Accepting Mental Health as an Illness

By Nurse Diane 

I was just reading a story about Amanda Bynes, a young actress in Hollywood.  She played in a few movies that I have seen, What a Girl Wants, and the remake of Hairspray.  In the past few days she has shaved her head, posted topless pictures of herself on social media sites, and wondering around with the appearance of being intoxicated or on drugs.  There was a report on Twitter asking for the police to come and help her, from herself.  However, she has not committed any crimes or performed illegal acts, she is clearly in need of some professional help.

Her actions mimic another celebrity melt down of Brittany Spears.  She was in definite need of psychiatric help when she began making headlines weekly with her absurd behavior.  The media did not help her, instead published story after story gaining wealth and fame over her actions.  Many young and older stars can be seen having public meltdowns.

Society views about Mental Health issues have changed in the past 100 years.   If a family member noticed acting peculiar, they would be shipped off to an asylum and locked away in the dungeon.  Many were locked away in their homes, chained to beds or posts.

While I was in nursing school, we had a semester of Psychiatric Nursing.  This course was offered during the summer, and required staying at a mental health facility for four weeks.  The hospital, one of the oldest in the state, was opened in 1848 and many of the first patients were being treated for tuberculosis.  There was a separate facility that housed the criminally insane, and that area was still being used at the time I was there.  The conditions were terrible, and it was hard to imagine anyone being treated for mental disorders in a place like that.

Views about Mental health have changed considerably since those days.  Society has become aware of various mental disorders and the availability of treatment.   May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  There are many organizations that provide free service and help at low cost.  If you or someone you know has a mental health problem, please seek help and encourage others to get the assistance they need to be able to live life better.  For more information about mental health, or where to get help, visit this site: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/

National Children's Mental Health Awareness Week May 5 – 11, 2013

Theme - Out of the Shadows: Exposing Stigma

With the spotlight shining on the critical need for mental health care reform in our country, we must also educate the nation about children's mental health and promote comprehensive, grass-root efforts to eradicate scrutiny, discrimination and repercussions that deter our children, youth and families in need of care from seeking consistent help. (Source: National Federation of Families For Children’s Mental Health)

Mental Illness Awareness Week

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By Nurse Diane

I saw a tee shirt that said one in four people are crazy.  Check three of your friends, if they are ok, then it’s you.  While it may be true that one in four suffer from some kind of mental illness, it may not be obvious to the untrained person.

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There are many types of Mental Illness.  Katie Couric, a famous news reporter has recently started her own television show.  One of her recent confessions included the fact that she had an eating disorder.  Another topic she discussed was Depression.  Following the death of her husband she experienced many sleepless nights, the inability to concentrate, and the need to isolate herself from others.  These are normal coping mechanisms when experiencing a huge loss.  To look at Katie, one would never imagine that she experiences the same problems as others in her situation; she appears to be on top of things, so that shows you that you can't always recognize a mental illness. There have been 19 million who have been diagnosed with Depression alone, and 56% are receiving treatment.  To see her story, click here: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/katies-take-abc-news/am-depressed-102624278.html

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There are other forms of Mental illness such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  This is a condition normally seen with military personnel returning from deployment, or those involved in a traumatic experience such as the theater shooting in Colorado. 

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There is also OCD, Obsessive Compulsive disorder, bipolar disorders and schizophrenia to name a few.  I spent a month living on the grounds of a mental institution while doing my psychology rotation.  I was able to view first-hand the expressions and actions of the patients there.  That is why when I was standing in line at the post office one day and a woman beside me starting just talking out of the blue, I was concerned for her well-being.  I was not aware at the time that she had one of those new blue tooth devices for her cell phone that attached to her ear, and she was simply having a conversation with someone on the other end. 

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This is Mental Illness Awareness Week.  Mental illness no longer carries the stigma it did years ago.  The primary goal is to recognize there is a problem and seek help.  If you, or someone close to you is suffering from any type of mental illness, encourage them to seek help from their physician and begin treatment as soon as possible.  Several types can be controlled with medication. 

For more information and ways you can help become more aware about mental illness, click on this site: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/may