Mental Illness: Let’s Talk More

Today is Bell Let’s Talk Day in Canada. On this day I’m always torn; I’m excited that mental health is getting well-deserved attention, but disappointed that the attention has yet to expand to people with mental illnesses other than depression and anxiety. Everyone’s journey is valid, but people with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance use disorders and many others are still hidden in the shadows.

I have bipolar disorder. I was diagnosed six years ago after years of multiple misdiagnoses which culminated in hospitalization.

I live an interesting balance of managing my mental illness to mimic a person who is neurotypical but also wanting to use my illness to show that people with mental illness are not doomed to a life of substance use, homelessness, multiple hospital visits or death if (and this is a big if) they are able to access proper care.

The lack of acknowledgement for the full spectrum of mental illness is not a reflection of one company or initiative. It is a result of centuries of diminishing the experience of people with mental illness. If I had been born even 30 years earlier, my story very likely would have ended in a successful completion of the suicide I desired or in complete institutionalization.

I am what is called “high-functioning.” I am able to act normally and actually have a tendency to over-achieve despite struggling internally with what can be crippling anxiety and deep depression or debilitating manic episodes. I am able to act so “normal” that no one knows my diagnosis unless I tell them. And when I do, it takes convincing. And even if they believe me, they don’t believe it if I show symptoms in front of them.

But I’ve been lucky, all things considered. I got help when I needed it. I have strong advocates in my family and friends. The system was designed for someone like me who has a mom to yell at doctors who don’t listen to me, parents who can pay for therapy, and being a white-passing, physically healthy young female.

Most people are not so lucky. There are devastating statistics that point to how broken the mental health system in Canada is, and COVID-19 has made everything even worse.

I spend my professional life talking about solutions. I’m thankful to be in a position to do so. But today, all I really want to say is: let’s not stop after today. Let’s not wait until next January to talk about this again. Let’s put into practice the nice things we say about people with mental illnesses not just today, but every day.

Let’s not only talk about depression and anxiety. Let’s talk about addiction. Let’s talk about bipolar disorder. Let’s talk about borderline personality disorder. Let’s talk about schizophrenia. Let’s talk about all of the mental illnesses that don’t get the same spotlight today and let’s talk about them with the same compassion and acceptance that we’re starting to show depression and anxiety.

And more than anything, let’s listen to people who experience these things 365 days a year.