Epilepsy. Alcoholism. Cancer. AIDS. These are all ailments that are out in the open. The public has a collective conscience about treating and curing them so that future generations will not have to suffer the pain and damage that they impose on their lives. People with various physical illnesses talk about them with their family and friends; they write articles in magazines, sharing their experiences with those who are similarly afflicted; and they appear on television to publicize their cause.
Of course, there was a time when discussion of all of the above diseases was taboo. But times and attitudes have changed. Cancer survivors wear that good fortune as a badge of honor, as well they should. And as with the pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness, the little red ribbon is a recognized symbol of sympathy and advocacy for those whose lives are affected by AIDS.
In the case of physical illnesses, there are a wide variety of fundraising methods; be they telethons or walk-a-thons, to raise the money that is necessary to provide scientists with the money to conduct advanced research; hospitals with state-of-the-art equipment; and individuals with the treatment that they require.
But mention the terms "mental illness" and watch as the majority of everyday people turn and run for the hills. Why do physical illnesses yield the sympathy of society, but mental illnesses bear a terrible stigma? Most likely, the reason can be found in our avoidance of that which we fundamentally fear due to misunderstanding and a basic lack of information.
Is mental illness as frightening as cancer? Absolutely! Just ask those who suffer from it. At this juncture, the reader may feel compelled to argue that the above comparison is wrong or even unfair because cancer can be fatal. To this, I respond that mental illness threatens to and does, in fact, end lives as well.
We can no longer afford to keep sweeping mental illness under the proverbial rug. It is simply an injustice to the millions of Americans who are suffering in silent anguish, searching for the strength to function so as not to inconvenience, hurt, embarrass, or cause discomfort to those around them.
To live in everyday society, people with mental illness keenly sense that they must bury their problem as a deeply hidden secret. The status of being mentally ill does not mean that the affected individuals do not detect the stigma attached to them. How can society ever expect those with mental illness to live in recovery—similar to an alcoholic in AA—if the only message they receive is to never disclose their story to the world?
The time is past due for all Americans to acknowledge that the topic of mental illness should no longer be cast aside and ignored. The stigma that our society has attached to it must be removed, just as it has been for previously misunderstood physical diseases. For if we neglect to do so, we are condemning innocent victims to endure society's ignorant disapproval: an unnecessary and unjust burden.