I like reading the blogs here. It's nice to know what other people are working on. Makes being a distance student less lonely. 

This article has been going around on Facebook and Twitter lately: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/family/2013/11/families_dealing_with_mental_illness_need_support_too.html. I thought it was relevant to your observation about the same issue, and that others at AU might find it interesting. 

The article is about the lack of social and community support for people with mental health disabilities, compared to physical illnesses. The author compares how his friends supported his family when his wife had cancer, versus when his daughter was institutionalized:

Friends talk about cancer and other physical maladies more easily than about psychological afflictions. Breasts might draw blushes, but brains are unmentionable. These questions are rarely heard: “How’s your depression these days?” “What improvements do you notice now that you have treatment for your ADD?” “Do you find your manic episodes are less intense now that you are on medication?” “What does depression feel like?” “Is the counseling helpful?” A much smaller circle of friends than those who’d fed us during cancer now asked guarded questions. No one ever showed up at our door with a meal.

He finds that other people's fear of talking about mental health disabilities made it harder for him to talk about it too. 

Two comments resonate with me "dehumanized  someone , because of the nature of his or her illness" and people openly talking about breast or prostate cancer.   

Bring up the subject of Alzheimer's or other related dementias and watch the room clear out. The odd person will make clucking noises while looking for an escape route but most react as if you have morphed into a highly contagious two-heading being. And if heaven forbid, you discuss the humourous side of the disease, people question your mental state.

With any mental illness there are thought provoking moments and humourous moments,  Dementia is a disease but unlike cancer there are no surviours and the family is the sufferer's spokesperson. Both my parents suffered with and died from dementia. They asked questions such as "When will I know that I don't you know"  or were sent home from daycare for pushing a playmate. In death the medical profession does not acknowledge the actual cause, only listing the final result, heart attack. The heart stopped because dementia prevented the brain from functioning.

There are help on the way Brabie Bruce.  Knowledge in medicine has increased and you may be surprised that you will become well again.  Good that you have the guts to speak up.  Even the wind and trees have breath, so don't keep quiet.Live and if you can't live, live.

Louise