This article was originally published in September 2017, but the following action items continue to be relevant. If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

When Madalyn Parker emailed her colleagues to inform them she’d be taking a few sick days to tend to her mental health – she suffers from anxiety, depression and PTSD – her story went viral. But while Parker’s candor and courage are commendable, it was her CEO’s compassionate and supportive response that caught people’s attention.

Instead of criticizing Parker for taking time off when she wasn’t conventionally “sick,” he applauded her honesty and acknowledged the importance of taking care of yourself.

In 2017, it’s no longer acceptable to view Parker’s boss’ reaction to her frank admission as a laudable exception. His kind of reaction needs to be the rule.

A better-informed society will treat each other with more compassion and respect, and give each citizen a chance to function at their optimal level.

Mental health certainly isn’t a new field of study. But even today, it continues to be stigmatized and misunderstood. It seems strange that an issue that affects approximately 1 in 5 Americans each year can be such a lightning rod for controversy. But while mental illness is understandably scary and complex, it’s not going away. Estimates show that by 2020, depression – the most common mental illness in the U.S. – will be the nation’s second-leading cause of disability (behind heart disease), according to the CDC.

20% of Americans suffer some form of mental health related issue

mental helth giving compass

This is one key reason why research is more important than ever, especially as new information comes to light. Recent studies show that we can successfully treat depression as a physical illness. Researchers found that biomarkers in the blood may predict the effectiveness of antidepressants, which to date is still a largely trial-and-error process. Still more research points to inflammation in the body as a potential cause for depression.

We live in an increasingly data-driven world, and every day new research flips preconceived notions on their head. More research can do the same for mental illness, and once and for all stifle the stigma attached to it. Research will also help us better understand what resources we still need to better identify, diagnose and serve those who are suffering, privately and publicly. And research does more than just deliver new findings. Compelling results spark meaningful discussions, which do so much more than data can to help break down barriers and bring suffering out of the shadows and into the light. We’ve come a long way, but clearly there is still more to do.

Taking action as an Impact-Giver:
  • Consider funding research within academia. Penn State and University of Michigan are considered leaders in the mental health space.
  • The Carter Center has long championed mental health causes. It relies on donors to promote mental health awareness, reduce stigma and discrimination and fight for health care equality.
  • The National Alliance on Mental Illness has local chapters and organizations that run support groups, hold public awareness events and operate a help line.

Research is time-consuming and expensive. But it leads to unexpected and valuable results. A better-informed society treats each other with compassion and respect; it gives each citizen a chance to function at their optimal level.

As Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter says in her book, Within Our Reach: Ending the Mental Health Crisis:

...mental health research can change the lives of working men and women across our country.”

And not just working men and women, but everyone.

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Original contribution by Jen Jope, VP, Editorial and Marketing at Giving Compass.