My IMH Story Preface

My IMH Story Preface

24/7/2012 Tuesday 10:10pm

As I read Life wise 2011, I write.

Adapted version of Lifewise 2012:

The stigma of illness can be a painful thing, sometimes even more so than the symptoms presented by the disease that an individual may be unfortunate enough to suffer from. This is especially so in the case of conditions which have visible manifestations. A case in point is mental illness. Chronically mentally ill patients, has painted a stigmatised picture of us mental patients when people see them talking to themselves on the streets, they seemingly can hear extraterrestrial voices or exudes weird behaviours. One chronically ill patient can be a say-all to stigmatise mentally ill patients, where mental illness can also be just being mildly depressed about family issues for example. The chronic mental condition – which might essentially be a result of stresses and the environment – presents as unsightly behaviour in the society as a whole. This often leads to fears that the person is to be avoided and (irrationally) leads others to believe that mental illness is the result of a ‘cuckooed’ mind on the part of the sufferer. My story (ie thebipolarsstorygen) attempts to debunk these notions by casting light on the condition and hearing from those afflicted by it about how we have dealt with this life changing malady.

            Also, how well a person copes with disease/illness is often dependent on the level of support and understanding he or she received from medical experts, family member, friends and caregivers. A following letter I’d write about the plight of patients having mental illness – with the lack of support and understanding from the people will feature and reinforce the importance of the role that people – other than the sufferer – can play in management of illness and the maintenance of a good quality of life.

To drive this message home, we pay tribute to the everyday heroes who’ve made it through mental illness, hospitalisation, pain or distress. Compassion, a non-judgemental attitude and dedication are the foremost qualities that our healthcare nurses should demonstrate, time and again.

To talk about the mentally ill-ed, their contributions of this special community have been immeasurably speaking in ilks of bipolareans Mel Gibson, Britney and Charlie Chaplin. In commemoration of World Mental Health day, I speak to four mentally ill-ed patients on what drive them in their exciting and rewarding journeys.

As we celebrate our nation’s 46^th birthday in August, I as a person who has gone through labels of mental illness hope that this level of concern and compassion towards those who are beset by illness will hit greater heights. And for those who are fortunate to enjoy freedom from disease/illnesses, be mindful never to take it for granted, as the ill look for abundant life too. For Jesus in the Bible was right when He said that “I came so that you may have life, and have it more abundantly”. And as Mahatma Gandhi said: “I will not let anymore walk through my mind with their dirty feet.” It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver – and the sooner we remember this, the better.