I know that stigma seems to be one of my favorite topics to write about on my blog, but it is for a reason.  If we do not fight against mental illness stigma, no one is going to want to get help because they feel too embarrassed and afraid about what the world thinks of them. 

I had a client explain to me that he was actually afraid to go on a trip with his buddies because he was afraid that they would figure out that he had a mental illness and start to talk about him behind his back.  When I explained to this man that one in four Americans are diagnosed with mental illness, he seemed surprised.  He was even more surprised when I broke it down further for him: of the twelve guys that he was about to go on the trip with, three of them most likely had experienced mental illness.  He couldn't believe it. 

Why should this man feel so alone?  It is because of stigma.  Our media and pop culture stigmatizes these illnesses like no other. I leave you with the perfect example of stigma.  Check out this popular song that came out just a few short years ago.  It is called "Crazy":