According to the news, we don’t trust people with schizophrenia.
I’m not surprised.
Campaigning doesn’t touch our fear of mental health. The social judgements have become ingrown; the assumptions; inherent.
If I hadn’t been so ill, I might have been the same.
I wouldn’t have wanted my children to catch a mental illness. I would have erred on the side of caution when mixing with unwell people. I would have understood that mental illness is best approached sensitively and that allowances should be made for mental health sufferers; after all, they’re a bit different -
They’re not like us.
Or are they?
After a number of admissions into a range of mental health units, I’m afraid I can confirm that people with mental health illnesses are just like us.
Some have husbands or wives and children at home; some don’t. Some are religious; some aren’t. Some are professionals; others, creative types; some work in retail; others are office based; some are teachers; others are still learning.
Men, women, young, old, black, white: mental illness is not a discerning customer.
It will take anyone.
I’m not up to date with the statistics; but it’s something like one in four.
Of us.
I’m not familiar with the trends; but I think mental illness is on the up.
Amongst us.
Maybe this is why we get so scared: it’s a little too close for comfort.
It’s the next notch along on the emotional health spectrum: today, I’m feeling a little blue; tomorrow, I might well be over the edge.
I’m not criticising people.
I might have been the same – had I not already learnt that mental illness is not something to be feared.
Had I not already learnt that mental illness is something to be worked with and, if possible, moved on from; something that teaches greater empathy and compassion; something that forces you to examine a few of your prejudices and assumptions –
- because it will take anyone.
