up in our own challenges and ignore the world outside of our troubled mind. Moreover, with stigma still being a prominent aspect of mental illnesses, we have a tendency to seek protection of our private lives through withdrawing or putting on a mask of "normalcy" to hide what we are going through to the people around us. I did this for years, ashamed of the broken part of me, fearing it would rob me of everything-friends, family, career-if I let it out into the light. Slowly I began to realize I was only making my condition worse. By trying to live a life full of secrets and excuses, I was no happier than letting people know why I act the way I do. By coming out of the Bipolar closet, so to speak, I've made myself vulnerable to personal attacks from-let's say it together-ignorant people who will claim that mental illness is just sin or an excuse or a weakness of character. But, allowing myself to face these attacks head on, I have opened up an opportunity to educate and show compassion to others who are dealing with the same struggles I face. I am a very private person, and I have never been one to flamboyantly proclaim anything of personal nature, so "coming out" was hard for me, but my desire to help others led me to realize there are more important things than my pride. I slowly began talking about Bipolar Disorder and my struggle with the illness, and in March of this year I decided to begin this site. I went all out and created https://www.facebook.com/Bipolarly and-gasp!-invited my entire friends' list from my personal Facebook page to join! I'm sure some thought it was stupid. Some probably think I must really be nuts. Others may think it's a ploy for attention. But I will tell you why I did it: I did it because I know what it's like to feel all alone. I know how isolated this illness can make us feel, and no one should have to do it alone.

In the very short time I have had my site and Facebook page open to the public, I have received numerous emails from individuals who have been diagnosed with depression, bipolar, or anxiety disorders, and from people who have been able to relate to something I have written but have never been diagnosed. This thrills me, not because there are more people suffering, but because we are forming a bond of knowledge and of hope. It is truly liberating to help others feel less alone, and it helps me as well, to know I am not alone. It is a small step, but none-the-less a step in the right direction to combating that nasty little word, stigma.

My challenge for you this month is to think of ways you can use your own experience with mental illness to reach out to others, and take a personal stand against stigma.

For more ideas, visit the following sites:
Fight Stigma
Educate Others
Take Action

Discuss below ideas for fighting the stigma of mental illness. How have you been affected by stigma? What would be the pros and cons of discussing your illness with friends, family, coworkers, etc?