“Mental illness is just part of the human condition,” Glenn Close said Oct. 21 on “Good Morning America.” Halleluia! A Hollywood response to all the scientology. Today Close spoke out for the first time on television about the legacy of mental illness in her own family: Her sister, Jessie, suffers from bipolar disorder, and Jessie’s son has schizo-affective disorder.
Glenn has launched a nonprofit organization called BringChange2Mind, which she hopes will raise awareness about mental illness, strip mood disorders like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia from their unfair stigma, and lend support and information to the mentally ill and their families.
Katie Escherich of ABC News writes:
Jessie, the youngest of the four Close siblings, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder nine years ago at the age of 47, “after living with it probably her whole life,” said her sister. Bipolar disorder affects some 5.7 million American adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
The actress said her sister was always a “wild child,” and Jessie now says she knew for most of her life that something was wrong. Both sisters said a lack of understanding of mental illness when they were growing up played a part in Jessie’s delayed diagnosis.
“You don’t talk about depression or alcoholism or mental illness. …I think that’s probably true in a lot of families,” her sister said. “We didn’t have the vocabulary, we didn’t have the knowledge.”
With medication, Jessie Close’s symptoms have been brought under control, and family members realize how fortunate it is that they can afford good care. She has experienced side effects, including fatigue and weight gain, and finding a balance between staying stable and staying creative took time. Jessie, a writer, said, “It’s worth it.”
“We’re getting more and more sophisticated medication,” Glenn Close said. “We need to keep people with mental illness living full and productive and creative lives.”
Go check out BringChange2Mind.org!
And a humongous hug to Glenn Close!!!
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Glenn Close Tackles Mental Illness | World of Psychology :national (10/27/2009)
5 Comments to
“Glenn Close Tackles Mental Illness”
Ahhh, yes, “stigmas.” Some we promote, some we have weaned ourselves from. Sadly, this one continues. Luckily, however, from fewer and fewer people.
Harold A. Maio
khmaio@earthlink.net
I have been waiting for this! As a professor in special education I have taught about mental illness for many years. My daughter has taught me what I didn’t know. I am priviledged to have been on a journey of bipolar disorder with her. She is incredibly brave. In presentations around the country she says, “I want people to know that mental health is a serious thing, but also one that can be humorous and even inspiring and hopeful. I want people to understand that it is not something merely made up or created. It is not always a need for attention, not always a need to be called eccentric, and not always a way to act out. It is real and it is painful and it is powerful.” She is my hero. http://www.lineajohnson.blogspot.com/
Wonderful new initiative. There’s also a great video for Bring Change to Mind directed by Ron Howard. Have a look:
http://blogs.psychcentral.com/channeln/2009/10/bringing-change.html
Go to MSNBC and watch the close interview – the host interviews jessie and glen and likens mental illness to the character in fatal attraction. Jealousy and obsession with a man are not a mental illness. Plus, this isnt a good exaple of mental illness. It creates a negative stigma (the show was about eliminating stigma wasn’t it!!??)
On ABC the host said that “Jessie is bipolar” not has bipolar disorder. This is mental illness 101 people – you don’t define people by their illness –whether it be depression, bipolar disorder or cancer.
Oprah, two weeks ago called mentally ill people Crazy. I dont even need to explain this one.
All the people with voices pat themselves on the back for bringing awareness to the issue but time and time again THEY SCREW IT UP. Find someone who has been through it and can articulate the issue properly. Stop allowing ignorant news journalists to cover the issue. They are perpentuating the stigmas and spreading the damage.
I do want to say to Jessie Close – I can’t imagine what its been like for you, my dad was in a similar situation, but still I can’t imagine having a famous sister and living with this illness. You should be very proud of what you are doing, but please don’t allow the media to define mental illness according to your situation. It is different for all of us – never forget that.
IE – my sister cried all the time as a baby and has a great temperment. I was the perfect baby and never cried – I have bipolar disorder. In fact, many of the best doctors say you can’t diagnose ANYONE until the brain is fully developed for a mental illness. I remember the story of a baby who died from being given bipolar meds because it cried too much. A six month old was given bipolar meds for crying!!!!!!! Please don’t perpetuate the myth thtat infants who cry to much have a mental illness. THAT IS SO DANGEROUS. My sister cried they later found out because of ear infections – imagine if they had given her 600 mg of lithium…..seriously!
Yes, it is the very definition of courage to push a family member with mental illness into the white-hot spotlight. What a tired, hackneyed idea–outing people with mental illness–for removing the stigma.
After all, it only takes a Nobel prize in economics or admission to Julliard for people in Hollywood, the entertainment industry or the news media to care about you. The same people who exploit you–with have-you-taken-your-meds-today jokes, anyone-who-has-dated-a-manic-depressive anecdotes, and sensationalistic (boost the ratings at any cost) stories and plot devices–now show their fundamental and overweening concern and compassion. Does $300 million in box office profits cover the donation of a PSA? Hope so.
“In March, 2000, a coalition of psychiatric community groups formed as the Mental Health Coalition Against Stigma in Hollywood, calling on the White House to ‘use its influence with the entertainment industry to help lead a challenge to the stigmatization of mental illness in movies and television shows.’” And now Close is adding her own foundation nine years later?
From the number of logos on the website, these organizations must be terribly effective in combatting stigma.
The Compeer project looks much more impressive and deserving of attention. Time is just as precious for those with mental illness. Don’t waste mine.
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