Shedding the stigma of mental healthcare

Posted on June 10, 2017
The unseen nature of mental illness interferes with treatment according to the head of Pontiac’s Institute for Human Resources. (WJBC file photo)

By Cynthia Grau

PONTIAC – Mental healthcare has carried with it a stigma for some time, causing people to feel embarrassed to the point of sometimes avoiding the care they need, according to the head of the Institute for Human Resources in Pontiac.

Joe Vaughan, executive director of IHR, explained that, unlike other illnesses that are more visible, mental illness can’t always be seen.

“When you can’t see something, it’s hard to understand it,” Vaughan said. “I think it’s easy for other people to label it like, ‘Oh they’re just crazy’ or ‘they’re nuts’ and we’ve heard all of the terms people use throughout. I think it’s getting better, but I think if we can shake some of that stigma, people would be more comfortable to come in and work with a counselor and talk about some of the issues they may be experiencing.”

For more information, call IHR at 815-844-6109.

Cynthia Grau can be reached at [email protected].

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