The Power Behind Opening up About Mental Illnesses

01 The article “Carrie Fisher helped people realize the power of speaking out about mental illness” was published in Business Insider by Kevin Loria on December 29, 2016

02 Accomplished actress, author and script doctor Carrie Fisher led a successful professional life before her sudden death in December 2016, but she almost equally stands out for using her platform to speak about mental illness

03 At least 25 percent to 50 percent of the population will experience mental illness at some point in their life

04 Mental illness stigmas remain a large barrier that keep individuals from seeking treatment, even when the illness is especially detrimental to their health

05 Individuals opening up about their mental illnesses, especially those who aren’t celebrities, help others to gain the courage to seek treatment

Although extremely upsetting, the passing of Carrie Fisher was not in vain.

Many came to the internet to commemorate her strength, honesty and openness about her struggles with mental illness and the support and courage it gave others. The Twitter hashtag #InHonorOfCarrie gave a voice to sufferers to speak out about their own illnesses and carry on her legacy. Not only did Carrie’s outspokenness on mental illness help others to seek treatment, but it also worked to break the social stigma around having and/or treating an illness.

A professor and director of clinical training in UVA’s Department of Psychology, Bethany Teachman, spoke to Business Insider about the pervasiveness of mental illnesses, citing that between 25 percent 50 percent of the population will experience mental illness at some point.

With this number in mind, Teachman speaks to the danger and problem that the stigma creates for those looking to treat or speak up about their mental illness, saying, “… people struggle for years, trying to hide their problems and not getting help, with enormous costs to their relationships, work, emotional and physical health." She goes on to discuss the serious issue this poses to those with potentially dangerous mental illnesses, like bipolar disorder, where “between one-quarter and one-half of people with bipolar disorder attempt suicide at some point in their lives.”

A way to battle that, Teachman continues, is to speak out because "it can make a big difference … [and] it helps people to realize that these problems are common and don’t need to be hidden." Fisher, like so many others, understood and did just that. But Teachman stresses the importance of not only looking to celebrities, but peers and others online, to find someone to relate to. While the openness is encouraging and helps those find the courage to speak out and seek help, Teachmean notes that the stigma and struggle to deal with mental illness has a long road.

Read the full article on Business Insider here.