Why do we Ignore Mental Illness

Hiding mental illness contributes to the stigma surrounding mental health issues. When people are reluctant to discuss their mental health openly, it perpetuates the notion that these struggles are shameful or abnormal. This stigma can discourage others from seeking help and can create a culture where mental health issues are misunderstood or trivialized. Open conversations about mental health can foster a more supportive and empathetic environment, where individuals feel safe to share their experiences and seek the assistance they need.

It's more common than you think

A big myth is that Mental Illness is not very common, this is so wrong. With almost one in five people being diagnosed with a mental health disorder, I would say, it is very common. Experts say that this myth is because people are afraid to talk about mental illness, is this true? Most people I know with a mental illness have no problem talking about it, of course, once they realize they have an illness and except it. Who doesn’t want to talk about it, I say it’s the people who either don’t have it or just don’t want to bring it into their happy lives.

Talking about Mental Illness is Taboo

We have all seen or heard people criticize people with mental illness. Hospitals for the mentally ill are labeled “loony bins.” We joke about the “men in white” are going to take you away. Yet, we have all seen people and children suffering from cancer or another disease and we embrace them with empathy and support. I’ve read many studies on this topic but nothing with a good conclusion. Will we ever get the answer, I don’t know but I wish some of you would contact me and share your feelings about this.

Let’s talk about it and spread the awareness of mental illness

We need to talk more openly about mental illness, not just the ones living with an illness but also the ones who do not. This is the only way we will beat the stigma about mental illnesses. This stigma of mental illness is what’s killing us who are living or suffering with these illnesses. Because of this false negativity that goes along with mental illness people will continue to refuse to talk about it. Here is a simple example that you see all over social media. As you scroll through your news feed, I urge you to see what people are not only posting but what people are sharing. Sure, there are millions of cute puppies, kittens, babies, and vacations, but there are also millions of fundraisers and awareness campaigns for diseases and illnesses, not many for mental illnesses though if any. I posted a test today on my social media. I posted a photo of my dog chewing a rope, immediately after I posted a photo for mental illness awareness with my website, www.lifewithptsd.org. Let’s see by the end of the week what has more likes or shares, I’m willing to bet on the dog. This is fine, I’m not upset, well I am upset, just not upset with them. I understand people don’t want that negative stuff on their news feed or their news feed. Maybe that is not the image they want to portray, or maybe it makes them depressed just thinking about it, I don’t know but, what I do know is, if there wasn’t this negative attachment to mental illness then none of this would matter.

If I pretend it doesn’t exist, then it won't

I come from a security background. I understand that we have sheep, sheep dogs, and wolves. I strongly believe in this; I’ve dedicated my life to this concept. I’ve preached many times before; that it is ok to be a sheep. Sheep want to live their lives as happily as can with little to no interruptions. They want to go about their days not worrying about the wolves that roam the fields. This is the biggest percentage of the world’s population. Then there are of course the wolves. The wolves are the predators, the ones that roam the night looking to harm the sheep. What will stop the wolves and protect the flock, the sheep dogs will. The sheepdogs go out past the flock, they hunt the wolves to protect the sheep, and they do this most of the time without the sheep even knowing it. Again, the sheep want to live their lives of peace, they don’t want to know the wolves exist, most don’t even want to know the sheep dogs exist, they just want to live a simple life. This works and I get it but, what I do not get is why is mental illness so bad. Why is mental illness similar to the wolf? I know people who have mental illness in their immediate family. They have husbands with PTSD, wives with Anxiety issues or Bipolar, and Children with Depression, and what do they do, they hide it. You cannot hide mental illness; it will not go away. Again, almost one in five people have some type of mental illness.