Mental illness is something many people deal with every day...knowingly and unknowingly. We see and hear so many incidents of children suffering from mental illness, the black community being affected by mental illness, and let us not forget about police officers who somehow end up being a part of major news headlines regarding their use of physical harm and gun violence against individuals suffering from mental illness. As an individual suffering from mental illness, I believe it is essential for the world to understand the nature and scope, and of course, the many different types of mental illnesses that exist today. Oh, and I see I'm not the only one who believes in the importance of understanding mental illness. Our FLOTUS, the beautiful Michelle Obama, has taken a public stand in defense of people dealing with the consequences that come with mental illness.
The media exposes what it wants, what it believes will gain a large audience. Mental illness? It deserves national attention. FLOTUS' efforts should no go overlooked of course. Am I lying? I didn't think so.
She has established an initiative entitled, "The Campaign to Change Direction, which serves "to bring together experts to raise awareness about depression, anxiety, and the range of mental illness that plague so many Americans." This campaign not only brings awareness to the topic but also reveals the long list of symptoms and signs of someone dealing with a mental illness. That is exactly why mental health is important. Whenever someone says, "Your health is important," MENTAL health is included with that.
The reason why this topic holds significant importance is due to the connection between mental illness and suicide. Michelle Obama's campaign provides the opportunity for a healthier road throughout life and works to eliminate the stigma surrounding emotional issues. Just to help bring some awareness of the seriousness surrounding mental illness, there is an estimated suicide rate of 12.6 suicide deaths per 100,000 Americans, which is close to rate of 12.8 in 1987.
During her entire time as First Lady, Obama has made it a priority to defend mental health. She has encouraged people to seek the help they may possibly need. She has made a difference and still continues to. She has worked alongside military families to encourage veterans to seek therapeutic help for PTSD. In 2011, she teamed up with Jill Biden to create the "Joining Forces initiative, focused on encouraging veterans to get mental health treatment. People tend to forget that veterans are in dire need of treatment also. They see different things that they would not possibly imagine could happen. And because of that, FLOTUS took note and vocalized our country's need to encourage all veterans to seek treatment.
Children, adults, veterans...they all deal with mental illness and sometimes are unaware of it. Mental health is no different than physical health. Why? Ask yourself that question. According to our First Lady, "Whether an illness affects your heart, your leg, or your brain, it's still an illness, and there should be no distinction." This article was written to raise awareness about an overlooked topic, to encourage individuals to seek treatment, get checked out. Your health is always important. Take it from someone who is currently dealing with mental illness every day.
Sheetal Tadiparty
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