The Black River is a journey in faith. It delves into an exploration of life: from the calm, clear waters of the good days, the mundane, to the swirling eddies and deep waters of issues that face every one of us. Thank you for visiting this site. You can contact me personally at: godandtheblackriver@gmail.com
Saturday 16 March 2013
Masks Off! by Susan L.
On the news last night, there was a story about a growing collaboration of people who want the name schizophrenic changed. This is because of the terrible, punitive stigma that comes with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Quick question: what does that name bring to mind?
Let's face it. Labels hurt. Stereotypes hurt. Assumptions hurt. All they do is fan the fires of fear and distrust.
I know several people saddled with this diagnosis. None of them are ax murderers or wandering the streets. They are intelligent, articulate people with lives like you and I. They have spouses, children, and jobs. They get angry, sad, and can laugh at a good joke.
Sounds human to me.
What really bothers me is that any label associated with mental illness supercedes a human identity. We become an illness. I don't think that happens with people fighting cancer or lupus or the flu. Well, maybe people with the flu get shunned. It's catchable.
Mental illness isn't.
"But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves." Acts 18:15
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