It's time we removed stigma of mental illness

Posted By YOLANDO GALLO

Posted 1 year ago

Ihave been given the opportunity to write a column on the ABC's of mental illness, and my intentions are to create an awareness of the truth about mental illness. I believe that many people are fearful of the title "mental illness" because of ignorance, and I think we can all agree that ignorance breeds fear.

Mental illnesses can take on many forms, just as physical illnesses do, and the more we learn about them the more we can do our part to understand it and alleviate the fear and stigma attached to it.

I recently attended a parent-to-parent conference hosted by the Parents for Children's Mental Health where I met the parents of a 10-year-old boy. While I was covering the registration table, I saw them walk out of a workshop, overwhelmed, sobbing and weeping.

Taking them to an empty room nearby, I was privileged to hear their story and I would like to share it with you. The mother began by saying that, although she was in so much pain, she was relieved to know that she was not alone, and grateful for having had the opportunity to be at the session, because, for the first time in years, people "understood" what she was saying, so her tears were expressing both pain and bliss.

She told me that her son was going through the process of being diagnosed with a mental illness. They suspected that he may have one or a combination of the following: bipolar disorder, ADHD, Aspergers and/or schizophrenia. The woman found not knowing what the condition was and the struggles of her son difficult to live with, but found it even more difficult having no one to support her. Her family, her friends and her co-workers didn't understand.

Drying her tears, and through her quivering voice, she told me that she worked in the health-care sector and that a co-worker's young daughter had to have surgery and that everyone sent a card around with teddy bears and best wishes. About a month later, her 10-year-old son attempted to kill himself and was hospitalized. There were no cards or teddy bears or words of concern from her co-workers.

I knew at that moment that a lot more has to be done to bring about awareness and healing. My question to you then is: why should a brain disorder be treated differently than a kidney disorder? Are they not both essential organs necessary for human existence? This innocent child is young, vulnerable and ill, therefore, we must not discriminate (or fear) his mental illness, but rather care for him and help him.

Mental illness is also referred to as a psychiatric disorder in the mental health sector. Some of these ailments include anxiety disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders, organic brain disorders and personality disorders, as well as schizophrenia.

We can define 'mental' as an adjective that means: of or relating to the mind; specifically of or relating to the total emotional and intellectual response of an individual to external reality. 'Illness' is defined as: an unhealthy condition of body or mind, or sickness.

It would be fair to say, then, that when taken in this context, we can all attest to having experienced mental illness or a breakdown in mental health in one form or another. For some people, this can be temporary, and, for others, it is something that they are forced to deal with on a day-to-day basis.

Fearing the unknown is human nature, but my aim is to remove the ignorance that breeds the fear, and so I am looking forward to providing some insight to these unknowns so that we can console and properly "treat" those affected or living with mental illness.

If you or someone you know is in a crisis or who may be suffering from a mental illness, please call 1-888-893-8333 or visit the following websites:

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www.simcoecountycoalition.ca/English/partners.php;

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www.pcmh.ca;

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www.kidsmentalhealth.ca.

Yolanda Gallo is a director for Parents for Children's Mental Health and the parent leader/navigator for the PCMH -Simcoe County Chapter. She also holds a seat on the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board -- SEAC committee (Special Education Advisory Committee).

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