Governor Rick Perry has declared September as Destination Dignity Month in our great State of Texas. The purpose of this declaration is to encourage Texans to lead by example, to promote self reliance and self-determination of our residents diagnosed with mental illness or intellectual or developmental disabilities. By promoting and personally demonstrating this type of belief and behavior, we can reduce the stigma associated with these types of disorders.

Dignity is a noun, and one definition is “self-respect, self-regard, and self-worth”. Note the emphasis on the word self. If our destination is to arrive at treating those with mental challenges with respect, regard and worth, we’ve got to take a look at ourselves and the way we think of others with disabilities, illness and developmental delays.

The National Institute of Mental Health tells us that:

• Mental health disorders account for 4 of the top 10 causes of disability in established economies worldwide.

• About 1 of every 5 adults in American suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder, that is 44 million or about 22 percent of adults.

• More than 90 percent of people who complete suicide have a diagnosable mental disorder, and four times as many men than women commit suicide. The highest suicide rates in the US are in Caucasian men over age 85.

• Suicide is the one of the leading causes of death in adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 24.

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness cites that by 2020, major depressive illness will be the leading cause of disability in the world for women and children.

• Statistics from a “Time Magazine” article from June state that there have been 164 Army suicides in Afghanistan and Iraq since the wars start through 2007. About 115 soldiers killed themselves last year, including 36 in Iraq, and that is the highest toll since the Army started keeping records in 1980.

Those are some of the staggering statistics that truly tell us how much of an impact mental health issues have on our world. We can’t ignore it, and we need to learn how turn our attitudes and beliefs to a more compassionate, “people-first” stance. People-first means we don’t call people with mental or physical disabilities names, and we don’t assume they are weak and unproductive people. Most importantly, let’s not assume these types of issues will never touch us. If we choose to believe people with mental or physical disabilities are imperfect, then we’ve overlooked some very real circumstances that many of our friends, family and neighbors are experiencing today.

• Think about an elderly parent when they are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia,

• Think about a new mother with a child born with Down’s syndrome,

• Think about a 6 year old child who was diagnosed with ADHD,

• Think about the American soldier who returns from war suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,

• Think about the parents whose teenager just committed suicide,

• Think about the alcoholic desperately wanting to get sober,

• Think about a son or daughter when they tell a parent they are being physically abused and are so depressed they don’t think they can make it another day,

• Think about yourself someday when and if something unpredictable happens to your life, and it isn’t perfect or insulated from harsh realities anymore.

We must believe that mental and physical disabilities can be effectively managed with support from community mental health agencies, vocational programs, substance abuse programs, psychiatrists and medical doctors. We are blessed in many ways here in Abilene with some fantastic programs that help people where they are, whatever their need is.

As I write this, I can’t help but think of something my mother used to say often, quoting John Bradford (1510-1555), “There, but for the grace of God go I.” Let’s appreciate and strive to engender the spirit of Governor Perry’s proclamation of recognizing the dignity of all Texans.

Nancy Elliot is a licensed professional counselor.