Rally puts focus on mental health

More than 800 people in Colusa County suffer with mental illness. They are not alone.

Barbra Streisand, Donny Osmond, Patty Duke, Jim Carry, Axl Rose, Linda Hamilton, Carrie Fisher, Adam Ant, Dick Cavett and Richard Dreyfuss live with depression, bipolar disorder, mood disorder or post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Their fame often puts mental illness and its treatment in the spotlight, helping to bring about an end to the stigma associated with their conditions.

“There is nothing worse than suffering in silence,” said Diana Arnaud, who is living with post-traumatic stress disorder. “But most people don’t get help. That is the problem with stigma.”

At the eighth annual “Stamp out Stigma” rally Friday, Colusa County residents living with mental illness shared their stories. 

“Because of ignorance, people shy away from people with mental illness,” said Jeanie Irons, who has bipolar disorder. “We are considered weird or weak in character.”

Irons, 52, said she knew something was wrong for 15 years before she finally understood that she needed help.

“Bipolar disorder is one of the hardest to diagnose,” Irons said. “People often have long periods of depression or long periods of mania. I was grateful to finally learn more about my illness.”

In treatment for two years, Irons said going public with mental illness helps erase the stigma associated with the disorder.

“People with mental illness are often characterized as flawed, limited or not measuring up in some way,” she said. “That’s not true. There are 5.7 million people living with mental illness; probably just as many undiagnosed. We first have to educate ourselves so we are not afraid of us. Then we have to educate others.”

Colusa County Behavioral Health Director Curtis Boewer agreed. 

“Some people are afraid to enter our building,” he said. “They see the words ‘behavioral health’ and shy away. They shouldn’t.”

Boewer said people should not be afraid because treating mental illness isn’t much different than treating any disorder.

“Mental illness is a physical illness just like any other,” Boewer said. “The last time I checked, the brain was still a part of the body.”

Boewer believes that only half of the people in Colusa County suffering with a mental disorder seek help. He said programs and treat ment are available for children, youth and adults of all ages.

Programs that lost funding, such as Workforce, Training and Education, are being subsidized by a volunteer staff, according to Valerie Stirling, the WTE coordinator who organized Friday’s event.

Contact Susan Meeker at 458-2121 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.