I have a good friend who has a mental illness. In fact, I have several wonderful friends who struggle everyday with a mental health condition, but Gabe – Gabe Howard – is the only one I know brave enough to speak out, and speak out loudly about it, even though by his own admission he lives in fear. Here’s what I’ve learned from Gabe: That even though he is brave enough to speak out and advocate for others who have a mental illness, is managing his illness well with medication and therapy and is a motivator, author and well-recognized public speaker, he still lives in fear.
Gabe, in his book “Mental Illness is an Asshole and Other Observations,” says, “As a person living with a mental illness, I am afraid. I fear for myself because the reality of relapse, pain, suffering, and even death is very real.
“The public debate over involuntary treatment, the undermining of privacy rights and eliminating due process, is also cause for me to be afraid. Society openly talking about what is best for me as if I have nothing to offer in the conversation is frightening. The outcomes of these debates have very real and potentially negative consequences to my life.” (gabe@gabehoward.com)
Sadly, divulging to anyone that you have a mental illness is not an easy step to take, especially in the workplace. It’s one thing living with the fear of having a mental illness. It’s another living with the fear of being found out. I have heard many sad stories shared by those living with a mental health condition as to how they have been fired, denied being hired or denied other opportunities that came their way because they had been transparent about their mental health or discovered.
Society wants something done about the people who have mental illness because of fear. Unfortunately, people are not something we can outlaw like guns. Gabe says that in his opinion society needs to find a way to do something about the illnesses. “It’s the illnesses which are the problem,” he says. “Starters could be a better understanding of what mental illness is.“
I would add that people who have the illnesses need to take a positive approach to treatment and seek help. Working together we might get this done. Let this be our mission to make life better together – for all – free from fear.
Submitted by:
Dodie Melvin, director
NAMI Knox Licking County Ohio
740-392-0242
