Removal of the mental illness stigma

[Aoifa]

Hi,

This is a real bug bear of mine that in the 21 Century there is still a stigma attached to mental illness and there shouldn't be.

What's the difference between that and any other illness? There isn't one. They are all illness that can be debilitating and require medical and specialist support.

The stigma just shouldn't be there and can be removed by talking openly and being more educated.

That's why Beyondblue and other support networks need to be successful.

Thanks,

Aeoifa

[white knight]

Hi Aoifa, welcome

I agree, but as it wont happen in our lifetime.

Perhaps my poem sums it up

LEGS OF SPOKE

How can I let them know?
when to dark exceeds the glow
when the sun hides behind the clouds
silence they hear- but I scream so loud.

Some stand beside a 6 foot hole
shake their heads and see its toll
they ask how he could have dropped
out of the circle- a forget me knot

Yet they seem to see clear and there is hope
when they sight a person with legs of spoke
A cripple girl pushing her chair
A man be manic- there's no one there

"Storm in a tea cup" hurts so bad
like the cyber crow who remains so glad
keeps flying and in full flight
Carves his craft in the middle of the night

For some in power see it their way
even at the side of a 6 foot grave
shake their head and call out "why"
"Why on earth- he didnt have to die"

So kind some be- they reach out so true
smile then say "we want to meet you"
"bring along your vintage car and your smile
but leave at home whats behind your dial"...

So we laugh and dine and all is ok
leave at home come what may
if I be saddled with legs of spoke
they'd lift me around- bloody good bloke

But as my mind hurts so bad
cannot hide my feelings- mad?
Cant maintain "bloody good bloke"
Sometimes I wished...I had legs of spoke.....

Tony WK

[romantic_thi3f]

Hey Aoifa,

Thanks for your post.

I completely agree with you! They are all conditions that need validation, support and management. Sadly the stigma has been around for a long-long time so I think we'll all have to work hard as a society to tackle it.

I think BeyondBlue is doing a great job in helping the stigma - although maybe I'm bias because I'm a volunteer champion 🙂 But personally I think the biggest people to help the stigma is you. You, and me, and our neighbours, friends, family.

Thank you for being here.

[Starwolf]

Hi Aoifa,

Thank you for sharing your concerns about this all important matter.

Because it affects the mind, many people believe that mental illness is all about weakness of character or a flawed personality. Few realize that the mind depends on the brain for good functioning and that the brain is just another body part.

I live in a rural area, where this stigma is even stronger. I have had to learn to stay patient when people around my community come up with judgment like hasn't she anything better to do than wallow in abject self-pity or hasn't he got any sense of humour etc...

Misconceptions and prejudice die hard. All we can do is keep giving people verifiable facts and hope it will motivate them to get better informed. It is now talked about a lot more than it used to. Public figures courageously come forward. Programs and notices are appearing on TV. So there's a move in the right direction. It will hopefully be an easier path for future generations.

[Sad_Puppy_Dog]

I think about the stigma A LOT. It causes a lot of grief and frustration for me. One of the biggest things about it is the Catch 22 of the stigma.

To break a stigma, more people need to speak up and tell the world openly about what they go through. Eventually it becomes accepted as a "norm", however unfortunate mental illness is.

However, that act of speaking up takes courage. It is like everyone else is looking at everyone else around them, waiting for enough other people to make that move before they can do it themself.

Because...by speaking up while the stigma and misunderstandings and general lack of empathy exists (Just read any social media threads re: the suicides of Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington to dent your faith in humanity) it means risking yourself to judgment and people who don't understand depression being ignorant to you. Worse still are the people who you care about possibly judging you, not accepting the situation and fleeing from you, that's a risk too.

So, the stigma is a painful one. I don't know if, how or when it is "gone" (How do we measure it?) but I wish for its extinction very, very deeply.

[demonblaster]

That's right Aoifa 21st century and it's slow but it is happening which I'm glad about
Puppy
Haven't read all replies yet but Sad Puppy Dog agree with all you said and I do talk about it to everyone and I'm pretty sure they'd be ready to throttle, luckily I talk about other stuff too and listen to people as well so got a mix happening at least lol

It and every issue people have need to be spoken openly about for education, hopefully understanding and support, tbh I haven't had adverse reactions from anyone surprisingly, not to say I don't cop grief from people (small % but it's them that create and enhance low self esteem, but getting there) but that's not to say there's not judgement but not to my face, wise critters 😄

I also mention to people which I believe is truth, everyone's got something, just to what degree really

I'm BP (Bipolar) so much to say and OH YEAH I do.

It's surprising how many people when talking about it start discussing their own or know someone with stuff so it's good cause I learn more and others around too.

later peeps