A Shout out to the ones who Love!!

I received a long letter this morning that reminded me that there are people silently sitting by, Loving and Cherishing those who suffer Mental Health issues. These are the Parents, Sisters, Brothers, Aunts and Uncles. The friends that stand by and visit, The people who help to pick up the pieces. The Nurses and Doctors and Social Workers who have dedicated their lives and careers to care for those of us who cannot always care for ourselves. I am forever and truly grateful. There really are now words to express how my life would have turned out with out them. I am sure it would have become nothing good. I have felt like I have lost everything, every dream stolen by a mind that could never function quite right. The reality is though that I could have lost so much more with out these people.

Here is a portion of that letter.
But respecting what you are doing so well in your blog, I want to add: The simple truth is that those suffering with a mental illness are not the only ones that suffer. One in four Canadians is affected by Mental Health issues, for the most part these numbers come from depression, where a large number of people are afflicted at some point in their lives. But the reality is that for every person affected by a mental health issue there are 10 people also affected. The costs to families and loved ones as they try to deal with this issue, ripples like dominoes, the costs to families, the costs to the health care system, the costs to society are tenfold. And yet there is more money spent on AIDS research then there is on Mental Health, do not get me wrong, I think there should be money spent on AIDS research, but if AIDS affects one in ten, and Mental Health affects one in four Canadians, then there should be a proportionate amount spend on Mental Health issues. Like AIDS, the only way to do this it to stop the stigma.

Mental Illness and Addiction appears to be such a selfish disease, perhaps it is. Perhaps it is the selfishness that keeps that small part of us that is just rational enough to remember we are human and that we hurt. It becomes very, very easy to forget or to not ever realise that there are people around us who care. We do not have to commit suicide to see that no one would care enough to show up to our funeral. We don't have to hide ourselves away out of fear of "being seen like this". WE ARE LOVED. And those who love us DO stand by and often watch helplessly while we battle the madness and self hatred.

There is hope, there is always hope.
I choose to write this blog out of love and compassion for those who feel lost, judged, and lonely. Please remember that You Are Never Alone in this fight for life.

XOXOXO