STIGMA –

My book, ONE SUCH AS ME? describes how I spoke extensively to Christians about how individuals with mental health problems need the support of those who know God’s love. I helped them understand the importance of sharing his love with those who were being rejected by the world.

The story I tell in my book only goes from 2000 to the year 2014. I don’t talk about the years of grief that followed. I don’t tell about how I’ve been trying to be a voice for the many of us who are feeling the pain of rejection.

Because yes. Despite what people think, there is still much stigma, at least from my perspective, and probably from the perspectives of many who are hurt by it.

What I wrote below will help explain why I wrote the book in the first place. I needed to keep the good memories alive—even if only for myself. But more than anything the book will help readers understand to what extent our voices have been lost. The book shows the voice I once had – but have no longer. It will surprise you.

WHERE ARE OUR VOICES TODAY?

I strongly feel that the discrimination towards those with lived experience is in many ways worse than it was before all the efforts that have been made to equip churches with an understanding of mental health challenges so that they will effectively support individuals with such challenges. The voices of professionals are being heard, but the voices of those who are hurting because of stigma are being lost. We are looked upon as “victims” of mental health challenges. But we’re not seen as the “victors” we could become.

Starting in the year 2000, I saw the injustice in how the Church treated people like me. So many were leaving their churches, finding the shame they experienced there unbearable. In 2006, I started the Living Room peer support ministry for people with mood disorders. They found solace there—a place where they were spiritually fed, a place where they had opportunities to share with others the troubles they faced with their mental health. They found out they were not alone.

My new book tells of how, in 2011, I spoke alongside Sharon Smith, the founder of Sanctuary Mental Health ministries, at a historic lecture at Regent College. At that time, the voices of people with mental health challenges were being listened to. What we had to say still counted for something.

Quoting from my ONE SUCH AS ME?:

“On November 11, 2011, I took part in the lecture at Regent College, speaking to upcoming pastors. I told them what it’s like to live with bipolar disorder. I described what my life is like now-a-days. As I spoke, I thought, “Can I help them understand? Even a little bit? Enough so that they’ll be compassionate towards others who have bipolar disorder? Enough so that they’ll know how to offer support?”

These kinds of opportunities to have our voices heard are happening less and less. And perhaps this is why:

In 2014, when I could not continue leading the Living Room movement, it was entrusted to an organization that did not have a passion for it. In 2018, the Living Room ministry was, for all intents and purposes, abandoned by this organization.

We lost the voice we once had. Today there are few opportunities to have our perspectives, our pain, and our unique needs known. Those who want to be supportive are hearing about what it means to have mental illness. But few are hearing from the ones who truly know.

Worse than that: When Living Room groups disappeared, so did the spiritual support that Living Room had offered.

People have been telling me that they think the stigma of mental illness is not as bad as it once was. And I think to myself, from whose point of view? Because I don’t think anyone is considering the points of view of those who live with it. It’s as though their points of view don’t exist. At least, they’re not being heard.

Where have our voices gone?

marja