The Fallacy of the Stigma of Mental Illness

This morning, I am pondering why there seems to be a rash of celebrity deaths attributed to suicide.

Why is there such a feeling of hopelessness, despair, and anxiety in a country where we seemingly have everything we could ever want, need, or desire? From our cars, houses, and entertainment options to legalized marijuana and alcohol, the United States has everything for everyone in super-sized doses, but I believe we have lost the one thing that really made America great and that is the ability to be good friends and neighbors.

From the time I can remember neighbors helped neighbors when they had a difficult time like the passing of a loved one, critical illness or injury, or when someone was deployed in service to the country. But, even when neighbors helped, those being helped would keep their pain and anguish hidden behind the facade that everything was all right. The rule in many families was that you had to ‘keep a stiff upper lip’ and not let anyone know that you were dealing with any mental anguish, anxiety, stress, or sadness. The belief that people who showed these ‘weaknesses’ were somehow inferior to those who could successfully keep the facade of everything’s…