With Mental Illness You Won’t Get a Casserole

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Trish Lockard is the author of Make a Difference with Mental Health Activism and a freelance editor and writer. Her business offers manuscript assessment and all levels of editing, from developmental down to proofreading. She volunteers for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI.)

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National Alliance on Mental Illness

As the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, NAMI is dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illnesses, which are brain disorders affecting mood, thinking, and behavior. Each state has local affiliates, each affiliate has a steering committee that is its local governing body. In Tennessee, I am the chair of the steering committee in Maryville, just south of Knoxville. I am also a classroom educator, press liaison, outreach coordinator, and support group facilitator.

NAMI has a three-pronged approach to its mission: advocacy, education, and support. NAMI offers stronger family and caregiver support services than other organizations, but it shares the policy mission of several groups that work toward improving the lives of those with mental illness, such as Mental Health America, the American Psychiatric Association, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, the American Psychological Association, and the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems.

Should You Care About Mental Illness?

Yes, you should. Most people get uncomfortable or tongue-tied when the topic of mental illness comes up. Many don’t even realize that depression and anxiety are considered mental illnesses. So, if mental illness does not affect you, a family member, co-worker, or friend, count yourself lucky. Statistically very lucky. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), mental illnesses are common in the United States. In 2017, it was estimated that one in five US adults has a diagnosed mental illness—that’s 46.6 million people.

[Are you ready to help? Read Make a Difference with Mental Health Activism.]

No Casserole for You

Referring to the title of this article, people say that mental illness is the “Non-Casserole” illness. Dr. Judith J. Wurtman wrote for Psychology Today online in May 2018:

A friend who has written extensively about families with mentally ill children told me that people refer to mental illness as the “Non-Casserole Disease.” I thought I knew what she meant but asked her to clarify.

So, if you find out that someone has broken a leg, or is going through chemotherapy, you bring over food to help out. But if you learn that someone’s teenage son is diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, or your friend’s husband has major depression, you stay away. No casseroles… – Dr. Judith J. Wurtman

Is Wurtman’s friend right? In my experience, she is.

Consider the Consequences

In a series of articles for Life At the Intersection, I will discuss the impact of mental illness in six areas:

Stigma, the #1 reason the mentally ill do not seek treatment and suffer discrimination
Childhood trauma and the hot topic of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Incorporation of mental health education into health education in K-12
Alcohol and substance abuse, with a focus on the opioid epidemic
Prison overpopulation related to the use of jails and prisons to house the mentally ill
Rise in suicide among teens and children
Parity in mental health care, achieved through the ACA and now under attack

Within each area, I hope to inspire action, encourage progress, end stigma, and build an understanding of this community of more than 46 million men, women, and children.