Suicide is the number two cause of death among adolescents; 90% of those suffer from mental illness (e.g., depression, anxiety). One in four North Americans will suffer from some form of mental illness at some time in their life. Depression and anxiety are often referred to as the common colds of mental illness due to their commonality.
Mental illness typically manifests in adolescence and does not discriminate by age, culture, ethnicity, or gender, and is caused by a combination of heredity, biology, psychological trauma, and environmental stressors. It is not the result of “personal weakness or a character defect, and recovery from a mental illness is not simply a matter of will and self-discipline” (medicinenet.com).
The person going through a mental illness may not be aware of what is going on with them. Watch these videos for some perspective:
- I Didn’t Know I Had Depression: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vce0jC7iujE
- Sabrina Benaim - “Explaining My Depression to My Mother” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqu4ezLQEUA
- Bell Let’s Talk 2015 - Howie Mandel Testimonial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnVZCnotBi4
- Bressie on the ‘vicious circle of depression’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RgwUdnVGSs
- Clint Malarchuk about mental illness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ1SFd9d-MQ#t=267
- Anxiety and Depression. My Story, My Finest Hour: http://www.upworthy.com/it-took-a-mountain-of-courage-for-him-to-record-this-do-you-know-someone-who-needs-to-see-it?c=upw1
Unfortunately, there is a social stigma attached to having a mental illness. Reflect on this topic, and comment on two of the following:
- Why do you think there is a stigma attached to mental illness?
- Why can’t we, as a society, just provide support to that one quarter of the population instead of stigmatizing them?
- How might such a stigma affect the person suffering from the mental illness?
- How might mental illness affect the loved ones of the person suffering and others?
- How are the stereotypes attached to this stigma invalid?
- How can society include or better accept those suffering from mental illness?
- Some have theorized links between mental illness and creativity.
Remember to identify which numbers you are responding to.
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