‘Without a Face’: Confronting Mental Illness
One in ten people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with a long-term, non-debilitating or situational and temporary mental illness. I fall into the latter category.
When faced with the choice of relinquishing full custody of my children, then 5 and 10 years old, to their father or raising them myself with absolutely no help from him, I lost it. Overwhelmed, frightened, alternately depressed or crying hysterically (sometimes within in the same five minutes), I just couldn’t cope. Evenually, I ended up in a locked psyc ward.
Professional local photographer “Michael Philip and I have created a show, ‘Without a Face, the eyes of mental illness,’ to be presented in Space 2 at The Studios of Key West on January 16 during Walk on White,” reported Sherry Read, longtime activist on behalf of the mentally ill. “The overall reason behind doing this installation is to further public awareness and to reduce stigma about mental illness. Another reason, of course, is to highlight the good work of Heron-Peacock Supported Living, which provides a safe and happy home for up to 45 people in Key West and Marathon” and which Read serves as president.
“Michael and I want to use the arts as an on-ramp to create a forum for this particular issue so that viewers become more aware of the social stereotyping dynamic which prevents people with mental illness from making more progress. Stigma occurs every time a legislator votes against more mental health funding and every time a person is shut out of an education, job, housing, a friendship, or even medical care,” Read said.
“Stigma is so pervasive in our country that even people with mental illnesses are prejudiced against themselves, refusing to admit or accept treatment for their illness because of the shame they feel in having such an illness!
“I find it ironic that so many accomplished, talented people in the arts admit to having a mental illness while, at the same time, so many ‘regular’ people try to hide their illness in shame. Richard Dreyfuss, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jane Pauley, Rod Steiger, William Stryon, Art Buchwald to name a few. We hope our arts and social cause installation will ‘open more eyes’ about these no-fault brain illnesses.”
According to Read, one in four adults experiences a mental health disorder in a given year and one in 17 adults in this country suffer with mental illness so severe that they cannot live normal, independent lives. Some live at home with loving caretakers. Some must be ospitalized, long term. Others are fortunate to have the shelter of a Heron-Peacock.
I was lucky. After two weeks of hospitalization and a month or so of supportive psychotherapy (and learning their father’s threats were a ploy), here I am 32 years later – relatively, by Key West standards, perfectly mentally healthy.
“Without a Face, the eyes of mental illness,” runs throughout the month at TSKW, 600 White St. Read reports that “the show is portable and available for hanging in hospitals, clinics or other venues as requested. Funding is being sought for subsequent venues and for Heron-Peacock Supported Living which provides housing, help and hope for adults living with mental illness in the Florida Keys.” For additional information please contact Read at (305) 294-2648.
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good job