By Marjorie Baldwin | Mar. 19, 2018 A recent survey reports that 47% of adults living with schizophrenia drop out of college, compared to the 27% college dropout rate in the U.S. overall. Another study reports that students diagnosed with bipolar disorder are 70% more likely to drop out of college than students with no psychiatric diagnosis. My son was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his junior year of college. I was devastated by what I
April 20, 2018
Showing Strength in the Face of Mental Illness
By Jennifer Pellecchia | Apr. 11, 2018 My name is Jennifer, and I’ve lived with mental illness for most of my life. I’m diagnosed with major depressive disorder, anxiety and an eating disorder. I have high-functioning mental illness, so even at my worst, I appear to be at my best. I’ve been able to live a full life, and, on the outside, I seem to have everything together. My parents didn’t know, my family and
By Laura Greenstein | Mar. 12, 2018 NAMI NATIONAL Each year, about 100,000 youth and young adults experience psychosis for the first time. They might see or hear things that aren’t there. They may believe things that aren’t true. It’s like “having a nightmare while you’re awake,” describes Elyn Saks, a legal scholar and mental health-policy advocate. Unfortunately, when someone starts having these frightening experiences, doctors and medical professionals often tell them that
March 7, 2018
How Depression Made Me a Man
“Be strong!” “Toughen up!” “Don’t cry!” Never did someone stand over me as a kid and yell, “Let it out! It’s okay to cry! It’s human to hurt!” From my football coaches to my own father, it seems as though the social norm for men is to be some kind of impenetrable mountain of muscle that feels no pain and has no emotion. If we’re not hunting or fighting or eating a bloody, rare steak,
Educational topics always serve well. Also, having lay counselors who know the community resources may be important for their congregations and their communities. Supports for families that are trying to support a loved one with mental health issues. Last, they can talk about mental health from the pulpit to help real the stigma.
