I happened upon a blog this weekend being advertised by the Toronto Star that took me by surprise. The surprising thing was that this blog is about mental health and Sandy Naiman, the author, talks openly about her battles with mania.I am in love with this blog! I love that Sandy takes these issues that are still taboo in society and talks about them openly. Even the title of the blog "Coming out crazy" creates a certain impression and sense of intrigue. Sandy explains that admitting to someone that you have a mental illness is similar to a gay or lesbian coming out of the closet 20 years ago.
There's this stigma associated with mental illness that only certain people will suffer from it or happens for a reason and it's never really possible to be fully cured or sane. Even the site for the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health's National Mental Illness Awareness Week has a kind of tone to it that, although positive, makes it seem that mental illness is a cross that you have to bear and that you need a lot of help and medication before you can "lead a productive and fulfilling life."
Interestingly enough, Canada Post is the main sponsor of Mental Illness Awareness Week. First of all, this brings "going postal" to mind and all of the associated negative stigmas. I have to wonder at Canada Post's motivation behind sponsoring this campaign. Admittedly, Canada Post is the first major Canadian corporation to adopt mental health as their pet cause, however I have to question whether or not this is the right company to promote mental health. Mail service has a negative association with mental health and CAMIMH is almost trying to re-brand mental illness to break away from the negative stereotypes and make it more personal and easier to relate to.
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