How to Respectfully Speak On Mental Illness Every year approximately 1 in 5 people will suffer from an episode of mental illness. One out of twenty-five will have some form of chronic mental illness. So there is a high likelihood that at least some of your audience members will be currently experiencing mental illness, or they will have a family member or friend with mental illness. So here are 3 steps that can help you better connect with your audience when discussing this topic. Consider the age of audience members in regards to the stigma and labels of Mental Illness. People in their late 30’s and up, such as myself, have probably lived in fear of the stigma their entire life. Fortunately, this stigma has lessened over the years but for many adults, it’s still unthinkable to openly discuss such a topic. The pain of living in fear for so long can run deep. In your speech, just a single positive affirmation can lift the spirits of these individuals. Help the audience understand a continuum of symptoms. Meaning, for example, everyone can relate to the feeling of uncertainty and the anxiety it can produce when you think, “Did I forget to shut off the stove”, “Did I lock the door” etc. As uncomfortable as this may be, it would be on the lesser end of a continuum for negative impact on the quality of someone’s life. Someone with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) will experience those same feelings but the severity and frequency can be so bad that it can be debilitating.
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