Acknowledging Our Humanity

Last month, I went to an event on UTSW’s campus called Acknowledging our Humanity. The event was a compilation of stories submitted by faculty, graduate, health professions and medical students about their personal experiences with mental health challenges. I never realized how so many people struggle with mental health illness, yet it is still such a “dirty” topic to be discussed.

Did you know:

• 1:6 US adults lives with a mental illness (44.7 million in 2016)
• An estimated 16.2 million adults in the US have had at least one major depressive episode
• Major depressive episodes are more prevalent in females (8.5%) than in males (4.8%)
• Young adults, aged 18-25 are most susceptible to major depressive episodes (10.9%)
• An average of 31.1% of US adults experience anxiety disorder at some point in their lives
• Anxiety disorders are higher for females (23.4%) than for males (14.3%)
• In 2015, suicide was amongst the top 10 leading causes of death, claiming more than 44,000 people
• Suicide was the third leading cause of death among children ages 10-14 and the second leading cause of death among ages 15 and 34
• Facts found on National Institute of Mental Health Website  

A Canadian-American sociologist and writer, Erving Goffman, said that stigma reduces a person from a whole to an incurable untouchable. As seen in history, mental illness is deeply rooted in demeaning and socially executing an individual. And sadly, regardless of several mental health movements, this “stigma” of mental illness being disgraceful continues to exist.

One of the best analogies I heard about mental health is that it is like cancer. Cancer doesn’t distinguish between old or young, or discriminate between white or dark, or categorize between skinny and fat or classify between rich or poor. It attacks you from nowhere and sometimes when caught late (stage 4 cancers) can be detrimental to an individual’s survival.

And while everyone is aware of cancer and talks about it and gives it importance, mental illness is talked about behind closed doors. Why? And how do we change this?

Let's break the stigma about mental illness! #OkayToSay 

There were several amazing eye-opening stories told that night, but one that stood out to me said, “I have mental illness, doesn’t mean I am inept of doing my job and having a career.” As mentioned earlier, these stories were shared by faculty, graduate, health professions and medical students. All of whom are working so hard to serve the community at large. However, what we forget is, they are human too. Students and faculty work hard to provide for their patients, and dealing with mental illness helps them relate to their patients a little more. Scientists, tirelessly working hard to repeat experiments, do it because they want to find the cure. However, what do we get back from the “public”?

Stigma.

So what can we do?

One of the stories said, “You don’t have to have mental illness to want to help out.” As told by a mental illness survivor, “just be there, be available, hold my hand, give me a hug, buy me ice-cream, but it helps to know that you are there.” The last thing a survivor or a fighter wants to experience is pity.

Let’s not forget, everyone is vulnerable to illness. Some experience it physically while others experience it mentally. And like cancer… anyone can get it.

Some resources here at UTSW. However there are other websites and
hotlines that can also be used at a national level to talk to someone
or get help. Please reach out if you need to talk to someone

Personal note to fighter and survivals of mental health illness:

Dear friend, I acknowledge your friendship and your illness but realize you are more than just that, you are Human and for that I will always be there for you. In whatever capacity you need me. I am right here!

~CellebraTEZ