Mental Health Stigma in the Family

Stigma is often something that we perceive as being out there in society, but, actually, it too is rampant, and a reality, in the lives of many families. When a family member is diagnosed with a mental illness, the fear often sets in and they panic wondering, “How am I going to tell my family?” One may assume that a family is assured to be empathetic, understanding and accepting, but this is not always the case.

Being a Child With Stigma In The Family

I vividly remember being 6 years old and having my mother drop me off at a friend’s house. She was distant and sad, but I barely noticed as this was nothing new for my mother. I had no idea that my mom had bipolar disorder, and I probably would not have even understood this reality at such a young age, but I now ponder whether it would have been beneficial to know in some sense that my mother was indeed sick. After two hours of playing in the garden at my friend's place, I will never forget the news that my friend’s mother had for me that day. She approached and told me that my father was on his way to pick me up, and that my mother had jumped out of the family car while driving home. My heart dropped and I felt a deep pit in my stomach flip as I heard this disturbing news.

As I was driven home by my father, I do not recall a word being said about the incident. However, I do remember seeing my mother in her room some time later after her hospitalization with a cut on her lip, and as I approached her, in tears, she propped herself up in bed with open arms. I know that my parents were trying to protect me from the truth that my mother had a mental illness, but I still wish that I would have had an explanation and been assured that she was being taken care of by a doctor.

Luckily, a suicide attempt never happened again; however, many times thereafter she was forced into a psych ward and I would hear the commotion as ambulance attendants forced her into their vehicle at three in the morning. My friend, who had slept over that night, cried and hugged me as we heard the sirens arrive and as the ambulance left the driveway. I lived in fear wondering why would mom do this if she loved me so much? Although I know my father loved my mother and I dearly, I remained confused, and it actually would have been more than beneficial to know that it was not my mother in her right mind who was doing this, but that she had a mental illness called bipolar disorder.

How To Break Through Mental Illness Stigma In The Family

Although this topic is both difficult and highly controversial, I feel that we need to learn how to break through the stigma of mental illness in the family. Please consider the following suggestions:

• Mental illness is not necessarily a scary subject when approached with concern, love and respect for the people involved. I know that having a family member diagnosed is often received with devastation, but instead, why not try to accept the news with understanding, empathy and, of course, acceptance. After all, it is not about you, it is about the person who has the mental illness.
• Don’t judge, and, instead, be a listening ear and a shoulder of support. Try to consider, would you judge a person with cancer? The comparison is relevant, and if we treated mental illness the same as we do other illnesses, then we would be more compassionate, empathetic and receptive.
• Do not feel you need to shelter children from the reality that a family member has a mental health condition. Tell the child that the person involved loves them and is sick with a mental illness. Explain what the illness is in simple terms, so a young one will understand, and remember: kids will actually be more traumatized by not having an explanation of the events that take place than being told the truth.

Let’s admit it, life is not easy and neither is mental illness, but with a significant amount of courage, respect and love, anything is possible and we can no doubt be both positively functional and supportive when faced with stigma and mental illness in the family.

You can also connect with Andrea on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, and at BipolarBabe.com.