Comments on: Tell Me More About Depression: Signs, Symptoms, And Treatments http://www.blisstree.com/articles/tell-me-more-about-depression-signs-symptoms-and-treatments-234/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:04:38 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader http://www.blisstree.com/articles/tell-me-more-about-depression-signs-symptoms-and-treatments-234/comment-page-1/#comment-103457 Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:18:37 +0000 http://www.mentalhealthnotes.com/2008/06/09/tell-me-more-about-depression-signs-symptoms-and-treatments/#comment-103457 @ Marijke - Thanks for chiming in. I wholeheartedly agree - it is definitely a shame. I can't fathom why people continue to turn their heads and contribute to stigma, when these mental health issues can be properly treated and managed so that lives can be restored and saved. The resources are out there - the medications and therapies and support are out there - but sadly, some folks don't get that until it happens to them or someone in their lives. Several years ago, when I was working through college, my boss at the time (at a retail store) hired a lady "who had bipolar disorder and had suffered a nervous breakdown a few years ago - she's OK now but we should keep our eyes open" (information passed along in a hushed voice and a facial expression that clearly suggested she - my boss - was waiting for a shocked reaction). Unfortunately, this was all before I was active in mental health advocacy and had the knowledge to set my boss straight; however, I kept wondering why my boss thought she could pass this personal health information along to us and why we were supposed to "keep our eyes open." To make sure the woman stayed safe, or to make sure nothing happened to embarrass the store's reputation? I fear it was the latter. @ Marijke – Thanks for chiming in. I wholeheartedly agree – it is definitely a shame. I can’t fathom why people continue to turn their heads and contribute to stigma, when these mental health issues can be properly treated and managed so that lives can be restored and saved. The resources are out there – the medications and therapies and support are out there – but sadly, some folks don’t get that until it happens to them or someone in their lives.

Several years ago, when I was working through college, my boss at the time (at a retail store) hired a lady “who had bipolar disorder and had suffered a nervous breakdown a few years ago – she’s OK now but we should keep our eyes open” (information passed along in a hushed voice and a facial expression that clearly suggested she – my boss – was waiting for a shocked reaction).

Unfortunately, this was all before I was active in mental health advocacy and had the knowledge to set my boss straight; however, I kept wondering why my boss thought she could pass this personal health information along to us and why we were supposed to “keep our eyes open.” To make sure the woman stayed safe, or to make sure nothing happened to embarrass the store’s reputation? I fear it was the latter.

]]> By: Marijke http://www.blisstree.com/articles/tell-me-more-about-depression-signs-symptoms-and-treatments-234/comment-page-1/#comment-103454 Marijke Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:35:37 +0000 http://www.mentalhealthnotes.com/2008/06/09/tell-me-more-about-depression-signs-symptoms-and-treatments/#comment-103454 As someone whose life was saved with therapy and antidepressants and who had one brother try to commit suicide and another take his life successfully, I am all too aware of the harm and damage this illness does. It's really a shame that it is still not recognized - not by those who have it - but by those who live with, work with and interact with people who have it. As someone whose life was saved with therapy and antidepressants and who had one brother try to commit suicide and another take his life successfully, I am all too aware of the harm and damage this illness does.

It’s really a shame that it is still not recognized – not by those who have it – but by those who live with, work with and interact with people who have it.

]]> By: Introducing Celebrity Health Week: Celebrities And Mental Illness http://www.blisstree.com/articles/tell-me-more-about-depression-signs-symptoms-and-treatments-234/comment-page-1/#comment-103436 Introducing Celebrity Health Week: Celebrities And Mental Illness Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:16:00 +0000 http://www.mentalhealthnotes.com/2008/06/09/tell-me-more-about-depression-signs-symptoms-and-treatments/#comment-103436 [...] Tell Me More about Depression [...] [...] Tell Me More about Depression [...]

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