Who's Crazy?

Throughout middle school, any time a female were to react in anger after seeming calm all day would be dubbed “bipolar”. In high school movies from the 90’s, the “depressed” teenager is identified as the one who is wearing black. The “crazy” penguin from the movie Madagascar is the sole one who seems to feel no pain, and is unable to communicate with his fellow feathered cohorts. So why should normal people care about the few outliers who are “insane”?

To answer this question, everyone experiences a wide-range of symptoms throughout their life that could resemble one disorder or another and makes them different from the person beside them. The differences though between actions that resemble mental disorders and an actual illnesses are all on a spectrum that ranges from hindering success in the workplace, to being unable to move from bed. What most people aren't aware of is the commonness of mental disorders. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America states that, “At any point in time, 3 to 5 percent of adults suffer from major depression; the lifetime risk is about 17 percent. As many as 2 out of 100 young children and 8 out of 100 teens may have serious depression."

If mental illnesses affects such a wide range of people, how is it that only one-third of the people who display symptoms of anxiety receive treatment? It goes back to the mindset stated above, that you have to be “crazy” to have worry about things needlessly or lack an interest in life. It is a common misconception that a “insane” person has a mental disorder, and therefore anyone experiencing these symptoms do not receive the treatment they need. They fear losing their jobs, their relationships, or even their lives in some countries, yet all the while are carrying this invisible "broken leg" that drags around them everywhere they go.

So how do we fight this stigma? By becoming aware that mental disorders affects everyone, from the young to the old, the successful CEO or the single mother of six. We all have to battle the stigma, so that individuals facing mental disorders can receive that potentially life-saving treatment. Get involved! There are a plethora of opportunities for people to gain awareness of mental disorders and raise funds for research, such as just registering for a walk. Speak out! Who knows if the person you love is in pain, yet feels like they must hide it to avoid the judgement. It is only when we work together for a common solution that we can solve such a universal problem.

#Volunteer #MentalDisorders #AttackingStigma