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Canada
The impact of mental illness on one family according to a professor of psychology, those who have experienced trauma describe their lives as ‘before’ and ‘after’ the event. I can appreciate this statement since our son’s return home after two years of independent living and his being hospitalised within 24 hours with a problem later diagnosed as ‘mental illness’. It was traumatic for all members of the family as the journey of learning how to manage the illness began. The next two years were a terrible roller-coaster ride.
Schizophrenia has been described as a rollercoaster ride without a switch. Family members watch helplessly as a loved one goes from one crisis to another. The clinical term ‘episodic’ does little to relieve the trauma that follows the diagnosis. The onset of this disorder usually occurs between 15 and 30 years of age and most commonly in the teen years. As is to be expected, it is very difficult for the young person to accept the label of illness and the necessity of taking medication.
There were people who told us to walk away but it was not an option for us. We searched for help and found an organisation that offered support and education to families struggling with mental illness. We learned many things about the illness and were able to share our experiences with others who truly understood our pain. We found strength in knowing we were not alone. The knowledge that ‘insight’ (when the ill individual begins to understand that the illness can be managed) could come with time gave us hope. Progress was slow with many ups and downs but hope prevailed and with medication and support our son’s life stabilised and he returned to school, earned his diploma in welding and became employed. Yes, life was divided into ‘before’ and ‘after’, with rejoicing for the return of the son we love.
In our story and in the stories of others suffering from mental illness, the key word is ‘manage’. If someone suffers from diabetes, medication and lifestyle are keys to the management of the imbalance in the body. Research has shown that an imbalance of chemicals in the brain are a key factor in mental illnesses and with new medications, as with diabetes, one can learn to manage the imbalance and lead a productive life.
It has been said that creativity often comes out of suffering. The founding of Mental Health Estrie (see below) to support other families as they journey with a loved one is proof that creative goodness can come from the suffering individuals encounter in life.
May our story help to erase the stigma associated with mental illness and create a new depth of understanding.
Facts about mental illness
Mental illness are words which frighten people. The greatest fear comes not from what people know about mental illness, but from what they do not know.
Fear of mental illness needs to be confronted and openly discussed. Some people are afraid that they might become sick themselves. Others believe that the individual who is sick has a weakness in their character – they made themselves sick and consequently can make themselves well. Many believe that a person diagnosed with a mental disorder will always be sick and will probably get worse. These are myths; nothing could be further from the truth. Mental illnesses, like many physical illnesses, are treatable.
Mental disorders are prevalent in all societies. No country is exempt as the percentage of the population with mental illness is constant around the world. One in five people will experience a mental illness at some point in their lives. If someone states that they do not know of this problem in their community, they need to look around with new eyes.
In Canada, until recently, the number one consumer of medical budgets was mental illness – and no one talked about it. Presently it is the number two use of hospital beds after accidents – and no one talks about it. But progress is being made and much of this is occurring at the ‘grass-roots’ of our society. CANADA AMI-Quebec Alliance for the Mentally Ill, a volunteer community organisation located in Montreal, is an example of what a few concerned people can accomplish. This organisation began some 28 years ago when four families, all with loved ones who were mentally ill, came together to talk and to share. Simple, yet radical.
It has been the inspiration for the development of Mental Health Estrie in a rural area some 100 miles from Montreal. Its mission is to help the minority population of English-speaking families, totalling some 20,000 persons, living in pockets of relative isolation over a fifty-mile radius. In only four years, a volunteer Board of Directors of seven committed individuals has formed and established an office with part-time staff. Support groups are held on a regular basis. There now is a comprehensive resource centre including a lending library of books and videos and free pamphlets. Special educational events and public awareness are a priority and there are many plans for the future.
The power of people sharing, caring and learning together is strong and it challenges the stigma. With the diminishing of stigma comes openness, a willingness to seek treatment and the recovery of hope. The motto of AMI-Quebec and Mental Health Estrie is “the recovery of hope and the hope of recovery.”
You may think all this was possible because of the prosperity of Canada. But prosperity does not necessarily mean that social problems are a priority for the decision-makers. Many social problems are being solved by wonderful dedicated volunteers. Is this model of ‘grassroots’ action possible in other countries? The answer is a resounding ‘yes’. An important note needs to be added here: community volunteers can do much to help families in the turmoil of mental illness but the medical diagnosis and treatments are the domain of the medical professionals, not volunteers.
It is helpful to remind ourselves that only a few years ago, HIV/AIDS everywhere carried a huge stigma. Now, in many places, people suffering from HIV/AIDS are seen as victims of a dreadful disease with efforts being made worldwide to deal with the impact. This disease has been with us only a few decades – a nanosecond of time compared to mental illnesses. The same evolutionary process of openness, a willingness to learn and discussion is needed to remove the stigma of mental illness. It is time to stop turning a blind eye to the impact of mental illness and to stop pretending there is no problem. Concerned individuals and community support groups can and will make the difference.
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