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May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. I am going to interview three people who have mental illness for this article. I have given them factious names to protect their true identity.

“Good morning, James.”

“Good morning, Renee.”

“Please tell me what your mental health diagnosis is. How does it manifest itself?”

“My mental health diagnosis is schizophrenia. I experience visual and auditory hallucinations.”

“How old were you when you were first diagnosed with schizophrenia?”

“I was nineteen years old while I was attending college.”

“How did people treat you when you were having psychiatric episodes?”

“My classmates laughed at me when I was talking to the voices that I heard. Not only was I being laughed at, I was called crazy, and I was left out of social events.”

“How did you feel when you were being treated that way by your peers?”

“I felt isolated, angry, and misunderstood.”

“What did you do, if anything, to better your situation?”

“I made an appointment with my primary care physician. He told me that he believed that I had mental illness, so he referred me to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist told me that I had schizophrenia, and he prescribed some medication for me. He admonished me to take the medication as prescribed so that I can have a productive life.”

“Were you, and are you living a productive life?”

“I believe that my life was and is productive.”

“Would you please tell me how your life has been productive from the time that you started to take the medication until now?”

“Sure, I’ll be glad to. I found out that I am a genius when I was in elementary school. In high school I became determined to become an epidemiologist. My life was productive because I was studying to become one when I was in college, and my grade point average was 4.0. My life is very productive now, because I am one of the scientists who is working to find a vaccine for COVID-19.”

“If you could say something to the general public about people who have mental illness, what would it be?”

“I would say, don’t treat people who have mental illness as less than. We are just as valuable to our society as other people are.”

“Thank you, James for letting me interview you.”

“You’re welcome, Renee.”

“My next guest is Stephanie.”

“Hi, Stephanie. How are you today?”

“I’m doing well.”

“That’s great.”

“I know that you are more than your disease. Tell me a little about your accomplishments in life.”

“I’m a single mom with two boys, the older is thirteen, and the younger is ten. I am grooming my boys to be great men. Both of them are on the honor roll at school. I am instilling in them the importance of getting a good education. Even though I dropped out of high school, I am a role-model for them. First, I got my GED. Second, I began studying two years ago, for my Bachelor of Science in Computer Programming. Every month I have them take out a book from our local library, and write a report on it. In addition, we attend church as a family. We read, study, and apply the scriptures to our daily lives. Not only will my sons be well educated, they will also be men of godly character.”

“You are grooming your sons to be great men, who will have a positive impact on our society. I congratulate you.”

“Praise God!”

What is your psychiatric diagnosis, and describe how it affects you.”

“My diagnosis is Bipolar Disorder. In the past I would be manic at times. During those times I would have a lot of energy, clean the house in the wee hours of the morning, and go on shopping sprees. When I was depressed, I did not any energy. I would sleep all day and night, not eat, and isolate myself from people. My sons were in elementary school in those days.”

“When did things change for you?”

“A friend of mine told me to go to see the doctor because I had a serious problem. I took her advice, and made an appointment to see my primary care physician. My physician told me that she believed that I had a mental health condition, so she referred me to see a psychiatrist. He informed me that I had Bipolar Disorder, and gave me some medications. One thing he emphasized was that I must take my medications as prescribed. I obeyed him and thus, my behavior became normal.”

“What advice would you give people who have mental illness?”

“First, when you realize that your mind, and or your behavior is not right, go see your doctor. Second, when you are given medications take them as prescribed. Third, if you are having side effects that concern you, tell your doctor. Fourth, never stop taking your medication on your own. Fifth, sometimes it is a matter of trail and error until the psychiatrist finds the right medication, so be patient, and hang in there.”

“What advice would you give the general public about their interactions with people who have mental illness?”

First, don’t fear us because the vast majority of us are not perpetrators of violence, but instead we are victims of violence. Second, don’t stigmatize us, discriminate against us, nor ostracize us. We are valuable to society, and have talents and abilities that can be of benefit to society.”

“Thank you, Stephanie, for letting me interview you. You have been quite informative to our audience.”

“You’re welcome, Renee.”

“My last interviewee is Robert.”

“Good morning, Robert. How are you feeling today?”

“Good morning, Renee. I am feeling fine, thank you.”

“May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. What would you like for the general public to be aware of in regards to people who have mental illness?”

“I would like for the general public to: (1) understand and emphasize with us who have mental illness, (2) see us as equals in the brotherhood of humanity, and (3) include us in the mainstream of society by making sure that we have the same opportunities as others do.

“What do you want the public to understand about you, and emphasize with you about?”

“I want people to understand that they need not fear me because I am not a treat to them. I am a peace-loving person. I want them to emphasize with me for the mental pain and anguish that I have had to live with for most of my life.”

“In what ways are you equal in society?”

“My life counts for something. I have talents and abilities that I can contribute to our society.

“What are your talents and abilities?”

“I have a talent for playing a musical instrument, the guitar, and for singing. Spreading love and joy to my family, friends, and community are my abilities. Everyday I sit on the corner singing and playing my guitar for all of the people in my neighborhood. You see, I’m retired now, so I have time to do it. When I was working, I use to play and sing for the people on Saturdays.”

“What opportunity would you like to have in regards to your singing and playing?”

“I would like to air on a nationwide radio station to share my talents with all Americans. Despite the fact that I have General Anxiety Disorder, I am valuable to our American society.”

“You’re welcome, Renee.”

“Today you heard from three people who have mental illness. They were buried under the rocks of being discriminated against, being stigmatized, and being ostracized in our society. Today, they were unearthed, so that we all could see them in all their brilliance.

Signed Renee D. Warring. Founder of Uniquely and Wonderfully Made Ministries