Incidents like this are so sad. How can a seven year old child possibly come to terms with his mother killing herself?
Although I agree with the sentiment, I wonder if there might be a better term than "normalizing mental illness." I don't think of illness as normal. Illness is something wrong with you, something to be corrected.
I get where you're coming from
@raybar. I was using a lesser used definition of normalizing: "To remove a prohibition or stigma from." Mental Illness has always been stigmatized until quite recently. It was something to be ashamed of, to hide, to be embarrassed about, to not disclose. Even now, though it's become more accepted as something to seek treatment for, it's still not normalized the way our other health issues are.
Break your arm? Go to the hospital and get the break set. Get strep throat? Head to the doctor for antibiotics. Have appendicitis? Get the organ removed. No one thinks twice about any of that, you have an issue you see the doctor. Seeking treatment for illness and accidents is normal and accepted and there is no stigma. But it's not that way with mental issues.
MY OWN SON suffered silently for months with severe anxiety and panic attacks, and no one knew. He finally reached out to me completely distraught because he thought he was going insane, or having a heart attack or dying (the racing heart, constricted chest, difficulty breathing sweating etc., ) even though intellectually he knew it wasn't the case. In spite of a very close family, a strong support system, even HE was reluctant to discuss his symptoms because when he wasn't in full blown panic he knew they were mental issues and he just felt like he could rationalize his way through them. No. You don't rationalize away panic attacks or anxiety, you get treatment for them! Just like you would for a broken arm or strep throat. He's doing well now. He's on medication, and also getting therapy with the ultimate goal of being able to manage his panic attacks and re-balance without the meds.
There's no shame in admitting to anxiety, or depression, or PTSD etc. But so many people still struggle silently because they feel ashamed. I want to do my part to end that thinking. I think it's important.