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Breaking Down the Barriers
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My 20-year-old son Dimitris has always been my pride and joy. He was a great soccer player, an A student, and until last year, was on his way to becoming an engineer. Then Dimitris began changing: he dropped out of soccer, stopped going to classes and became emotionally cold. I was worried but thought it was just a phase. Then he started talking to himself a lot and out loud. I knew something was really wrong when he accused his mother of poisoning him. We went to lots of doctors and finally they told us that Dimitris has schizophrenia. I am heartbroken and worried for my son.
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You see, in my culture, mental illness is a sign of family weakness. I know people are talking about our ‘poor family’ and Dimitris’ ‘crazy’ behavior. How can I support Dimitris and get my family to better understand mental illness?
--Fotis, 52
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Hearing news that a loved one has been diagnosed with a mental illness can be difficult, and if you come from a culture where the subject is still taboo then addressing mental health issues openly can be an even greater challenge. The articles in this section can help you discover new ways to support someone you care about who is coping with mental health issues. You may also want to consider getting more information and resources from your Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a support group, or another mental health organization such as Mental Health America www.nmha.org.
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