Mental Illness and Stigma: raising awareness about eating disorders

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we’ve partnered with Something For Kelly to raise awareness and reduce stigma about eating disorders. In this interview, Founder Patti Geolat shares what it was like to witness her niece battling an eating disorder, what she wish she knew, and what it will take to end the stigma associated with mental illness.

Stigma and Mental Illness

In your experience, how does stigma affect mental health?

Along with access to, and the high cost of treatment, stigma is one of the primary reasons that people do not seek help. No matter what we say about normalizing the conversation around mental health, the stigma lingers. It seems, if we were stronger, better, smarter, happier – we would not have mental health challenges, It is easy to say that there is no shame in needing help, but in truth, we need to authentically live it. 

The stench of stigma is strong. Its arc is long and can follow you through life. It spills over to other areas of life such as your confidence, sense of competence, self-worth and other areas of mental health, as with depression and anxiety. 

“Stigma is one of the primary reasons that people do not seek help.”

Dismantling Mental Health Stigma

How do you feel our culture could do a better job in overcoming the stigma of mental illness?

Start the conversation about mental health and keep it going. Know that it is not one and done. It will require an adjustment in how we think and how we talk about mental health. When we can talk about it as freely as we discuss going to the dentist, we will be making progress in overcoming the stigma. No judgment. No blame.

If we could reconcile resilience with empathy plus awareness and being open to growth, we would be on the way to addressing the deficit in our understanding of mental health. Part of the change is recognizing a need for help, but not feeling helpless.

How to Support a Loved One With an Eating Disorder

As a caretaker for someone with an eating disorder, What is one thing that family and friends should know about offering support?

Leave judgment at the door. This is not a lifestyle or choice. It is an illness. No one chooses to have an eating disorder. You’re not talking to your loved one. It is the disease talking. Your loved one is still in there.

Seeing Kelly struggle with this horrible disease left me feeling helpless. I wanted to do something, but I did not know what to do. I did not know what to say or not say. I was hundreds of miles away in another state and it was terrible. I know that there must have been resources available, but I was so ignorant at the time, I did not know how to find them. I wish I knew then, what I know now.

If You are Reading This and Struggling with an Eating Disorder…

Be authentic. Be kind to yourself. Give yourself grace. Advocate for yourself. You’re worth it. You can do it. Don’t give up on yourself. Surround yourself with your best supporters and be honest with them when you need help. It is easier with support. Don’t wait until it is intolerable to ask for help.

“Don’t wait until it is intolerable to ask for help.”

Is Eating Disorder Recovery Possible?

I don’t just think recovery is possible, I know it is. It will probably not be a straight line to recovery. There may be bumps and restarts and lapses along the way, but it is possible. I personally know people who have recovered at many different ages, from in their teens to mid-life. Some people have said that it is a lifelong endeavor. While others have told me they walked away after their recovery and have no need to battle their eating disorder. The monster no longer haunts them.

“The monster no longer haunts them.”

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Patti designed Kelly’s Circle necklaces, a thoughtfully designed line of jewelry designed to reflect different aspects of the recovery experience, to empower eating disorder professionals, family and friends, and people in recovery to start a conversation about eating disorders. When you make a donation of more than $100, we will send you a necklace as a thank you! We hope this empowers you to “start the conversation.”

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About the Author

When anorexia claimed the life of her niece Kelly, Patti Geolat created Something for Kelly in the hopes it would help her family heal. Two of the organization's objectives are to explain that eating disorders do not recognize geographic boundaries and to support research. Patti proudly stands with Eat Breathe Thrive on the study of yoga and eating disorders, along with the support of facilitators in 58 countries. Patti believes that partnering with Eat Breathe Thrive will be powerful in supporting both of Something For Kelly’s objectives.