A Love Letter to the Mentally Ill in Celebration of Shared Humanity
By Aliza Pantoja
Sometimes I forget my name and where I am because I have a dissociative disorder that alters my identity, my memory, and my connection to the world. It can be difficult to feel successful when I struggle with the simple upkeep of normal social and professional personas. I forget that although I have no choice but to adapt, my adaptability is a strength. There is a battle to overcome the social and internalized stigmas of mental illness because they foster unhealthy narratives for a deeply marginalized group of people. In this respect, this month of May, being Mental Health Awareness Month, can be used as a catalyst for changes in policies, changes in healthcare accessibility, and changes in the perceptions of the mentally ill. This month is a celebration and an opportunity to promote collective empowerment and liberation. It is a beacon of love, and it is OUR battle cry that allows us to see and be seen.
Mental health advocacy is a crucial tool for teaching the public how to distinguish and analyze the basis of prejudice and biases against the mentally ill. It demonstrates the importance of communities seeking to find methods of deconstructing social and health barriers. It also exposes the general public to issues that mentally ill people experience on a daily basis. Advocacy-based resources further cultural competency about mental health and provide tools that teach people how to be an advocate, provide support, and care for people with mental illnesses.
Public recognition of the importance of accurate portrayals of lived experiences play a major role in deconstructing oppressive systems. Once society has fully integrated the importance of representing “healthy” depictions of mental illness, people with psychiatric disorders will not have to hide or be fearful of checking the figurative “disability box.” Ultimately, the narrative can be changed from “Why and how should we place limitations on people with mental illnesses?” to “How can we create a society that provides equal opportunities for people of all abilities?” This powerful change in the narrative can encourage people to become better advocates for a more compassionate and empathetic world, where people with disabilities are considered “different,” but not “less.”
Happy Mental Health Awareness Month!
Additional Resources:
National Alliance on Mental Illness (Nevada)
Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention - 775-784-8085 or text LISTEN to 839863. Services are free, confidential, and 24/7
Cleveland Clinic (Depersonalization Disorder)
Aliza Pantoja is the Administrative Assistant at Nevada Humanities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. She is a poet and an avid traveler, and she hopes to become a stronger advocate for people with Depersonalization Derealization Disorder.