Mental health: What if physical disease was treated like mental illness?

If anything can change your perception of mental illness, it’s this image.

The point? It’s just as ridiculous to tell someone who is suffering from a mental illness to "suck it up" as it is to tell someone who is suffering from a physical ailment the same thing. They’re both suffering, just in different ways.

Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder – they’re all real. And it’s time we started treating them that way.

January 28th is Bell Let’s Talk Day, a chance to open up the conversation about mental health and get rid of the stigma associated with mental illness. Most importantly, it’s a chance to encourage people to stop treating mental illness like it’s something you can just "get over" if you try hard enough.

Want to help?

Join the conversation! On January 28th, Bell will donate 5¢ to mental health for every text and call made by Bell customers. And don’t forget to tweet your support -and get another 5¢ donated to mental health initiatives – with the hashtag #BellLetsTalk.

What do you think of this image? Does it help change your perception of mental illness?

-Katharine Watts, associate web editor

Related:
‘ 6 things you may not know about mental health
‘ 8 signs you might be suffering from depression
‘ How to cope with anxiety and depression