Stigma

One of the main issues associated with mental illness is the Stigma.  They can have sever and irreversible impact on individuals diagnosed with a mental illness.  In essence that person is stereotyped within society with the label of "Crazy" or some other term and set aside.  As a result people will avoid treatment and often can spiral into a suicidal depression.  Be aware that stigma can be one of the factors that lead someone to the breaking point causing them to take their own life or in extremely rare cases, hurt others.  In other words, Stigma will injure people up to and including death. 

A stereotype is a simplified and/or standardized conception or image with specific meaning, often held in common by one group of people about another group. A stereotype can be a conventional and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image, based on the assumption that there are attributes that members of the other group hold in common. Stereotypes may be positive or negative in tone. They are typically generalizations based on minimal or limited knowledge about a group to which the person doing the stereotyping does not belong. Persons may be grouped based on race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any number of other categories.
 

The fact is that every one suffers from life's difficulties.  All human's have good time and bad times.  It is part of the human condition.  Everyone has been Up (happy or manic) or Down (sad or depressed) at some time in their life.  When there is a birth or a wedding, we are "UP".  When there is a death, an accident, or job loss,  we are "Down".  Most of the time we simply are able to talk this out, or share our difficulties with others when we are down.  However, situation can happen when we don't have someone else or an event is so traumatic that we don't get over it.  Quite often mental illness is simply a matter of degree.  As you can see, in my example I am talking about Depression.  If you get sad, you are blue (say a car accident).  If you get really sad, you are depressed. Let's say you have a car accident, lose you job, and get divorced all in the same year. You would probably get really, really sad and that could lead to a clinical depression. 

 

Clinical depression (also called major-depressive disorder or unipolar depression) is a common psychiatric disorder, characterized by a persistent lowering of mood, loss of interest in usual activities and diminished ability to experience pleasure.

While the term "depression" is commonly used to describe a temporary decreased mood when one "feels blue", clinical depression is a serious illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts that cannot simply be willed or wished away. It is often a disabling disease that affects a person's work, family and school life, sleeping and eating habits, general health and ability to enjoy life. The course of clinical depression varies widely: depression can be a once in a life-time event or have multiple recurrences, it can appear either gradually or suddenly, and either last for few months or be a life-long disorder. Having depression is a major risk factor for suicide; in addition, people with depression suffer from higher mortality from other causes.

Many mental illnesses, though not all,  are often triggered by things that happen in our day to day life's.  We often hear someone say "Deal with it" or some other platitude.  Unfortunately people tend to run the other way when someone is in crises.  They are afraid of associating with someone that is/has become unstable because of stigma and the stereotyping associated with mental illness.  In fact, often, those that we need the most turn away.  With a little compassion, understanding illnesses like depression can often be avoided. When someone has lost hope, death can seem like the only option.

The point is that ANYONE can suffer from mental illness.  The stigma associated with mental illness come from a lack of understanding of that basic fact.  In recent history, we have heard about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  This affects a large portion of our service men and women who have served in combat. If they had not served in the military, they may well have never had to deal with a mental illness.  Many will not even know that they have the disorder.  Yet we all know of veterans that become drug addicts, alcoholics, or homeless (1/3 of the homeless men in the United States are veterans).  The vast majority of this population probably has PTSD.  The fact is they did "deal with it".  They made if home from a combat zone and they way they did dealt with it was to keep it inside.  The VA now says that as many as 45% of Vietnam veterans will have some of the features of PTSD (nightmares, flashbacks, or hyper-alertness).  It may not stop them from having a job or family but the things that happen in a combat zone don't just go away. They can remain under the surface all of ones life. The reason I mention this is that mental illness can be an accumulation of life's difficulties.  For some people it takes a lot to bring them into crisis and others it can be one event.  Just because it has not happened to you certainly does not give you the right to judge another.  

If you know someone that is ""losing it" don't shut the door on them.  Seek help before it becomes a life altering circumstance.  Realize that anyone can be affected by mental illness.  Part of the stigma is saying that "it can't happen to me".  Well, in reality YES IT CAN.  ANYONE can have a accident, lose a job, lose a loved one.  We have all heard the expression "Just get back on the horse and you will be fine"  While that may be true, life can keep throwing things at you.  Someone may have "gotten back up on the horse" 5, 6, or 7 times.  The point is that everyone has a breaking point.  None of us know what that is. Thankfully, most will never know or develop a mental illness.  So, if you know someone that has lost touch with reality, or appears disconnected from yourself and others, give them a break and don't cast them aside.  Give them a hand up, talk to them, or get them help.  And, above all things don't be patronizing.  Don't assume that you are better then they are because, if you do, you are guilty of Stigma.  Remember, what goes around comes around.  It could always be your turn  to be the next one to "Crash and Burn".

In summary, anyone can suffer from a mental illness.  Do not add to the problem by stereotyping someone that you know that got some help.  Trust me, you won't like it if/when it's your turn.

Mike Coffman
President, Housing Options Made Easy, Inc.