LET’S CONTINUE; TO END THE STIGMA!
-by McKell Fifita
I often wonder why there is a stigma around mental illness. Those living with a mental illness are not a different type of human, they are regular people like you and I. People who have mental illness live in a world that doesn’t understand everything they go though from day to day.
Mental illness isn’t something to be afraid of or hide. Mental illness is something that needs to be embraced, just like a love one having a physical illness that can’t be cured. This begs the question, how do you embrace someone who has a mental illness? I’ll provide you the answer, Love.
Living with or knowing someone who has a mental illness has it’s challenges but I also promise you it has the greatest rewards. Let me tell you my experience with loving someone with mental illness.
First, I grew up with an aunt and cousin who have bipolar disorder. However, growing up I didn’t know anything about mental illness or even what bipolar was, it was just a name. All I knew was that my aunt was my favorite relative to be around and going to my cousins brought so much joy. Looking back on it I can tell you why that was; they saw the world different, and I loved that. They taught me that when life is hard you can always fight for a better life. They taught me to understand someone you have to change your perspective and be open to seeing the world in a different way. You don’t have to change your opinions or lifestyle. However, you can love someone who has different values as you.
Second, I work at the State Mental Hospital where I live. I work on the unit with the older population. Really, it’s like going to a nursing home just these people have a mental illness. One day I was sitting in the commons area surrounded by patients and I had this thought “how could I love someone who has committed a crime especially murder”. The answer is simple; I spent countless hours caring for these patients that in return I grew to love them. No matter how many times I got yelled at, hit at, or had something thrown at me they hold a special place in my heart. I would even defend them when others would talk negative about them. Can you image having moments in the day where your brain isn’t really yours and your illness takes over to where you can’t think clearly? How scary would that be?
Last, the love of my life has mental illnesses. Loving him is the best thing in the world and the most growing experience I have ever had. He has taught me to be patient and to slow down and enjoy life more. He has taught me that helping others is the most important thing we can do on this earth.
Now, I want you to know it isn’t easy all the time. There are days you won’t understand why a simple task isn’t that simple to them or why they just can’t get out of bed. However, what I’ve learned is to take a step back and think about how they are feeling. Anyone suffering with a mental illness doesn’t need reminders of how easy something is or how they are failing. What they need is a support system that will be there when it’s raining. To encourage them to get up from the low they are in, and to not give up. People with mental illness stigmatized, judged, and outcasted for years. That makes it hard not to feel like a freak or crazy. They don’t need you to make them feel like they are a freak or crazy. Let’s Continue to end mental illness stigma! What I challenge everyone to do is to listen, learn, and most importantly be there for someone who has a mental illness. Being there through the hard and good is the most important thing you can do. You don’t have to agree with everything they do and having a mental illness isn’t an excuse for doing wrong but helping someone through a hard time to correct a behavior or get through a hard time is worth it. They will love you until the end of the world and you will be the greatest thing to them.