Support mental health, talk openly about mental illness [Star-Telegram.com]

Three out of four Texans report that a mental health issue affects someone they care about.

Depression costs Texas employers $15.3 billion overall annually, including $10.9 billion for healthcare, $1.7 billion in absenteeism and $2.7 billion in lost productivity.

Mental illness affects us all.

Through an initiative called Okay to Say, the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute in Dallas is working to bring people together to increase awareness of mental health issues and the effective treatments available.

Launched earlier this year, Okay to Say is asking people to talk openly about living with mental illness.

The reason? The more we talk about mental illness, the more we can help people find effective treatment.

Yes, there is help available in almost all cases, just as there is help for those who have other physical illnesses.

Mental illness does not discriminate. It affects people regardless of age, race, religion or status.

It is not a weakness, lack of character, but rather, a disease.

Those living with mental illness (both the person and the family) often feel ostracized and marginalized. They end up feeling their only choice is to hide their disease.

Too often, it takes a crisis before people get help.