John is 28 years old. His friends and family have given him
nicknames such as “All-Over-the-Place, John”, “Psycho John”, “Hurricane John”,
“Attention-Seeking-John”, and “Sad-Sam-John”, among others. Some of John’s loved ones describe him as
being the life of the party, constantly laughing, and always ready to help.
Others say he lacks boundaries, is short-tempered, rude, immature, impulsive,
self-centered, and unbearable.
John is one of the “lucky” ones. Two of his childhood friends realized
there was more to his behavior than attention-seeking and being difficult. John
has a mental illness and got the help and support that he needed in time.
Fact 1:
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 57.7 million
people (ages 18 and older) in America experience mental illness each year.1
Many of us believe that mental illness doesn’t affect us and as
such, we remain ill-informed. Statistics show that at some point in our lives,
many of us will interact with people who suffer from a mental illness. According
to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS):
a) 1 in 5 adults
in America experienced a diagnosable mental disorder (2014);2
b) At least 1 in
10 young people suffered from major depression (2014);3
c) Half of all
chronic mental illnesses show first signs in individuals as young as 14, with
three quarters of mental health disorders beginning before the age of 24;4
and
d) 1 in 25
Americans live with a serious mental illness (major depression, schizophrenia,
or bipolar disorder).5
Fact 2: Many
individuals who suffer from mental illness do not receive the medical and
emotional help they need.
Due to the stigma and pre-conceived notions surrounding mental
illness, many who suffer from it are rejected, abused, and discriminated
against. As a result, they do not get the help that they need. Those who do get help often end up in
institutions that resemble human warehouses, as opposed to comforting
environments that offer healing.6 The National Alliance on Mental
Illness (NAMI) states that in America:
a) 60% of adults
and 50% of youth between the ages of 8 and 15, with a mental illness, did not
receive mental health services in the previous year.7
b) 90% of those
who commit suicide have a history of mental illness.8
Fact 3: People
with mental illness did not get this illness because they are weak, immature,
self-centered, or stubborn.
Mental illness affects each person differently. Until a person is
diagnosed with a mental illness, it is very easy to misunderstand or dismiss their
behavior. According to the US DHHS:
a) Genes, illness,
trauma, and family history are some of the factors that contribute to mental
illness;9
b) People with
mental illness can’t just overcome their illness with willpower—they genuinely
require treatment, mental health services, and community support to get better;10
c) People with
mental health problems can get
better and some recover completely.11
Fact 4: Just
because someone is mentally ill does not mean they are unpredictable and prone
to violence.
With all the devastating cases of mass killings, many people
assume that those who suffer from a mental illness are capable of committing an
act of violence towards others or themselves.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that “mental disorders
are important risk factors for other diseases, as well as unintentional and intentional
injury” (2014).12 The US DHHS states that:
a) Only 3%-5% of
those living with a serious mental health issue have committed violent acts.13
b) Those living
with a serious mental health illness are 10% more likely to be victims, rather
than perpetrators, of violent acts.14
c) We likely each
know a friend, family member, or colleague with a mental illness and do not
realize they have it, because they are productive, active members of society
living full lives.15
Fact 5: A
person living with a mental illness is capable of obtaining and keeping
employment.
Some mental illnesses are severe enough to disrupt daily life,
making it hard and sometimes impossible for an individual to get and hold down
a job. As such, many people assume that all those with mental health needs are
unable to perform as well as their colleagues, or even keep their jobs. The US
DHHS states that:
a) Many people
with mental health needs, who are receiving help for their illness, have good
attendance, are motivated, and perform equally (or better) than their
colleagues.16
b) Identifying and
treating mental illness in good time has great benefits, such as fewer reports
of absenteeism, lower medical costs, more productivity, and lower disability
costs.17
What can you
do?
1) Learn about the
different types of mental illness. This knowledge could help you identify the common warning
signs18 and better support someone you know with a mental illness.
2) If you think
someone you know might have a mental illness, seek professional advice. Putting
labels on mentally ill individuals or making jokes about mental illness is
harmful, disrespectful, and unkind.
3) Start having
conversations about mental health and illness. By acknowledging its existence
and impact on society, we are taking steps to better understand and manage
mental illness, while being supportive of those who suffer from it.
4) One size does
not fit all when it comes to treating mental illness. Do not discourage loved
ones from pursuing various forms of treatment and support. Medication alone
will not work in all cases. Many patients also need therapy, other forms of
self-help, and community support to get better.
5) Be as supportive
as you can. It’s certainly not easy dealing with a loved one with a mental
illness. But those with mental illness do not deserve to be ostracized or
mistreated. Support from family and friends can go a long way in managing and
recovering from mental illness.
References
1. National
Institute of Mental Health (2013). The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in
America. Retrieved May 5, 2016: http://www.lb7.uscourts.gov/documents/12-cv-1072url2.pdf
2. U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (2014). Mental Health Myths and Facts (2014). Retrieved May 4, 2016: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/myths-facts/index.html
3. U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (2014). Mental Health Myths and Facts (2014). Retrieved May 4, 2016: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/myths-facts/index.html
4. U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (2014). Mental Health Myths and Facts (2014). Retrieved May 4, 2016: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/myths-facts/index.html
5. U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (2014). Mental Health Myths and Facts (2014). Retrieved May 4, 2016: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/myths-facts/index.html
6. World Health
Organization (2014). Mental Health: a state of well-being -10 Facts on Mental
Health. Retrieved May 5, 2016: http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/mental_health_facts/en/
7. The National
Alliance on Mental Illness (n.d.). Mental
Health Facts in America. Retrieved May 4, 2016: https://www.nami.org/NAMI/media/NAMI-Media/Infographics/GeneralMHFacts.pdf
8. The National
Alliance on Mental Illness (n.d.). Mental
Health Facts in America. Retrieved May 4, 2016: https://www.nami.org/NAMI/media/NAMI-Media/Infographics/GeneralMHFacts.pdf
9. U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (2014). Mental Health Myths and Facts (2014). Retrieved May 4, 2016: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/myths-facts/index.html
10. U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (2014). Mental Health Myths and Facts (2014). Retrieved May 4, 2016: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/myths-facts/index.html
11. U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (2014). Mental Health Myths and Facts (2014). Retrieved May 4, 2016: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/myths-facts/index.html
12. World Health
Organization (2014). Mental Health: a state of well-being -10 Facts on Mental
Health. Retrieved May 5, 2016: http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/mental_health_facts/en/index4.html
13. U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (2014). Mental Health Myths and Facts (2014). Retrieved May 4, 2016: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/myths-facts/index.html
14. U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (2014). Mental Health Myths and Facts (2014). Retrieved May 4, 2016: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/myths-facts/index.html
15. U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (2014). Mental Health Myths and Facts (2014). Retrieved May 4, 2016: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/myths-facts/index.html
16. U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (2014). Mental Health Myths and Facts (2014). Retrieved May 4, 2016: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/myths-facts/index.html
17. U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (2014). Mental Health Myths and Facts (2014). Retrieved May 4, 2016: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/myths-facts/index.html
18. Parekh, R.
(2015). Warning Signs of Mental Illness. American
Psychiatric Association. Retrieved from: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/warning-signs-of-mental-illness
Images
1. Mental Health America. (2016). Mental
Health Month [Image], Retrieved May 5, 2016: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may
2. Mental Health America (2015). Infographic B4Stage4: Changing the Way We Think About Mental Health [Image], Retrieved
May 5, 2016: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/infographic-b4stage4-changing-way-we-think-about-mental-health
3. Growth Guided (2015). Here Are Five Issues Millions of Americans
Face When Getting Help With Mental Illness [Image], Retrieved May 5, 2016: http://www.growthguided.com/here-are-five-issues-millions-of-americans-face-when-getting-help-with-mental-illness/
4. Fanpop (n.d.). Mental Health
Awareness – “Snap Out Of It.” [Image], Retrieved May 5, 2016: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/mental-health-awareness/images/36499936/title/snap-out-photo
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Mental Disorders. [Image]. Retrieved May 5, 2016: http://www.siue.edu/~pfricke/
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