To the individual who treats our pain and helplessness like a joke.
To the individual who still maintains that mental health issues don’t exist even when all evidence points to the opposite.
To the individual who tries to silence the pain by saying “it’s just a phase.”
I hate to be rude, but please shut up.
First of all, stop trying to propagate the societal stigma that mental health patients have to face daily. I completely understand that despite being such an old topic, mental health issues have only recently come to the forefront of conversation. This is primarily because the taboos and misconceptions about mental health are finally clearing up with scientific and psychological research. But, this isn’t an excuse to remain ignorant. This isn’t an excuse to say “you’re just making this up” or “she’s only like this because she doesn’t have any friends.” Rather, this is an opportunity to learn, to understand that mental disorders do exist and ruin lives. Don’t squander it -- if you can’t do it for others, at least do it for yourself.
I could tell you that, according to the CDC, approximately 1 in 4 of all US adults have a mental illness and close to 50% of American adults will develop at least 1 mental illness in their lifetime. But, facts don’t really appeal to you, do they? According to you, we live in a post-truth era, and facts just don’t matter. I guess it’s because the truth is bitter to taste and hard to swallow; maybe you just hate the idea of being wrong.
Second of all, along with trying to wrap your head around the fact these struggles are real and disruptive, please do me a favor and treat these individuals with respect. Treating a dark-hearted issue in such a light-hearted manner trivializes the crippling pain and despair others must endure daily. This isn’t a matter of political correctness -- this is a matter of being a decent human being. Some of my closest friends and I have been taunted at, lampooned at, and scorned at for opening up about our inner battles. And, it hurts. It hurts because, if you are a friend or a family member, that shows me that you don’t care about me or what I am going through. It shows me that building a relationship with you isn’t worth the slander and humiliation -- I’ll only end up with a slap in the face that I really don’t deserve. Because people like you are why I had to talk my depressed friend out of committing suicide, thanks to the lack of support she received from family members who claimed that they “cared about her.”
Lastly, if you aren’t willing to educate yourself about the detrimental effects of mental health or to provide your loved one with the support they need in such a difficult time, then please leave the afflicted individual alone and find something else to do with your time. Or, better yet, go get yourself a reality check. That always helps.
