There is are two very good books your family member might want to read, one is “An Unquiet Mind” by a psychiastrist with manic depression, and the other one is “A Circle of Stones” which is about the value of depression in the life of women.

I, too, believe very strongly in being open about mental illness. I own a small design firm with my business partner, and we have discussed the appropriateness of me being public about my disease. His point of view is that if people Google me and find out I’m bi-polar and that prejudices them, then it is their loss. Some of the most creative people, some of the world’s greatest leaders were bi-polar or suffered from depression. Abraham Lincoln for one.

A friend of mine with a wheel chair disability was recently fired because she simply was not able to fit herself into the “good old boy” southern culture. I think they hired her to fill a quota and then found an excuse to get rid of her as soon as they could. She has had nothing but stellar work reports elsewhere.

But disabled people need to stand up for each other! So here’s to your family member - much courage, strength, compassion, warmth and support.

Sarah