Janese Johnson

Mental illness is more common than we know. The ignorance of many has hidden it and shoved it aside as though it were a rare situation that only happens in the most extreme cases. But according to the National Institute of Mental Health, there are an estimated 26.2% of Americans 18 years and older who are suffering from mental illness.

This is an astonishing fact when we realize it means one in every four people is suffering from mental illness, and yet we hear so little about it. Along with the lack of information about mental illness, most of us put a negative connotation on what mental illness really is. If someone had a physical ailment, many would come forward to help that person, but when it comes to mental health, people seem to shy away hoping that the situation will go away on its own.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, ìmental illnesses are medical conditions that are biologically based brain disorders that disrupt a personís thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. They cannot be overcome through ëwill powerí and are not related to a personís ëcharacterí or intelligence.î Common mental illnesses are depression, bi-polar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and others.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry lists attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a mental illness because it affects the personís ability to function. PTSD is commonly associated with someone fighting in a war zone, but also can affect anyone who has experienced or seen trauma in his or her life. There is a high rate of PTSD with rape and abuse survivors.

The great news is that most mental illnesses are treatable. The sad news is that because of the stigma that is placed on someone with mental illness, a majority of those who have it donít even know it or are not getting the help that they need. Untreated illness of any kind does not usually go away, it usually gets worse. With mental illness affecting 50 million Americans in a given year, it is bound to affect all of us whether we realize it or not. Even if we do not have someone close in our life with mental illness, the effects of mental illness in our community are bound to affect us one way or another.

Up until a few years ago, I too was quite ignorant regarding mental illness. I had adopted five children, and knew that they had some issues because of their early experiences prior to our adopting them. But I was in denial about their having mental illness because I saw it as a negative thing, and didnít really know what to do with that.

but I was in denial about them having mental illness because I saw it as a negative thing, and didnít really know what to do with that. One by one four of my five children became diagnosed with various mental illnesses. My initial reaction was shock, and in many of my children, I still remained in denial, not really handling their situation with the best choices.

I also saw that the mental health services that we were working with really didnít understand their mental illnesses, and often put blame on me for my childrenís behaviors. Fortunately an organization called WNC Families Can helped me to understand the bigger picture, and get the real help that we needed. If I had not been so swamped by the hardship of our situation, I probably would not have reached out for the necessary help that we really needed as a family.

I know that my situation is more common than not because I have received so many calls from parents regarding their children who have mental illness, and their lives are turned upside down. Unfortunately the services that were available are not as available due to cuts in mental health funds.

But there are still options and services available. So if you or someone you know is having some of the problems described above, then please look into the options in getting the help you or they need so that your life and theirs can truly be healthier. Being and staying in the dark in regards to mental illness will not help our society become a healthier one. Sometimes we need to face the hard situations and work towards the many solutions that are available. So letís drop the ignorance and realize that mental illness is not going away. In fact with the greater stresses that are put on us even more these days, depression and PTSD are on the rise. We need to stand together as a healthy and whole society.