Bed Stuy Editor Takes on Myths of Mental Illness

Last year, I started a blog, Familiar Minds, dedicated to eliminating the stigma of mental illness in communities everywhere, one story at a time. In the blog, people share their stories of family members with mental illness or tell their own story of living with a mental illness.  While my contributors are strangers and friends from coast to coast,  I've appreciated most the opportunity to advance a dialogue right here in Bed Stuy.

Many thanks to Patch Local Voices for giving me a forum to share with you voices from Bed Stuy on this important topic. One of my Bed Stuy contributors Jen Threat gave me permission to post her Familiar Minds' submission on this blog. I met Jen a little over a year ago at a leadership seminar hosted by Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation.  I immediately connected with her and her young daughter Dawn.  Little did I know, Jen and I would share a deeper connection over both having a loved one with mental illness.  

In this piece, Jen takes on the many misconceptions about mental illness. An honest reflection on one's own misconceptions and ignorance is most definitely  a prerequisite for eliminating the stigma of mental illness.

Mental Illness: A Misunderstood Disease

If you think mental illness is like the 1970s Jack Nicholson movie, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” then you may need to update your knowledge of mental illness. Like Beyonce said, “Let me upgrade you."   There are many books and organizations to help you learn more about this misunderstood illness.  Understanding the kinds of depression have become more accepted, but more progress needs to be made.

There are many myths about mental illness, especially in the African-American community. I learned a lot about mental illness over the past few years, much of it through trial and error. I’d like to share some of myths about mental illnesses and give you some “real talk” about dealing with a loved one or friend with this type of illness. I wish someone had shared some of this information with me years ago. This knowledge would have saved my family and I a lot of time, stress and drama.

I’m not a medical doctor or a psychiatrist. I’ve learned about mental illness because some of my family members have battled depression over the past few years. I’m very comfortable speaking about it but some of my family members are not. There is a fear that they will be stigmatized if they apply for a job or an employer can ‘google’ them, which is very possible. In supporting my family member, I’ve talked with various medical doctors, counselors, psychiatrists and nurses to discuss his/her mental state and how I can help. It has been a series of highs and lows, numerous visits to psychiatric facilities and lots of tears. I’ve learned that the most important thing you can do is be supportive especially during challenging times when they are being hospitalized or times when they’re unable to function.

I learned a lot through books, an insightful PBS documentary called, “Depression: Out of the Shadows,” the website for NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) and most importantly, talking to friends whose family members have had similar issues has been really helpful. Education has increased in the past few years since celebrities and politicians like Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jesse Jackson, Jr. have shared their struggles with mental illness. I urge people to educate themselves about mental illness, so we can begin to remove the shame and stigma associated with this disease.

Depression can be triggered by an event in someone’s life. In other words, a person who has never had an illness can develop an illness when experiencing some type of trauma. For example, illnesses can occur after pregnancy, the death of a loved one or breakup of a relationship. People are affected in different ways, so helping loved ones can require a lot of patience. In fact, it may take years for people to find the right diagnosis, medication and counseling.

Myth #1 They don’t need counseling, they just need a little help. It’s as if African American people are allergic to counseling. There are in-patient (patients stay overnight) and out-patient (patients attend sessions at a center, but don’t live there) programs that provide group and individual counseling for those who have mental health issues. There are also programs available for loved ones, who need to discuss the challenges of caring for the mentally ill. All of us need help sometimes. It doesn’t mean you’re weak and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about; millions of people seek counseling to keep themselves healthy.

Myth #2: People think if you pray hard enough, it will go away. Mental illness is something that must be managed throughout one’s life. It is a brain disorder; therefore, it is not any different from someone being diagnosed with cancer. Those who live with it have not done anything to cause it. In addition, there is not any one way to treat all mental illness or depression; it is on an individual basis. One person may thrive, while another slowly spirals down. I feel helpless seeing my family member change, because there isn’t any way to predict if the cycle of hospitals and medication will end.

Myth #3: It’s funny to talk about mental illness. In a recent episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, one of the women said to another, “Girl, you are bipolar.” If something is disorganized it’s described as “schizophrenic.” I don’t think people are malicious when they do this, but it can really have an impact on the confidence of the mentally ill and the way in which they view themselves. In addition, describing people with mental illness like “crazy” and “slow” diminishes this disease as a true illness and brain disorder.

Myth #4: Medications are not necessary. Wrong. It may take time to find the right medicines to help with an illness, but when combined with counseling, eating properly and exercising, it can help people have a full-functioning life. It does not mean there will not be consistent issues with medication. Some doses of medicine may be too high, others may be too low. I’ve had family members who don’t want to take their medication or stop taking it altogether. As they get better, they may feel like it’s no longer necessary. Medications are helpful, but often have side effects, too.

Myth #5: It is best not to share with others because they won’t understand. It is very tough to deal with an illness on your own. I felt a sense of freedom knowing that I was not alone in dealing with a loved one. I found that when I shared my experience, others were going through the same thing. Even if you don’t have a family member with the disease, you can help in a simple way by giving family members of the mentally ill time to express their emotions. Oftentimes, they don’t have an outlet because many people don’t understand the illness.

Myth #6 If you are mentally ill, you must be violent. There are many criminal cases where people who have committed horrific crimes have pled insanity. They want to receive more mercy as sentenced for their crimes.  Many mentally ill are our family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers and people who want to live their lives just like everyone else. I am convinced and have faith that my loved one will have a healthy recovery and will have a productive life.

About the Author: Jen Threat

 Jen Threat earned her Master of Science (M.S.) degree in magazine publishing at New York University and was a cum laude graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism in advertising management.

She has over 16 years of experience in managing teams at magazines and non-profits. Jen is founder and editor of Double Dutch Magazine, a teen magazine giving urban girls confidence in education, career, self-esteem and body image.