Posted by Mervyn Matthews
on August 4, 2001, 10:46 pm
I myself have been affected by stigma. I can remember when I first started having symptoms of schizophrenia, I refused to get help. I thought the first thing my friends would say is, "he's crazy" so I avoided help. Now, some years later, and working as a Peer Counselor I see the need to combat stigma.Even though we've come a long way from the days of being chained, from having labotomies,from being put on remote islands and being sent to the funny farm, I applaud the progress. With the advent of the newer and less bothersome medications we can now get on with our lives. Personally, I don't think we are going to get rid of stigma, unfortunately, but that's the way life is. We are always going to have people with narrow minds and insensitive people. All we can do is pray and hope life for our kids and grandkids is much more palatable. Hopefully we can leave this wretched earth in better shape. But people are people and as I said it's not a perfect world so, we have to brace ourselves for the struggle has just begun. As it's said in the bible, "the strong must bear the infirmities of the weak" so, as a body the stong ones among us much shoulder more of the strain. We must take our fight to all that need to hear our cry. It is not impossible but, we have to be in one accord. We can't be a devided house. But as I said we are not going to get rid of stigma but we can surely educate people. Humans are human all falling short of the glory of God so, there will always be sin and imperfection. But life goes on. There is a fight to be fought. We have to come out in numbers. We have to write letters. We have to say enough is enough. But again, this is not a perfect world. So, let's do what we can do. The battle started ages ago by Saint Dymphna who was much more saintly than us and who tried to make a difference but this not a perfect world. So let's take it to the streets. Let our voices be heard. NO PUN INTENDED.
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