With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, I feel this is the perfect time to bring attention to the topic of mental illness. I’m going to be very blunt in this post as I think it’s ridiculous that a stigma for mental illness still exists in our society. I know just how very real mental illness is as it runs in my family. For those who think that people can and do have better control over their actions and feelings, I’m here to say that’s not the case for everyone (at least not all the time). It’s a daily struggle and becoming overwhelmed easily is a big part of the problem.
I lost two people within the past three years who I loved and cared about very dearly. They both struggled with severe mental illness for many years and that’s what ultimately led to their demise.
My friend Paul had bipolar disorder and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound December 2018. My brother Scott struggled with bipolar and schizophrenia and became suddenly ill in August 2019 from Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) which is believed to be caused by years of using anti-psychotic drugs and/or not taking them appropriately. He suffered for three weeks in ICU before passing away from this condition. Scott had been on psych meds for many years and his meds were always being changed since they would lose their effectiveness. He was also known not to take his medication correctly.
Shortly after Scott passed away, I learned that he was prescribed five different psych meds at one time (Wellbutrin, Effexor, Depakote, Olanzapine, and Trazodone) and most were high doses. I had never heard of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) until this happened to my brother. It’s a rare condition in that 1 to 2 in 10,000 people on psych meds can develop it. And, for those who develop it, as many as 20% can die from it. After seeing all my brother’s prescriptions after he died, I thought to myself, “Well, no wonder he developed NMS.” My brother also had underlying health conditions which exacerbated the issue.
Scott and Paul were both very bright, talented, and fun-loving people, but they struggled with low self-esteem, completing tasks, and a lack of consistent motivation and self-care. They had very few friends due to their illnesses. They were also good at hiding their pain much of the time. However, when they did reach out for help and were advised on things to do naturally to take care of themselves, physically and mentally, they weren’t always able. Naturally, the lack of self-care can lead to physical health issues and social problems such as diabetes, heart problems, substance abuse, homelessness, incarceration, etc. It’s a vicious cycle and a difficult life to endure.
No one wants to suffer from mental illness, but for Scott and Paul there was shame and embarrassment that came with it. This wasn’t as bad for my brother in the last few years as he grew to accept it more, but growing up it was always kept a secret.
I only wish that both of them never had to experience the stigma of mental illness and were able to receive early and aggressive cognitive behavioral therapy rather than mostly relying on medications throughout their lives. Neither one of them were very open to group therapy for various reasons which also made it difficult in managing their illnesses.
While improvements have been made, continued work needs to be done. I only hope that we as a society can become more understanding and empathetic towards people who struggle with mental illness. Not only should we be kind to everyone we meet (while having healthy boundaries), but we need to educate everyone more on this topic. Also, as parents, we need to be better educated on coping skills so that we can help our kids be more resilient instead of enabling them. And, as role models, we all need to practice regular self-care.
If anyone you know is struggling right now with any type of mental health condition, encourage them to reach out for help and try multiple coping mechanisms. Exercise, a healthy diet, managing stress, and taking medications appropriately can go a long way in improving mental health. I would be much worse off mentally if I didn’t do these things to take care of myself. The majority of people can manage their mental illness if they get the right help, get it early on, and do it consistently. They shouldn’t just rely on one or two things to help them. Sometimes, it might take numerous self-help and professional tools to get the help they need. And, that’s ok.
For more information on Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome – https://www.cancertherapyadvisor.com/home/decision-support-in-medicine/hospital-medicine/neuroleptic-malignant-syndrome/
Amy Lutzel, Ivy Tech Wellness Manager, is not only a Certified QPR Gatekeeper Instructor, but also trained in ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid, and is currently working on her master’s degree at the University of Missouri’s School of Education and Counseling Psychology.
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