The Disability Forum
Mary Etta Tubbs, B.A.
Pathways, Inc.
How DO you interact with people with a mental illness diagnosis?
This article is not intended to diagnose, only to provide education to increase public awareness and sensitivity.
All of us have the same needs, and all of us need support in some areas of our lives. People with any type of disability are no different in those needs and supports. A few of these basic needs include the need to feel safe and accepted, and to feel good about themselves; but what about people with mental illness?
- Study and get to know the symptoms and warning signs of mental illness.
- It is important to remember that symptoms vary from person to person.
- Because of changes, the individual with mental illness may process things differently.
- Because of the different processing, a person’s actions are not intended to scare, annoy, or irritate. Oftimes these types of actions are truly out of his/her control.
- It is necessary to encourage the individual to continue to take his/her medication and keep regular doctor and counseling visits.
- Encourage the individual in any activity.
- Do not avoid the individual. Maintain supportive contact on a regular basis.
- Encourage the individual to join a support group, if available.
- Do not refer to the individual as ‘psycho’, ‘lunatic’, ‘schizo’, or any other demeaning term. Instead, refer to him/her as an individual with a mental illness.
- Treat the individual with respect; smile; say hi; be yourself and show friendly interest.
- Most of all, do not be embarrassed or ‘hide’ the symptoms.
Pathways, Inc. is a family mental health clinic that provides relationship, individual & family counseling, Psycho-Social Rehabilitation, and service coordination. For more information, call 208-878-3350.
