by Donna Gibbs
Following the recent discussions in media regarding the state of mental health in America, I’ve had the privilege of having some private discussions with clients about their thoughts. An over-riding theme among them is their difficulty with the phrase “mental illness”. The terminology carries a stigma that was likely never intended, and causes many to fear the word, or anything/anyone associated with the word.
Mental illness is considered a health condition impacting thoughts, emotions, and/or behaviors. Unfortunately, the terminology covers a vast amount of territory, leaving it rather confusing to understand. ADHD, Adjustment Disorders, Trauma-related Disorders, Depression, Anxiety, Eating Disorders, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Sexual Dysfunction, Addictions. These are just some examples of the everyday struggles of many. Your friends. Your family. Your neighbors. The kids in your classroom. Perhaps yourself. However, the same term, “mental illness”, also includes Personality Disorders, Psychotic Disorders, and Conduct/Anti-social Disorders. These are less common, and also more serious. These less common disorders also require a higher level of specialized care.
I can assure you, someone who shoots up a classroom of innocent children is not someone who struggles with the everyday forms of “mental illness”. These violent offenders are not people who simply struggle with bouts of anxiety, or moderate episodes of depression (considered the most common forms of mental illness). You can imagine the additional shame brought upon someone who struggles with a common condition like depression or anxiety, who feels that they are placed in the same category as someone who would massacre groups of indefensible young people. My fear is that in our effort to address the obvious brokenness of mental health care, we would drive away hurting people who don’t want others to ever think they would be capable of the unthinkable. Because the average person truly isn’t capable of the unthinkable!
Let’s shift our terminology. First of all, let’s think more in terms of wellness vs illness (because a person who struggles with the everyday issues just wants to be well). Let’s think of the everyday mental health struggles as just that – everyday mental health or brain health struggles. These are the people we see in counseling every day. Yes, their symptoms impact their functioning. Yes, they need some assistance in facilitating wellness. But, in general, they are not a danger to society.
Likewise, let’s separate out the more serious, potentially threatening, types of mental illnesses as mental illness disorders. And let’s strategize our efforts according to this distinction, clearly communicating to our churches, our schools, our workplaces, and society in general, that not all mental illness is equal. Mental health professionals clearly know the distinction between these groups of patients. But we have done a poor job educating the general public in this distinction, and this failure, I fear, has fueled a very challenging stigma.
Partner with me, my friends. Let’s change the culture, break the stigmas, provide thorough and accessible opportunities for wellness for those who hurt, and a higher level of care and intensive prevention efforts for those whose mental illness disorders are left untreated and unaddressed. Without change… we’ll see no change.
Donna Gibbs, co-owner of Summit Wellness Centers, PLLC, is author of the recent releases, Silencing Insecurity and Becoming Resilient. Donna has authored numerous other books, her blogs are frequently shared in various media outlets, and she is commonly featured on radio broadcasts across America, and occasionally internationally as well. Donna has been providing individuals and families the hope and help they need for more than twenty years as a national certified counselor, board-certified professional Christian counselor, and licensed professional counselor supervisor. A member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), she is a leading professional provider for Focus on the Family, Christian Care Network, r3Continuum, FINDINGbalance, and Samaritan’s Purse.
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