Demystifying and Destigmatizing Mental Illness

We have to not only get comfortable talking about mental health, but start talking mental illness too just like we talk other illnesses like Cancer or diabetes.

I believe that even with all the prevention we can take, we are all susceptible to a mental illness, global statistics puts at 1 in 4 / 1in 5 people will suffer from a mental illness in their life time.

I talk about mental illnesses both as a person living with one ie Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and a a global as Advocate with the Global Mental Health Peer Network. I am the executive representative for Cameroon and was elected the 1st Regional Representative Africa two months ago.

As a psychotherapist, I have worked with several persons living with a mental illness and one of their focus is on the effect of stigma on their illness and recovery (which I must add is not a journey with an end point for people living with a mental illness).

It's my utmost determination through this initiative therefore, to demystify and destigmatize mental illness. #thereishope #bethehope #breakthestigma #mentalillnessawareness