Mental Health Awareness Month-What’s the Big Deal?
May marks Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States. Many of you may wonder why a website dedicated to caregivers and caregiving would take the time to mention mental health isues. Meantal Health problems are the unseen cancer of our times.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), suicide is the second leading cause of death in people ages 10-24. Take a moment to let that statistic sink in.
The School of Social Work at Washington State University has this sobering statistic to share:
The great majority of people who experience a mental illness do not die by suicide. However, of those who die from suicide, more than 90 percent have a diagnosable mental disorder.
Our daughter Sarah almost became one of those statistics. She had an undiagnosed mental illness that caused severe depression and suicidal ideation. We became her caregivers, even though she didn’t suffer from cancer.
The Stimga of Cancer (and Mental Illness)
Like cancer, mental illness knows no socioeconomic boundaries. It doesn’t skip age groups, ethnicities, or religions, either. Mental illness can occur in any person, at any time, for no apparent reason. Thus the need for a Mental Health Awareness Month.
A century ago, no one wanted to speak about cancer, either. In fact, doctors didn’t tell their patients that they HAD cancer for fear of demoralizing them. That stigma remained in place for centuries. Thank goodness the American Cancer Society got the conversation started in 1913 and published a list of warning signs.
Conversation leads to questions, which lead to research, which leads to ways to manage and cure. We can do the same thing with mental illness. We can not only stop the stigma, we can help change treatment and understanding.
Like #cancer, #mentalillness knows no socioeconomic boundaries. Inform yourself. #stopthestigma #mentalhealthawarenessmonth Click To TweetThe more we know, the more likely we will notice changes in behavior that could signal a deeper problem. If we know the signs, we will know when to get help. 
Resources for Mental Health Awareness
NAMI has a great website that offers not only information about mental illnesses, but support group information for both those who suffer and their family members. They offer a free helpline 24/7. If you suspect that someone you love has a mental illness, CONTACT NAMI today! You could save a life (Text NAMI to 741741 to get help).
The School of Social Work at Washington State University hosts the Mental Health Reporting. The information helps reporters and writers (as well as patients and caregivers) talk about mental illness in a way that avoids perpetrating the stigma against those who suffer.
Do you know of another website that offers quality information? Email me at anita at blessedbutstressed dot com and I’ll add it to this page if the information fits.
Stories From the Trenches
Sometiems, just knowing that we are not alone is all it takes to help us get help for ourselves or seek help for a loved one. We hope that these stories will resonate with you and inspire you to stop the stigma:
31 Glimpses into an Unquiet Mind–Our family’s journey with mental illness.
What I Wish Christians Understood About Mental Illness
Why Should You Care About Mental Illness?
What I Wish Christians Knew About Harm OCD
What I Wish Christians Knew About Prayer and Mental Health Issues
The Challenges of the Topsy Turvy World of Mental Illness
If Insurance Companies Treated Cancer Like a Mental Illness
How I Wish the Church Would Treat Those With Mental Illnesses
Caring for a Parent with a Mental Illness
What I Wish Christians Knew about Anxiety
What I Wish Christians Knew about Caregiver PTSD
Dear Church: People With Mental Illness Love Jesus, Too!
Join the Conversation!
If you’re a blogger and have written a story about mental health issues and would like it included in this list, please email me at anita at blessedbutstressed dot com. I would love to grow this resource page into something beautiful for those who suffer from or have a family member that suffers from a mental illness. Together we can stop the stigma, bring hope, and love like Jesus loves!
If you do nothing else, please share this article on Facebook so that the one in five people who suffer from a mental health issue can find hope and healing!
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