"Your journey, Danei, has been nothing short of miraculous."
Tag: mental illness stigma
Why stigma is lethal
The first-time suicide impacted me directly was when a friend of mine took his life. As a kid, he always cracked jokes and pulled pranks, and I got to watch him grow into a wonderful, dedicated man. I can still remember standing at work, wearing my green suit, when I heard the news. I was … Continue reading Why stigma is lethal
Unpacking depression
“I was told, ‘If you are depressed, you have no excuse’” my friend, who battles depression, said to me recently. “That is just mental illness stigma,” I replied. What is mental health stigma? Mental health stigma refers to societal disapproval, or when society places shame on people who live with a mental illness or seek … Continue reading Unpacking depression
Why did he have to ask a stranger?
Losing the battle with my morning headache I awoke late one morning to see this email from a complete stranger, “My 26 year old daughter Mary* is back in the hospital… As a parent I feel so helpless. Thank-you for helping to bring it out of the shadows. My daughter would rather die than to … Continue reading Why did he have to ask a stranger?
Mental Health Warrior 