Putting a Human Face on Mental Illness

By Ralph Surette, Ph.D.

Dr. Surette is a Psychologist in Alexandria.

Comments may be sent to ralphsur@gmail.com.

I Don’t Want To Talk About It is a widely acclaimed book by Terrence Real about overcoming the secret legacy of mental illness. This title strikes at the heart of the nationwide stigma surrounding mental illnesses such as bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia and depression. This stigma results in not only sick individuals attempting to cover up their illnesses, but in family and friends colluding by trying to hide or distort the symptoms and causes of such illnesses.

When people on the street were asked by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Arlington, VA to select causes of mental illness from a list, 71% responded that it was brought on by “emotional weakness,” 65% attributed it to “faulty parenting” and 35% noted that it was the result of “sinful behavior.” The consensus was “that the mentally ill brought it on themselves.” Only 10% correctly thought that the illness was the result of malfunctioning brain chemistry.

Families can be paralyzed by mental illness, as, worn down by the chronic negative symptoms, they dissolve into angry confrontations, enabling behaviors and emotional detachment from the patient. This is a double edged sword as sick individuals tend to respond by descending into withdrawal and eventually become unable to constructively express themselves or to comprehend the feelings of those around them.

But there is hope and help available. First, we must put a human face on mental illness by realizing that, like other diseases, it is treatable. Yes, mentally ill people do recover and go on to embrace healthy life styles. Talk to a mental health professional. Contact NAMI about their publications and programs, including Family to Family and In Our Own Voice, which are especially helpful. But, most of all, work towards shattering the stereotype that mental illness is something to be ashamed of and to hide.

One final thought: People of faith need to be especially educated regarding these matters, because it is quite common for the mentally ill to turn first to a faith community for guidance and compassionate support.