Mental Illness Awareness Week & World Mental Health Day 2015

My continuing series concerning Mental Health. This week is Mental Illness Awareness Week, and tomorrow, October 10th, is World Mental Health Day. The theme of this year’s observance is “Dignity in Mental Health.” 

I mentioned that I would probably post this article a few times, and I feel like now is a good time for an excerpt. I just found it very relevant, and it provoked a great emotional response within me: Schizophrenia is not a split personality, there are four main symptoms | thejournal.ie.

“Sensationalist headlines 

Newspapers are certainly no better. On Monday 7 October 2013 the Sun newspaper carried the headline “1,200 killed by mental patients”. With unsurprising melodrama we were told of a “shock 10-year toll” emerging days after a “schizophrenic” was locked up for a stabbing.

Little context was provided, such as the overall number of homicides in the UK during the same decade. It was 7,000. Had they bothered to do the sums, the editors would have realised that citizens without mental illness (75%) had committed a disproportionately high number (83%) of the homicides.

Indeed, people with psychosis are more likely to be the victims of crime. But I suppose this does not sell newspapers.

Let’s be clear about this. In 2009, a large and rigorous study in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that severe mental illness alone did not predict violent behaviour.

Effective treatment reduces the risk even further. But when newspaper editors refer to an alleged criminal as a “psycho”, “nutter” or “madman”, they wrongly assume that mental illness provides the only explanation for a violent event. Ordinary people with mental illness – and there are so many – feel stigmatised and are less likely to seek the very help they need for their psychological difficulties.”

There are many areas that can be improved in regards to mental health (and we’re getting there). I believe most people want and deserve dignity. But, lifetime beliefs, attitudes, and actions can take a while to change for some. I’ve researched several articles concerning educating children and youth in these matters (some of which I’ve previously posted), and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I think it’s a step in the right direction, for sure. Here’s an interesting piece detailing just that: Labor’s school mental health plan | themercury.com.au.

Once again, I will leave you with a list of additional articles to review (when you have a moment). I’m impressed with much of the material I’ve researched. There’s still so much I cannot post today, but know that I will update you in the future.

My other Mental Health Series posts can be found under the category of Health on my blog menu.

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to meet young Time to Change Champions on World Mental Health | time-to-change.org.uk.
Guest Viewpoint: 10 years of suicide prevention | stargazette.com.
Nevis Health Minister’s Address On The Occasion Of World Mental Health Day 2015 | zizonline.com.
Daniel Vance: The stigma of mental illness | newbernsj.com.
Living with dignity: World Mental Health Day 2015 | bps.org.uk.
Congress & Policymakers: Stop Scapegoating Mental Illness in Mass Shootings | psychcentral.com.
I’m a doctor – but that didn’t save my son from suicide | telegraph.co.uk.
University of Bedfordshire student reveals extent of loneliness in the elderly | bedfordshire-news.co.uk.
Minister worries about under-funding for mental health services | ghananewsagency.org.
How Pharmacists Can Correct Mental Illness Misconceptions | pharmacytimes.com.
Mental health first aid training offered | azdailysun.com.
Auburn’s 2015 Miss Homecoming shares story of overcoming challenges to help raise mental health awareness | al.com.
Mental health matters | jamaicaobserver.com.
A call for dignity in mental health | freemalaysiatoday.com.
32 Marathwada farmers commit suicide in a week | The Times of India.
One-fourth of Bahamas’ residents have considered suicide, study claims | thebahamasweekly.com.
Reporting mental health issues costs soldiers their job or sidelines them, Senate Inquiry told | news.com.au.
Suicide rate in regions disproportionate to number of people with depression and other mental illness | The Courier.
One Conversation Counts: NAMI offers resources for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month | maconnews.com.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 10, 2015 World Suicide Prevention Day, + Mental Health Article Links

September is Suicide Awareness Month, and tomorrow Suicide Prevention Day. I linked to this article in the last installment of my Mental Health Series. I could not get this quote from it out of my mind, so I wanted to share it this post: “I truly believe the greatest measure of a city is how it helps its most vulnerable. It is time for us to buck the age-old stigma of mental illness. Through the creation of our Behavioral Health Strategies division, we embark on what we believe to be the country’s first city effort to coordinate streamlined services around our people with behavioral health needs.” Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s 2015 Inaugural Address, The Denver Post.

In that last installment, I mentioned researching a number of additional articles that I was unable to list (due to the length of the post). Well, I’m still unable list all of them in this post. But, I will try to list quite a few. (I did an internship at Camp Wellness, the facility written about in the last link.) As noted by several pieces in my previous posts, one of the effects of mental illness stigma and discrimination can be social isolation. I think seeing just how many people are writing on the subject can bring comfort to those diagnosed with a condition (or their loved ones) — to know they are not alone in their journey…to know someone is giving voice to something they may not yet be able to.

I hope this post will encourage those with an incomplete understanding of what depression, suicidal ideation, and other mental illnesses are to look into them further. If these things are familiar to you, I hope you let it encourage you to reach out to those you know or suspect might need your help. Or, if you think you might need some assistance or someone to talk to, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). 

My other Mental Health Series posts can be found under the category of Health on my blog menu.

SPECIAL REPORT: Suicide and the Pinoy youth | Lifestyle | GMA News Online.
Girl Scouts Can Earn A Patch in Mental Health Awareness | valleynewslive.com.
The Truth About Suicide in Colorado | 5280.com.
Federal Appeals Court Rules UnitedHealthcare May Be Sued for Alleged Violations of the Federal Mental Health Parity Act | markets.financialcontent.com.
September deemed Suicide Prevention Awareness Month | Lebanon Democrat.
Press Release: September 10 World Suicide Prevention Day and September 12 NAMI Utah Walk | utahpolicy.com.
A unique mental health facility | The Jerusalem Post.
Suicide a subject that must keep being brought to light | thereporter.com.
Fighting for the light | Cyprus Mail.
Ending the Silence: How KU Campus is helping students with Mental Illness | kansan.com.
Guest Opinion: Lifting the veil on depression and suicide | Idaho Statesman.
Teens help teens with mental health issues | Queens Chronicle: Queenswide.
Campaign launched to tackle stigma of mental illness | The Jewish Chronicle.
Schizophrenia is not a split personality, there are four main symptoms | thejournal.ie.
Depression on the rise | Fiji Times Online.
Elise Banks crowned Miss Texas International | beautypageants.in.
EmbraceDontDisgrace.com | Mental Illness Discrimination.
The psychologists walking 100 miles to fight austerity’s impact on mental health | theguardian.com.
The secret lives of 3 Maine people with depression | Health | Bangor Daily News.
30% Of Medical Students Report Mental Health Condition, Yet Most Feel Stigmatized Asking For Help | Medical Daily.
Prejudice from the professionals: mental health anti-stigma initiative targets services | communitycare.co.uk.
Stigma Influences Psychiatrists in Disclosing Their Own Mental Illness | Psychiatry Advisor.
Camp Wellness: Where the routine becomes extraordinary | tucson.com.

Multi-Cultural Mental Health Awareness

I mentioned last My Way post that I would be writing another installment of my Mental Health Series soon, and here it is. July, as I said, is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Yes, it is mid-August. But, just as I conveyed in my post World Mental Health Day, 2014 & NAMI Multi-Cultural Action Center (posted in October), I write on this topic as I feel led. This is a sensitive subject for many, so I want to make sure my timing is right. Today, I simply want to share a few passages and articles that touched me.

“People with mental health problems say that the social stigma attached to mental ill health and the discrimination they experience can make their difficulties worse and make it harder to recover. 

Mental illness is common…We know that people with mental health problems are amongst the least likely of any group with a long-term health condition or disability to:

find work 
be in a steady, long-term relationship 
live in decent housing  
be socially included in mainstream society. 

This is because society in general has stereotyped views about mental illness and how it affects people. Many people believe that people with mental ill health are violent and dangerous, when in fact they are more at risk of being attacked or harming themselves than harming other people.

Stigma and discrimination can also worsen someone’s mental health problems, and delay or impede their getting help and treatment, and their recovery. Social isolation, poor housing, unemployment and poverty are all linked to mental ill health. So stigma and discrimination can trap people in a cycle of illness.

The situation is exacerbated by the media. Media reports often link mental illness with violence, or portray people with mental health problems as dangerous, criminal, evil, or very disabled and unable to live normal, fulfilled lives.

This is far from the case.

Research shows that the best way to challenge these stereotypes is through firsthand contact with people with experience of mental health problems.” www.mentalhealth.org.uk

“Mental health within minority communities is a sensitive issue that needs addressing. In a report from the Surgeon General in 2001, these issues were highlighted while exploring the problems of biases, stereotypes and racism within the healthcare system. The report also emphasized the benefits of shared historical experiences and culture…Dr. Jei Africa examined the question, “What do we know right now?” …In 2012, SAMSHA conducted a study that pointed out the major issues within Minority Mental Health. The study put financial hardship and lack of insurance as the ethnically universal concern. They found that the idea that mental healthcare “would not help” was the least cited reason across the board.

Studies show that depression is mentioned as a possible diagnosis for a person 43% of the time if the person is white, and only 27% if the person is black. This is despite the findings that 38% of white people were less likely to talk about their depression opposed to only 11% of black people. When questioned on this vast difference of behavior, providers answered that they think white people suffer more than black people. Acknowledging the present disparity in the system and hold providers to a standard that accommodates minorities is a necessary next step.

How can we change the healthcare system for the better?

Administering cultural training to providers
Providing financial literate classes for healthcare needs
Implementing a medical model that is adaptive instead of coercive

It is difficult at times for any person living with a mental health condition to receive the care that they need, but every person deserves equal opportunity for treatment.” Tackling the Challenges of Minority Mental Health, Nami.org

As you can see from these passages, social inclusion and cultural adaptations are concrete ways to improve the lives of those with mental health conditions. I hope many of you let the information provided in these articles sink into your thinking. The more we are armed with this knowledge and wisdom, the more we can fight the sometimes awful stigma and discrimination that can be faced.

I do not want to overwhelm you with too much information today, so I will just leave you with additional article links. I have researched so many interesting pieces, but I cannot list them all in one post. As it stands now, this is already quite lengthy. Perhaps I will just have an article link post one day.

My Previous Mental Health Series Posts: 

Shattering the Stigma of Mental Illness, NAMI Southern AZ Mental Health Walk 2015, Mental Illness Discrimination & Exploitation, World Mental Health Day, 2014 & NAMI Multicultural Action Center, Mental Illness Awareness Week, Mental Illness Facts and Myths, & Cafe 54, Tucson, AZ, What is Stigma?, NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness Stigma Alerts Archive (many of these archives are no longer listed, so I may post a few at some point), University of Arizona Camp Wellness

Further reading:

McCray ties mental health to income inequality | capitalnewyork.com.
Stigma over mental illness holds back funding, Andrew Robb tells summit | theguardian.com
The Mental Health Parity Act: A Legislative History | congressionalresearch.com
Bhanu’s Story: India’s Quiet Epidemic Of Housewife Suicides | indiaspend.com
Farmers’ tractor selfies raise cash for suicide prevention charity | fwi.co.uk
Column: Suicide — it’s not just the kids | stillwatergazette.com
Chicago Hispanic News, Lawndale News, Hispanic Bilingual Newspapers, NAMI Chicago Honors Saint Anthony Hospital Mental Health Supervisor with Community Health Advocate of the Year Award | lawndalenews.com
Cantrell to host forum on mental health in minority populations | uptownmessenger.com
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s 2015 Inaugural Address | denverpost.com
Toronto police background checks no longer include mental health incidents | t.thestar.com
‘Anxious’ Hong Kong needs an effective mental health body | chinadaily.com.cn
Cherry Hill teen comfortable discussing bouts with mental illness | jewishvoicesnj.org
Mental health and African Americans: Breaking the tradition of silence | amsterdamnews.com
Africa: View On Disability – SDGs Lack Mental Health Ambition | allafrica.com
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month: CAMFT encourages all minorities to get mental health support | news-medical.net
Deepika Padukone Foundation | bollywood.celebden.com
African women leading the charge in philanthropy | africanbrains.net
Asian-Americans Tackle Mental Health Stigma | webmd.com
Reclaiming One’s Dignity: Overcoming the Prejudice and Discrimination of Mental Illness | sfvcmhc.org

My Way, No. 23

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

With the pic links now included, these ‘My Way’ posts are becoming as long as a newsletter. I hope you can hang with me!

— I saw this on my food co-op’s social page, so I thought I would link to it: Who Is Behind Organic Brands. This came as no surprise to me, as I try to steer clear of certain products for this very reason. But, many people assume some of these brands are small (possibly family-owned, or even local) businesses, when they are really just some of the country’s largest food producers. This is also true of natural and organic hygiene/body products, etc. Some of the brands I’ve enjoyed in the past have been taken over by some of these large producers, so I then stop purchasing them. Some brands I have no issues with, though. If you’re one of those who wants to support certain businesses (and not support others), I encourage you to take a look at this list. Or, perhaps take a look for updated info, if this news is already familiar to you. I found several I didn’t know about.

— Did you enjoy the list of coping skills for anger, anxiety and depression? I think everyone can benefit from this list. I have some decent positive ones already in place, but I would like to add a few more. Setting boundaries and learning to say “no” could be improved upon, as well as enjoying more of nature. Also, keeping a positive quote with you seems easy enough. I like, “Ye shall be a blessing.” It’s one thing for others to bless you, but (IMO) empowering others to prosper provides rewards like nothing else (emotional and physical). As far as looking at the negatives went, I tried to not get too down on myself. We can’t change everything at once. I think I have improved in several areas, but still need some work in others. I have been better at not enabling others to take advantage of me. One of the things I despise most at this stage in my life is people attempting to use me for their own selfish ambition. So, I need to make sure I am not just sitting back, allowing those circumstances to occur. Several years ago, I was encouraged by a former football player who said a friend told him (something to the effect of), “Never allow people to use or exploit you for their own profit or gain.” I think as a former ball player, people just assumed they could take advantage of him for their own purposes. Anyway, I’ve carried that bit of advice in my heart since then.

— Speaking of football players, I was really touched by this article concerning Herschel Walker’s mental health advocacy: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/health/os-herschel-walker-mental-health-orlando-20150513-story.html. If you’ve lived in Texas for even a short period of time (as I have), you most likely know who Herschel Walker is — even if you don’t follow the NFL. A very encouraging story.

After posting the latest installment of my Mental Health Series, I found a few articles that made my heart sink. Many of the most disheartening stories come from major news outlets (not all the time, though, as you can see from a variety of pieces I’ve posted). They so often focus on the negative or sensational. Some of the most sensitive and thoughtful pieces I’ve come across are from student newspapers. I thought perhaps profit has something to do with that, or maybe it’s just that the younger generations are starting to leave behind the stigma and discrimination that has plagued our society for so long. I used to laugh at a news station in the Phoenix area that always broadcasted so much positive news. It was the oddest thing to me, haha. It was a nice change.

— Today’s Adventures in Food: Hot diggity dog ziggity, boom…I didn’t have a chance to pick up hard red winter berries yet, so I made my Memorial Day hot dog buns in the same manner as the previously posted burger buns. Really a joy! The wheat blend is such a great idea. I may try sprouting them, as well. The day old buns were great dippers for a low-cal (non-gratinee) onion soup I made. The adjustable slicing blade in our new food processor works like a dream! It easily sliced through mounds of onion. My last processor, while a decent (very old) model, sometimes had slicing issues.

Holiday chocolate chip cookies had to get packaged up and shipped off so I didn’t consume the whole lot, lol. As they keep nice and soft, I think they would be grand for ice cream sandwiches. I couldn’t wait for the Holiday to make the chickpea flour spätzele. So, I made it Sunday, then again on Monday. I subbed some quickly sautéed kale for the collards (it was less expensive at the store) and cooked it in beef broth. I really like the textures in this dish. I think I will be making it a couple more times before the week is up.

As I was already grinding chickpeas for the spätzele, I thought I would also whip up those Cashew-Mint Pakoda I posted. I left the flour with just a slight coarseness. I went for a bake-fry by Misto-ing a little oil in the pan, as well as on the dough. I flipped them over when they were browned on the bottom. They turned out so nice and crunchy! You would not have known they were baked instead of fried. I really would have liked a dipping sauce with them. Maybe a cashew crema or something? I was too busy munching to make one, though.

The roasted curried cauliflower I made for my garlic, herb, & tomato pita was the tail end of a cauliflower party. I enjoyed the Buffalo Cauliflower Bites posted here and Spiced Moroccan Cauliflower Couscous – Tabbouleh (both from the same site). I am not a huge fan of couscous, so I was excited to try a version with cauliflower. I used my homemade skim haloumi, and it was fab. Really easy & delightful. Of course, using the cauliflower slashes the calories considerably, so make sure to take a peek. When I was preparing the Buffalo Bites, I suddenly thought I could also make a few with sesame-honey sauce. So, I did half and half. Otherwise, I only altered them slightly by using whole wheat pastry flour and coating with a bit of panko. I love Buffalo sauce so much, so I put a little extra on the outside, lol.

I found another comfort food use for my pitas. Did you ever have spaghetti and meatball sandwiches when you were younger? I made spaghetti and Italian lentil meatballs (just like the ones here, but with “Italian” seasonings), and the next day had a craving for this sandwich, haha:

We used to slather butter on good Italian bread and stuff it with our leftovers. Good memories!

— How quaint is this?

White Garden Canopy | housetohome.co.uk.

Ahhh…I wish I were there right now. *Sigh*

25 DIY Headboard Ideas | Freshnist.com.

This is a cute idea. Music sheet decoupage on wood: Paper | Valerie Carr | Pinterest.

— In this AZ summer heat, I adore white clothing. Linen is especially lovely. What about your plain white tee? Check out this easy corseting technique that you could apply to a number of items: DIY Corseted White T-Shirt or What to Do with the BF’s Old T-Shirts #2 | Chic Steals.

And, you know I love RE:Fashion: 13 DIY Clothing Refashion Ideas with Picture Instructions | Clicky Pix.

— The FFFF for today (Fab French Food Finds ):

You know my affinity for all things French, so here are several selections from the same site:

Provencal Style Mussels | French Cooking for Dummies.

Beetroot and Goat Cheese Foam | French Cooking for Dummies.

Artichoke, Fig and Parmesan Salad | French Cooking for Dummies.

Strawberry and Peach Salad with Wine Syrup | French Cooking for Dummies.

Parisian Shirred Egg/ Oeuf cocotte à la parisienne | French Cooking for Dummies.

Herbed Mascarpone Stuffed Chicken | French Cooking for Dummies.

Ham and Cheese Crepe/Galete Complete | French Cooking for Dummies.

White Chocolate Molten Cake with Raspberries | French Cooking for Dummies.

‘Til next time!

Shattering the Stigma of Mental Illness

“First Lady Chirlane McCray speaks out about her plan to shatter the stigma of mental illness and create a more inclusive treatment system that works for all New Yorkers.

‘The first step to solving the crisis is to simply acknowledge that it exists,’ writes McCray. ‘We must start a real public conversation about mental illness, and we must start connecting people to appropriate services. That is how we will shatter the stigma.” http://blackbusinessnow.com/nyc-first-lady-chirlane-mccray-wants-to-shatter-the-stigma-around-mental-health/

I just recently read this article, and it spurred me on to write another installment of my Mental Health Series. It’s encouraging to see sincere high-profile people taking action. I also read a wonderful piece on former President Carter’s mental health speech at the University of Florida (he stood in for his wife, Rosalynn). http://www.news4jax.com/news/president-carter-speaks-at-uf/32119922

I read so many encouraging blog posts and articles concerning mental health, only to later be discouraged by a few disparaging remarks, jokes, slurs, etc. Perhaps you think I should not be so emotionally connected to such negative statements or conduct…and, perhaps you are correct. I try to understand why people do and say what they do. Much of our society has allowed stigma and discrimination to rule for so long, so that is certainly part of it. I am reminded of school settings wherein you are one of the “cool kids” if you make fun of or gang up on those not within social norms. The somewhat opposite of that also saddens me: I often hear people without a medical diagnosis refer to themselves as OCD (because they happen to be an organized person, etc.), schizophrenic (because they think this refers to a dual personality — possibly doing or liking opposing tasks), bipolar (because they have a sudden change in mood), and so on…Either one of those behaviors leads to increased distress and shame for people with mental health conditions. I try to not be too judgmental about it, as our culture has a tendency to not think about the impact of words. So, these days, I try to make sure what I’m saying is really what I’m saying…what’s really in my heart, without offending, and without being overly politically correct.

On occasion, my mom yells at me to turn the running water off so I don’t waste it (she’s concerned about the bill, and rightly so, lol, and we live in the desert). She’s usually in the other room, though, and doesn’t even know why I have it on. I slowly turn the knob…slowly, slowly…until the gushing flow turns into a soft wave, into a hum, into a murmur, a trickle of its former self…and then it’s gone. I have a dream that mental health stigma and discrimination will dissipate in a similar fashion…until it is no more.

Mental illness affects 1 in 4 people (http://www.who.int/whr/2001/media_centre/press_release/en/), but so many are afraid to receive the help they need. If you would like information for yourself or loved ones, please see my previous posts under the category of Health on my blog menu.

In addition, I have once again collected several articles you may find interesting and/or informative.

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

http://www.cw.ua.edu/article/2015/04/mental-matters-students-struggle-with-mental-health-balance

The stigma of mental health: Why black women don’t ask for help

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5590658-hemingway-shares-family-battle-with-mental-illness/

http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/about_us/stigma-illness.htm

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/letters/2015/04/21/letter-stelizabeth-hospital-mentalhealth/26116275/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=

The Therapy Relationship: What Makes a Good Fit?

http://drkathleenyoung.com/resourcesandquizzes/depressionchecklist.html

http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/what-are-mental-health-problems/stigma-discrimination/impact

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-ouch-32084441

http://ravallirepublic.com/missoula/entertainment/music/article_09c10f15-422d-53a1-be74-356bbb3d670c.html

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/190/3/192

http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/employees-fear-disclosing-mental-health-issues-to-bosses-in-uae

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2015/04/12/Tackling-mental-illness-stigma-head-on/stories/201504120166

http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2015/04/summit-addresses-minority-women-s-mental-health

http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2011/09/have-you-faced-discrimination-because-of-mental-illness.html

NAMI Southern AZ Mental Health Walk 2015

I am so glad I had the opportunity to volunteer at this year’s National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Southern Arizona Mental Health Walk. This is an annual community event to raise funds and awareness. As you know, I publish mental health-related blog posts from time to time. So many participants out this year doing the 3 or 5K. Some walk and raise funds as a team, others come by themselves, and many join friends and family. Fortunately, the walkers crossed the finish way before the temps reached into the 90’s. It was a hot one! I had a chance to see many old friends (as I often do at health events), so it made my day really special. It’s one of the best things in the world: being around a group of caring, non-judgmental people.

This year, walkers were warmed up with high-energy Latin dance aerobics and later treated to a post-walk Mariachi performance. It was a really fun time! NAMI hosts walks all across the U.S., so you may want to search for one in your area (if this is a cause you would like to support). I didn’t take a ton of pics this year, but here are a few:

Getting ready for the big walk! Many teams design and wear their own t-shirts.

Cafe 54 Food Truck serving hungry walkers (read more about their amazing work here).

Mariachi! I always love the outfits! They were awesome!

NAMI Store Tent

This banner from the Community Partnership of Southern Arizona really touched me. No shame, no fear, just help.

If you have a moment, please take a look at my mental health series posts. They can be found under the Health category of my blog menu. For your convenience, I have linked to them below. In addition to the blog posts themselves, I have listed many article and resources links. Further articles are frequently featured in My Way posts as well.

Mental Illness Discrimination & Exploitation

World Mental Health Day, 2014 & NAMI Multicultural Action Center

Mental Illness Awareness Week, Mental Illness Facts and Myths, & Cafe 54, Tucson, AZ

What is Stigma?

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness Stigma Alerts Archive (many of these archives are no longer listed, so I may post a few at some point)

University of Arizona Camp Wellness

Mental Illness Discrimination & Exploitation

As I continue in my posts concerning mental health, I wanted to take time to focus on discrimination and exploitation that may come alongside mental illness stigma. I was prompted to write this post after reading several statements on the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) website:

“NAMI condemns all acts of stigma and discrimination directed against persons with mental illnesses, whether by intent, ignorance, or insensitivity. Epithets, nicknames, jokes, advertisements, and slurs that refer to persons with serious mental illnesses in a stigmatizing way are cruel. NAMI considers acts of stigma to be discrimination.” (http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=NAMI_Policy_Platform&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=105496)

NAMI considers acts of stigma to be discrimination. Many times the thoughts and attitudes we have spill over into actions. This is why I think it’s important to periodically examine our thoughts. If we find some thoughts are not what we desire for ourselves, we can then begin to try to correct them. We may not recall or know why we think what we think (how the thoughts originated), but it’s a start. As I’ve previously written about, media can be a big influence on many. But, that may be only one of several factors.

“The media marginalizes mentally ill people—their behaviors are either entertaining or violent. Even when mental health policies are introduced or improved after [shooting] incidents, it is more likely out of a fear of mentally ill people rather than a genuine desire to help.” (http://thelamron.com/2014/10/24/fame-excuse-media-exploit-mental-illness/)

“NAMI especially deplores the exploitation of people with mental illnesses by journalists, advertisers, advertising agencies, the entertainment industry, and others for commercial gain or other advantage. (http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=NAMI_Policy_Platform&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=105496)

I must say that the statements I have quoted above have stayed in my heart and mind over the past few weeks. I could not get away from them, and with good reason. Stigma, discrimination, and exploitation of those with mental illness has been very prevalent in our society. I am finding more and more articles that seek to shed light on this topic, though, so that is certainly a step towards progress. Yet, even more needs to be done and is being done (one day at a time). It will take time for thoughts and attitudes to change, as it has with other types of discrimination. Someone must speak out, though. I recently read several historical works, and the story of American Olympic sprinters John Carlos and Tommie Smith was included. At the 1968 games, they raised their fists while the United States national anthem was played to protest racism in the U.S. They were ultimately suspended by the Olympic Committee and made to leave the Olympic Village. Some may offer that their actions were disrespectful to our country, but (to me) the greater disrespect was the racial discrimination they chose to ‘speak out’ against. For men such as these, I am thankful.

This series of posts is my ‘speaking out,’ and I hope to bring more related information in the next several months. Why is it so important to me to ‘speak out’ on this issue? There are many reasons, but I also couldn’t get away from this statement I read:

“When you admit that you are anything that could be mistakenly, or otherwise, perceived as ‘mentally ill’ you know that you are going to get treated like dirt so you don’t go tell anybody and that’s why people die.” (emphasis mine) (http://news.sky.com/story/1319070/sinead-oconnor-mentally-ill-treated-like-dirt)

Just knowing to do good is not enough…doing good is what will make the difference. You cannot change everyones’ hearts with your actions, but it is worth it if you can help even one person. That’s my goal for now.

I hope you will take a moment to look at my other posts concerning mental health (if you haven’t already). They include several resources and can be found under the category of Health on my blog menu:

University of Arizona Camp Wellness
NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Health Stigma Alerts Archive
What is Stigma?
Mental Illness Awareness Week, Mental Illness Myths and Facts, & Cafe 54, Tucson, AZ
World Mental Health Day, 2014 & NAMI Multicultural Center

My Way, No. 2

Hope you’ve been having a great week!

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— In my last WhirwinDISH post, I forgot that I was going to post a link for a unit conversion calculator. The recipe for the ginger beer came from the UK, and that’s what made me think of it. It comes in handy (unless you’re a math whiz, then you can just do it in your head 😉 ).Unit Conversion Calculator. I also realized that I wrote mouse instead of mousse in my Thanksgiving Trial Run post, lol. Fixed it.

— I found this link from the Alzheimer’s Society regarding dementia Equality, Discrimination, and Human Rights very informative. I think it’s an issue everyone needs to know about.

— In my post about Fermented Foods, I mentioned making a fabric cover for your slow cooker (if you didn’t want to use a bath towel to keep your homemade yogurt warm). You can always use an insulated bag, too, if you can find one big enough. Perhaps they sell insulated slow cooker bags, even. I don’t know. I’ve seen warmer bags for casserole dishes and such. Anyway, I could not find a DIY fabric cover pic anywhere (I’m sure someone has one somewhere) so here’s mine:

As I said, I am not a machine sewer, so I made mine by hand. It’s just a plain pillowcase on the inside with a layer of thick fabric insulation. I used leopard fabric and cording (leftover from other projects) for the exterior. An easier way would have been to just use a patterned pillowcase or bag for the exterior. But, I wanted to make use of this particular print. It’s a pretty generic cover — nothing fancy. If you are a machine sewer, though, you could probably tailor it to fit your model more precisely. I’m sure that would be cute!

— I want to read this book: Food, Family, and Tradition. There’s something about tradition and traditional foods that bring me comfort. I guess it’s the familiarity — no surprises. I need that in my life a lot of times. I do my WhirlwinDISHes of course, but much of that originates from necessity!

— I’m on a French fries kick! I’m making them with regular potatoes instead of sweet potatoes. I don’t actually fry them, though. I pretty much Misto most things that call for frying anymore. I don’t even pan fry. I have a deep fryer that someone gave me, but I only use it maybe once or twice a year. I don’t mind fried foods as much when they are prepared by other people. I just can’t get past seeing all of that oil, haha! But, every once in a while, frying can be cool…like donuts, fried clams, or pizza frites. I haven’t seen pizza frites around these parts. They are just fried pizza dough (shaped like a mini pizza) coated with powdered sugar. Super unhealthy, but yummy! Other foods I can get by with “bake-frying,” but not pizza frites.

— Yums: Gin and Lime Truffles, Guinness Burgers, Forager’s Salad.

— I thought this article about mental health was awesome! Read about the initiative called NHL’s Hockey Talks and a website called MindCheck.ca: http://thehockeywriters.com/the-canucks-are-soldiers-in-the-war-against-mental-illness-and-depression/

Have a great weekend!