As a society, we are bombarded with negative images of people with mental

illnesses. The media and entertainment industries overwhelmingly present

people with mental illnesses as dangerous, violent and unpredictable

individuals. Pathways Center for Behavioral and Developmental Growth

asks your help in overcoming this negative stigma.

Television comedies make fun of dysfunctional families labeled with

psychiatric diagnoses. Halloween costumes and music videos use old-fashioned

straight jackets to portray mental patients. These and many other instances

are not only inappropriate but also insensitive to the millions of children

and adults with mental illnesses in this country.

One in five individuals will suffer a severe mental illness during their

lifetime. One of the most common reasons for hospital emergency room

treatment is depression, a common mental illness.

These inaccurate and unfair portrayals shape the public's perception

of those who suffer from mental disorders as people to be feared

and avoided.

This stigma has tragic consequences. Many people with mental health

problems fail to seek treatment because of the shame associated with

their illness. And most will experience some form of discrimination,

whether in the workplace, health insurance plans or social settings.

Children learn from a very early age that psychiatric problems are seen

as failures of character and will and that those who admit to such problems

or receive psychiatric treatment are likely to be avoided and looked

down upon by their peers. Even second- and third-graders appear to have

already assimilated the idea that people with mental illnesses are to

be viewed less favorably than others.

From where do these negative views come? Most often, the attitudes

and behaviors of adults influence them. Children are witnesses to disparaging

references of those who are disliked or who have divergent opinions

as "crazy," "nuts" or "insane." Children

hear adults complain about people driving "like madmen" or

behaving "like lunatics" when they are upset. Children are

aware of the hushed and embarrassed tones used by adults when referring

to relatives who have undergone psychiatric treatment. In other words,

children learn easily that it is bad to be associated with labels that

indicate a psychiatric problem.

As Tipper Gore observed in a May 1999 Time magazine article: "If

we are serious about stopping the violence and helping our children,

adults need to erase the stigma that prevents our kids from getting

the help they need for their mental health."

Both children and adults can overcome these negative attitudes through

education and understanding of mental illness. We would like to remind

everyone that mental health problems are real, common and treatable.

At Pathways Center for Behavioral and Developmental Growth we are

working every day to live up to this year's theme: "Mental Health Matters

in your life." Thank you for joining us in this effort.

(Joan Turner is executive director of Pathways Center for Behavioral

and Developmental Growth is a human services agency providing services

annually to some 6,000 persons with mental health issues, developmental

disabilities and addictive diseases in Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Meriwether

and Troup Counties. For services call 1-888-247-9048.)

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