I'm hardly an expert on human behavior, but I am somewhat informed on mental illness due to the studies and situations of my good wife. When someone is physically sick or wounded, they can go to the hospital where they will receive treatment. When someone is mentally ill, it may never be recognized that they need treatment at all. Couple that with the stigma associated with mental illnesses and you're on a downward spiral course that affects countless people and their families.

I was following a discussion about a cryptic death. Inside sources unofficially indicated that the victim had depression all his life and died following complications after a suicide attempt. Members of the discussion remarked, "I don't think that was the cause of his death. He looked so happy." It's been my personal observation that depression isn't necessarily sadness and illness isn't necessarily depression. Those who chose to end their lives can be depressed without showing sadness. Suicide, I'd imagine, is probably an act committed out of a very sad moment, but surrounding that moment he or she could appear quite normal and composed. It's the nature of a few illnesses to be defined by sudden changes and unpredictability and all it takes is a short period of resolve for someone to do something they would normally not consider doing.

This year, Natalie arranged a team walk for NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. This non-profit seeks to provide support for those with mental illnesses and obliterate the stigma associated with the illnesses themselves along with that of receiving treatment. It was sobering to see all the teams whose shirts alluded to a loved one lost to mental illness. These are real symptoms, real diseases affecting real people. You and me, your neighbor, airline pilots, a school janitor, physicists, a college student, the homeless, absolutely anyone.

Our culture has a long way to go in understanding mental illness and coping with it in the best possible way. I don't know what that way is, but I do know that the key barrier now is to break down the stigma. Unlike cancer or heart disease, the stigma against treatment and open discussion is what's keeping back most people who need help. How do we break the stigma? Stop talking about it like it's shameful. Sensitivity still has its place, but people have mental illness the way they have any other lifelong disease. There are genetic predispositions and medications. Having one does not make someone a bad person.

Next, could we please stop joking about them? It's not really funny. Let's throw out cancer jokes while we're at it. Joking about serious conditions only helps condition the public to be desensitized and avoiding of these important issues. I realize this may ruin a lot of themed haunted houses every October, but it's well worth it.

Finally, if you or someone you know struggles with depression, life-affecting behavioral problems or otherwise, seek the help needed. Resources are greater than ever and growing every day. If you don't know where to start, go to nami.org and look around and call them. Treatment is important. Everyone is special and can be liked just the way they are, Mr. Rogers recently reminded me.

Natalie and I will begin attending a support group next week for both the families and "customers" of mental illnesses. I can't remember if it's specific to bipolar mood disorder or not, but I will be happy for extra help and direction in this matter, both for Natalie and myself. If we can't help open the world's eyes, at least we can be doing our part for ourselves by breaking down whatever barriers we have between us and the help we need.