Welcome to the second BlogFlash event! The first (#BlogFlash2012) was so well received that we decided to run it twice yearly. It’s a great opportunity to get creative, meet other bloggers and get a new audience. Whether you join us for the full month or just a few days, the main aim is to have fun and be inspired. Anything else is a bonus. Worried about word count? Don’t be! It’s a guideline so the month doesn’t feel overwhelming but if you feel inspired to write more, feel free. Good luck!
#BlogFlash2013: Day Five – Mental Health
Physical health, our own, the health of our loved ones, is our most valuable asset. Without it, we have nothing. But mental, emotional, psychological health is equally important. This we often forget. We’d never look down upon someone with heart disease, cancer or (unfortunately, nearly) any other grave, debilitating disease. Yet mental illness we stigmatize, those caught in its throes disparaged, humiliated, as though weak-willed, as if they’ve somehow caused or they deserve their affliction.
And yet are we not all at one time or another struck? Are we never anxious? Grief-stricken? Depressed? Buzz Aldren, Ludwig van Beethoven, Marlon Brando, Jim Carrey, Winston Churchill, Princess Diana, Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, Abraham Lincoln, Michelangelo, Isaac Newton, JK Rowling, Leo Tolstoy, Vincent Van Gogh-all brilliant, all accomplished, and all suffered from a mental illness. These people we accept openly; their mental illness is an aside. We don’t define them by it.
Isn’t it time to open our hearts to all our brothers and sisters suffering the heartbreaking effects of a mental illness-to offer acceptance, compassion, and hope?
Next prompt: Island (8th March)
Taking part? Please leave your post link in comments!
Amazing post. We have to move away from the idea that people can 'snap out of it' where illnesses such as depression are concerned. Appreciate the fact that that person is fighting every day and facing misunderstandings, prejudice and the constant accusation of "it's all in your head" alongside self-hatred, exhaustion, loneliness. Mental illness is life-threatening. It doesn't have to be so destructive but when there is such a stigma about talking about it – particularly admitting suicidal thoughts – people are going to suffer in silence until they can't anymore.
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Oops – I think I just #BlogFlashed with my comment!
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Thank you so much for posting this though. It's incredibly important.
Terri, I loved what you had to say about mental health. I've battled depression since the age of 15, so those words meant a lot to me. I wrote on it from a slightly different angle. http://schlediabenefield.blogspot.com/2013/03/phy…
What you say is so very true, I have also touched on mental health in my post too…
 http://dawn-hart.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/day-five-…
It's an awesome post. I really believe more people suffer from mental illness than that or everyone has at one time in their life. Some mental illness may be stigmatized to criminal acitivity like schizophrenia, bipolar, or antisocial disorder. Other times it's not what we think it is. I am still tussling with avoidant disorder and social anxiety and have been depressed. These are hard to overcome and takes more than a pill to treat them!
My post for today: https://www.backwoodsauthor.com/blog/
I don't know how I missed the 'mental' part of today's prompt, but I've been there too.Here's my, woops, Health post:  ;http://donnalsadd.wordpress.com/2013/03/07/blogflash2013-day-5-health/
This is a fabulous post Terri and so true! I know that it took me a long time to seek help when I went through a period of depression because I just pushed myself to come out of it on my own. I finally realized that was not going to happen (which I should have known with my family history) and talked to my doctor. I've been off medication for years now but if it happens again I know that I won't wait so long to get help again.
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I really love BlogFlash because I get to talk about things I normally wouldn't have on the blog. Here is mine for today: http://librarygirlreads.blogspot.com/2013/03/heal…
Yes, couldn't agree more.Â
 http://toscienceandbeyond.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/…
I deal with depression and other mental illness. It makes writing difficult sometimes. It makes promotion even worse. http://kimmydonn.com
[…] I was just about to do my piece for Health when I read Terri Giuliano Long’s entry on Mental Health and how stigmatized mental health illnesses still are. I pretty much did my #BlogFlash post in the […]
I went a bit morbid with this subject. Oops.  ;http://mervi.helmikuu.net/2013-03-day-5-health-blogflash2013
After reading your post, Terri, I had to go back and check my prompt list as I thought I'd got it wrong (phew!). It's sad to think how many people are affected by mental illness. Anyway, here's my offering for today  ;http://wp.me/p1UhOl-hs
Sorry for any confusion, Carlie!
We unfortunately as a society value people based on their 'productivity' or contributions to that society. Â People with mental health problems who contribute – we ignore the mental health problems. Â People with mental health problems who don't – we ignore the people, until they're in our lives or are ourselves.
 http://ariaglazki.blogspot.com/2013/03/flash-blog…
So true, Aria. Sad, but so very true.
Very powerful piece today, Terri. It will mean a lot to so many people. Thank you.
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I apologise for Mr Kain's post which is the usual grumble, grumble stuff.  ;http://diaryofmrkain.com/2013/03/blogflash2013-day-five-health/
Thank you, David. I'm touched that you think so!
http://rhondaleeauthor.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/b…
http://joykeeney.wordpress.com/2013/03/07/blogfla…
Eighty Six It's a very difficult one. I do believe in positive thinking and trying to look for positive changes, but I also believe that sometimes sadness can be so pervasive that that alone isn't enough. Too often we consider it a state of mind, rather than an illness, if someone is severely depressed.
Thank you for your link!
@Joy Keeney Thanks Joy!
@Rhonda Lee Thank you, Rhonda!
tasselflower Thank you for the link!
_mrs_b Thank you so much, Donna!
Schledia Benefield Thank you, Schledia! I'm so touched that they moved you!
Miss_Biggun Thank you for the link!
A_K_Taylor I completely agree, Amanda. We really need to open up more public discussion on treating mental illness. If we can't talk about it openly, how can we ever really address it and help people effectively?
Donna L Sadd Hi Donna – it was just 'Health' but I wanted my title to be clear for anyone who wasn't doing #BlogFlash2013 and saw the post on Twitter etc. Thank you for the link!
@Lesley Beeton
LibraryGirlRead Thank you, Angela! I'm so glad you were able to get help and support and that you feel able to do so again in the future if you ever need to. I truly hope you don't!
I can only imagine, Kimberly. It must be incredibly hard!
[…] #Blogflash2013: Day Five – Mental Health […]