Flouting the silence about mental illness

Niagara women will meet to break the silence about mental illness. The Canadian Mental Health Association – Niagara Branch, in partnership with national sponsor Shoppers Drug Mart, is hosting a fundraiser to help dispel myths and create hope for the one in five Canadians who suffer from despair or other brain-based illnesses.

Women & Wellness – Real Life Transformations takes place Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. at the DSBN Education Centre, 191 Carlton St. Catharines. Donations received at the event will help continue the TAMI (Talking About Mental Illness) program for Niagara teens, and help with a number of educational and support programs for people dealing with aspects of mental illness.

The mentally ill still face stigma

Glenn Close is right on when she speaks about the stigma of being diagnosed with a mental illness. The stigma so often linked with mental illness is a serious barrier to seeking help: Millions of individuals — children and adults — go without the critical services that can make a world of difference. The article is timely, as a recently released Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services. Administration survey shows that nearly one in five mature Americans has experienced mental illness in the past year, but only 38 percent received help or treatment.

Additionally, 2 million young people, ages 12 to 17, had a major depressive episode. The Mental Health Association of Westchester County Inc. and other groups are devoted to working to overcome this stigma, so that no one who has an emotional problem feels alone, and no one goes without the help that they need. We encourage anyone who has ever been touched by a mental illness to join us. As Ms. Close says, we need to "get over the fear of saying it out loud, get free of the shame."