For me, this is an easy answer - of course I would. If I didn't say that, I would be quite the hypocrite! On my second date with my now wife, I decided not to wait to tell her about my bipolar disorder. In my mind, it was either going to be a limitation for her or not, and I thought it best for both of us to know that right away. Lucky for me, she simply asked many smart questions, did her own research, and decided that it wasn't going to stop her in pursuing a relationship with me.

Had the tables been turned, whether I had an illness or not, I would have reacted the same way as her. I would have asked lots of questions and researched the topic, in order to gain a real understanding of the illness, the side effects of the medications, how well it was all being managed, etc. My choices from that point on, as with her choice, would be governed far more by how it was all being handled than by fear of the illness itself.

I should say this, however: if she had ultimately decided that it was too scary for her that I may have a full relapse, or worse, I would have understood and felt no ill will towards her. In fact, I would have appreciated her honesty with both herself and me if that was how she felt. Living with someone who suffers from ANY chronic illness - be it back pain, bipolar disorder, diabetes or migraines - is not easy. Not everyone can handle such a reality when it lands in their lap, and not everyone can or should choose it knowingly.

Again, it all comes down to open communication and decisions based on understanding and awareness.

Be well,
Jason Finucan

I do not want to seem self-righteous, but the truth is that I don't believe I have ever used my illness as an excuse. The opposite was true for a long time: I tried way too hard for too long to work through what was later understood to be full-bore clinical depression, hypo-mania and mania. I wish I could have stopped myself then and accepted my illness so that I could get the help needed. I am this way for the simple reason that I grew up under a father who believed in the power of what we can do vs. what we can't; he didn't allow excuses of any kind - only reasons. Also, I grew up with a major heart defect that ultimately required open heart surgery when I was 13. These were formative experiences that focused my attention on what I was lucky to have, and to be able to do, rather than what I couldn't do and why.

Again, I am certainly not trying to suggest that this is a better way or the only way to be. We all have our reasons for why we approach life, or a certain challenge, in the way we do. What I would like to suggest, though, is that it can be dangerous to use your illness as an excuse or fall into the trap of self-fulfilling prophecies with respect to stigmas, misunderstandings and taboos. Doing so may stall you in your recovery efforts and, worse yet; you may lose the confidence of your family, friends and co-workers. Once you lose that confidence, it can be very hard to get it back, even if you really need and deserve it. However, if you try to avoid using your illness as an excuse, then the people in your life will believe you when you say "I can't" or "I can't right now".

Sometimes, stopping and resting can be the most important thing you can do to maintain your control over your illness. You need the support of others in that simple act as much as in anything else. In the end, it all comes down to knowing your illness inside and out, and being honest with yourself.

Be well,
Jason Finucan

The picture is clear. We as a society can no longer hide from these numbers. 55% of all salary insurance claims are directly related to mental health and one in 5 people will be affected by mental illness in their lifetime. At this rate it won't take long before everyone is directly exposed to mental illness in the workplace and in their private lives.

Major social and cultural change that we are all trying to generate is one of the reasons that I am so very proud of Mike and all the work he does in trying to educate others about mental illness. I myself am very lucky to be a part of this revolution or known better as the "RECOVERY MOVEMENT". I assure you that I speak about mental illness every time it is appropriate.

To all I ask: HOW DOES ONE EAT AN ELEPHANT?
Answer: ONE BITE AT A TIME.

To all I ask: HOW DO WE EDUCATE SOCIETY ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS?
Answer: ONE PERSON AT A TIME.

To all involved in this revolution or "RECOVERY MOVEMENT", keep up the great work. It is all for a great cause.

To all, have a great day and keep well.

Carmy Santoro

It is human nature to fear what we do not know and sometimes the fear is so great that we may appear uninterested. In my experience, sometimes it is best to let people come to you whenever they are ready. Unfortunately for some people this day never comes. It really comes down to picking your battles very carefully. Only invest the energy that you can afford to burn on teaching others about mental illness.

As far as work environments are concerned. Recent studies done by insurance companies reveal that 55% of all salary insurance claims were directly related to mental health, whether it be a temporary diagnosis or not. This number is rising fast. What a shockwave this is sending in the industry. I would not at all be surprised if the insurance companies soon begin to demand that employers start educating their staff on how to prevent all preventable episodes of illness especially mental illness. We all understand that this is a numbers game and the motivating factor behind these studies is purely economical. Nevertheless I challenge all insurance companies to invest in education and prevention of mental illness in the workplace. I am convinced that it will be a very profitable investment in the long run.
(Part 2 to be continued next week...)

Carmy Santoro