When I was a kid growing up, nobody talked about mental illness. At least openly that is. There were the hushed talks about so-and-so’s mom losing it and having to be committed to a psych-ward. Being taken away, put in a hospital somewhere. Or a friend’s Uncle who ‘went off the deep end’, now getting help with his break-down, whatever that meant. As a kid, it was all a mystery.

Back then, if you or someone in your family was getting mental health help, of any kind, nobody talked about it. It was purposefully kept quiet in a tight circle of family and close friends. There was a big stigma around saying you needed help.

Today, thankfully, that is changing. Not only are there an increasing number of people seeking various forms of mental health help, the idea of it is becoming comfortable and accepted. People are more open, want to share and talk about it. It’s commonplace to hear someone say, “Hey, I gotta run, I’ve gotta get to my therapy session.” It feels like we are living through a time where the stigma around mental illness is being dismantled.

However, there is still a big hurdle in front of us. For those suffering with mental health issues, the available help is severely lacking. This is particularly and painfully true for those struggling through homelessness.

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