Blissfully Naive or Blissfully Ignorant?

Did you know that in Australia,  more of our youth die from suicide then car accidents?

A scary statistic isn't it?

So why don't we hear more about self harming in the media?

Because we're scared of "copy cat" incidents?

To be quite frank,  the statistics prove that desperate times call for unthinkable measures and those in desperation will go to any lengths to end their pain,  with or without media attention.

Another scary thought?

There's still people out there,  who despite  the statistics,  still choose to believe that mental illnesses don't even exist.

They're made up;  in a person's head.  Surely you can change your thoughts;  they are your thoughts after all. And what do people have to be so unhappy about?

Blissfully naive or blissfully ignorant?

Blissfully naive because they've been kept in a sane mind bubble that has never before been exposed to the debilitating illness through friends,  family and their own mind? 

Totally unaware of just how serious the struggle can be to stay alive against your own brains attempts to slowly drive you to taking your own life?

Fortunate enough to have lived their life in control of their thoughts,  feelings and actions and never even contemplating what life would be like if everything you took for granted on a daily basis became an assiduous task because they've had no reason to?

Or are people choosing not to accept mental health because it's easier to remain blissfully unaware.

If I don't believe it,  then it doesn't exist?

If I can't see it,  then is it really real?

If others don't accept it,  then it's okay if I remain complacent too?

If society doesn't address the issues,  then I have reason to believe that others also,  question the possibility?

If I don't accept it,  then it can't happen to me?

The frustrating thing is that the statistics don't lie.  We all want facts to be able to base our beliefs upon.  Think about evolution versus faith.  People use evolution as an argument against God because there's scientific proof to support the theory behind the existence of everything living.

So how do the suicide statistics differ to evolution in that they remain non conclusive for some people?

If people dying isn't proof,  then what more do people need to rationalise that mental illnesses exist;  they're real and they're destroying lives?

The more we understand mental health,  the greater our compassion and empathy grows for everyone affected; from an individual to a whole community level.

If we knew more about the illness then we wouldn't be surprised by the statistics.  Overwhelmed,  saddened and horrified by the statistics,  but not surprised.

Just like we aren't surprised that so many are killed in car accidents because we're well aware of the causes;  fatigue, stupidity,  drink driving, other road users and conditions,  we wouldn't be surprised by suicide statistics because we could also learn about how people must feel and think when they are unwell.

One in five people suffer from a mental illness.

Chances are that one of those five are much closer to home then you may think,  but they might be hiding their feelings in fear that you won't give them justification and the support and care that they need.

I don't blame people for not understanding.

The truth is,  some times we are blissfully naive because if we worried about everything out there that could kill us,  then we'd all be anxious messes.

We live our life through our experiences,  and if you have never experienced mental health problems,  then of course you can't comprehend how it must feel.

But all I ask is that you keep an open mind when thinking about your own and others mental well being.

If you're fortunate enough to go through life without experiencing it yourself,  then awesome;  that's fantastic!

But acknowledging that the illness exists gives other people who aren't so fortunate the opportunity to receive the care,  support and love that they deserve.

We'd all save a life if we could; imagine if it was as simple as accepting that an illness is real so that as a society,  we can take the necessary actions to prevent the sickness from becoming so serious.

Do you believe in mental illnesses?

Maybe think about the reasons why you do or don't?

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx