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Advocates raise awareness of mental health in May

Since 1949, May has been observed as National Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental Health Awareness Month is important because mental-health issues can affect anyone at any time during his or her life. No one is immune, and it not only affects the well-being of the person diagnosed with a mental illness but everyone else who cares for that person.

During the month of May, advocates for mental health and activists across the country draw attention to mental-health issues by educating our communities about mental-health topics, treatment options and ways to reduce the stigma of mental illness.

Unfortunately, because of the stigma associated with mental illness, many people are too ashamed or embarrassed to seek the help they need for themselves or their loved ones. National Mental Health Awareness Month is a time when we need to work together to break through the stigma. It is a time for us to express compassion for those who struggle with mental-health issues and an opportunity for us to draw attention to the proven methods that can help change their lives for the better with various treatment options.

It’s important to recognize mental-health problems are very common. In fact, 1 in 5 people experience some form of mental illness in any given year. Mental-health disorders are nondiscriminatory and include various diagnoses such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. It is important to know mental illness is treatable, and recovery is possible. In fact, according to the American Psychiatric Association, the treatment success rate for bipolar disorder is 80 percent, 85 percent success for depression and 60 percent for schizophrenia.

However, one major barrier to recovery is stigma, the aura of blame and shame surrounding mental-health problems. The misunderstanding, fear and myths regarding mental illness can cause people to avoid treatment, make it difficult for them to find jobs and housing, lead to feelings of isolation and hinder recovery.

So as a family member, neighbor, parent, friend, pastor, teacher, advocate, employer or coworker, let us all support an anti-stigma campaign as part of Mental Health Awareness Month by following a few simple guidelines:

Learn and share the facts about mental-health problems and about people with these problems. Speak up if you hear or read something not true.

Treat people with mental-health disabilities with respect and dignity, as you would anybody else.

Avoid labeling people by using derogatory items like “crazy,” “wacko,” “schizo,” “loony,” “psycho” or “nuts.”

Don’t label people by their disability. Use language such as a “person with schizophrenia” vs. a “schizophrenic.”

Respect the rights of people with mental illnesses, and don’t discriminate against them when it comes to housing, employment or education. Like other people with disabilities, people with mental illness are protected under federal and state laws.

Teach children about mental health. Help them realize these problems are like any other illness and can be treated.

Remember: Anyone can be affected by mental illness, no matter your age, race or lifestyle. Open your heart – offer hope to people with mental illness. Open your mind – reflect upon your own biases against the mentally ill. Open your doors – advocate for the mentally ill whose voices have not been heard.

Liza Fischer is the Office of Member and Family Affairs coordinator for Axis Health System. She can be reached at lfischer@axishealthsystem.org or (970) 335-2206.



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