Mental Illness.

Sometimes, people don't notice until it's too late, until you're too far gone. Millions of people lose their life every year through suicide because they've been suffering in silence, because they've been too afraid to reach out. We live in a judgmental world, where very little is deemed as acceptable or 'normal'.

Mental illnesses are surrounded by stigma.

It’s difficult to explain. It’s not like having a broken leg, no one can see it and you don’t know when it’s going to heal. You start avoiding friends, spending more and more time on your own. The things you used to like, you don’t like anymore. Day by day, you lose grip of who you are, until it gets to the point where you don’t know who’s staring back at you when you look in the mirror. You don’t sleep anymore. You’re awake all night being taunted by the memories and the pain which refuses to fade. You feel like you’re drowning — completely consumed by darkness. You try everything to make it go away but nothing works. It’s always there, always at the back of your mind. You still smile though. No one notices your tired eyes or your pained expression, they only see the broken smile that twists at the corners of your mouth. How are you? "I’m fine", you say and no one questions it further.

But why? Why do people shun mental illness? Because they don't understand, that's why. It's not easy to understand, especially if you've never experienced it yourself or been around someone who does.

Right, now hands up if you've ever called someone a nutter or a loony. I think the majority of us have, haven't we?  Now, there's one thing you have to remember. There is almost always a reason for someone's behaviour, it might not be obvious but that's because people hide things and more often than not, when we talk to someone, even when we're friends with someone, we barely scratch the surface of who they really are.

That girl who's got a drink problem -- How do you know that she's not being abused at home?
That boy who self harms -- How do you know that he doesn't go home every night and cries himself to sleep because he doesn't think he's good enough?
That man you just called a nutter -- How do you know that she hasn't lost someone important to her?
That girl you just called fat -- How do you know she hasn't got an eating disorder?

YOU DON'T KNOW. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT GOES ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

Why aren't we supporting them instead of mocking them?

People don't speak out, people don't talk about it. Being mentally ill is NOTHING to be ashamed of. Change that, be the person who's brave enough to reach out to someone in need, talk about it. Don't shun it or laugh because you don't understand.