May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

Imagine what it's like to be a child whose profoundly depressed mother does not respond at all to a simple, "Look what I did in school today," or who suddenly switches moods, talking nonstop nonsense for thirty-six hours and then disappears for months because she has to be hospitalized.

Imagine what it’s like to be told by your father, before he goes to work each day, to keep an eye-on your potentially suicidal mother when you get home from school but he is so preoccupied that he never really explains what is going on, never asks how you are doing, and neither does anyone else.

Imagine that you must tell the man you've fallen in love with

that you cannot move out of town because you must help look after

your mentally ill mother since there’s no decent, affordable place

where she can be cared for. And by the way, this thing may be genetic, so you’re not sure you ought to have children.

These are all real- life scenarios from the book,” When Madness Comes Home.”

Did you know?

Mental illnesses are physical brain disorders that profoundly disrupt a person’s ability to think, feel, and relate to others and their environment. They are “no fault” disorders.

One in every five families is affected at some point in their lifetime by a severe mental illness such a bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and major depression.

Mental illnesses are “equal opportunity” diseases, occurring in all cultures, races, countries and socio-economic classes.

Mental illnesses are more common than cancer, diabetes and heart disease.  

If you know someone who suffers from a mental illness, please make sure that they receive the professional help needed. Please visit www.nami.org , National Alliance on Mental Illness for treatment and referral information, education courses and support groups. 

Recovery is possible. There is Health and Hope.

 Sources:
- "When Madness Comes Home: Help and Hope for children, siblings, and partners of the Mentally Ill" by Victoria Secunda.
- NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Illness