"The mentally ill frighten and embarrass us. And so we marginalize the people who most need our acceptance."
This is so true, and so sad. When I had PTSD (and a revisit of my previously treated depression) after my first birth, some friends seemed determine to jolly me out of it, others maintained radio silence until I was cheerful again.
But far worse is watching my bipolar niece end up in hospital time and time again through repeated "attempts" on her life. Inverted commas becaue I really feel she doesn't necessarily want to die, but to hand over responsibility to someone else for her pain, and have people bloody well notice. The family (on my husbands' side) are supportive but so hush hush in a way, that every time she is checked in to a phsyc hospital she asks her mum, "haven't you told anyone?" and continues to think people don't care; but her mum just cannot open up about it and we all hear about it after several weeks have passed, by which time she's picked herself up and we're not sure whether to mention it.
I do worry she will suceed one day even if she doesn't mean it. She's already been on cardiac support after downing lots of pills. Now she's attempting to go cold turkey from her tablets, very bad idea, but she's embarrassed about the way they make her shake and people's reactions.
Having had a friend/childhood sweetheart, a friend of a friend, and my sisters best friend all take their own lives after suffering from various mental illnesses, I am so frustrated my the care for mentally ill people, and the attitudes to boot... so I for one am very glad to see someone as high profile as Glen Close lend their name to the cause. Thanks for the link.