In the light of the terrible tragedy last Friday in Newtown, CT, there has been much talk in the media and among my community members about mental illness.
On the one hand, I am grateful for anything that raises the profile of the need for better, more comprehensive, and more accessible mental health services in our communities.
On the other hand, I find myself troubled and concerned by some of the assumptions and stigma being perpetuated in these discussions. It is on this issue that I would like to focus this blog post.
Mental illness is not a monolith
Some of the things I have personally heard and read over the last week include the following sentiments:
- “people with mental illness should not be allowed to own guns”
- “people with mental illness need to be escorted when they are out in public”
- “people with mental illness are more likely to be violent than people without mental illness.”
What strikes me about sentiments like this is the broad brush strokes used to paint “mental illness.” The spectrum of mental health and illness is just as complex and varied as the spectrum of physical health and illness. Yet we are much more ready to understand that the causes and manifestations of physical illnesses are complex, varied, and only tangentially relatable to one another than we are to think of mental illness that way. But consider the following example:
In the realm of physical health: Influenza, broken leg, brain tumor, Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, indigestion, Sciatica, high blood pressure, sinus infection, Gout.
In the realm of mental health: substance abuse, Autism spectrum, spiritual emptiness, Bereavement, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, chronic stress, Schizophrenia, developmental delay, personality disorders, panic attacks
Each disorder in both of these realms has its own set of factors that cause, exacerbate, worsen, or help the problem. Each has its own treatment plan and prognosis. Each brings its own limitations to the individual experiencing it, as well as gifts if we look close enough, and with an open enough mind and heart, for them.
A final example to illustrate this point. As I have witnessed over the last week, many of my neighbors are comfortable saying, “people with mental illness should not be allowed to carry guns.” Some types of cancerous brain tumors can have a significant effect on the personality of the person with the tumor. A previously peaceful, respectful person may be come violent and abusive. Yet we would not say “people with cancer should not be allowed to carry guns” or even “people with brain tumors,” since not every brain tumor causes a person to be violent.
The phrase “Mental Illness” is not shorthand for evil, violent, or less-than-human
Going back to the examples listed above,
