Link here, please, as a test.

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Chris was the beloved son of Jim and Deanna Johnston. A much loved and cherished brother of Jackie, Erin and brother-in-law Steve. A beloved uncle to nieces Amanda and Hannah and nephews Nolan and Jake along with many caring and loving aunts and uncles.

He was a very much loved sweetheart and companion to Shari for many years.

Chris suffered with the effects of a severe brain disorder, known as Bipolar Disorder, and was ill for most of his life. Like any of us, Chris was not a perfect person and would not want to be remembered that way.

Many in our society would have labeled him as his illness, as it does many others like him. But Chris was never seen as an illness to us in his family. We know his illness was a dominant part of his life, and it was part of “what” he was — but it was definitely not “who” he was, and we do not remember him that way at all. Our Chris was a valued and integral part of our family. We remember him fondly, because he was genuinely a kind and gentle person.

We remember him for his high moral standards; for his concern and caring for family members and other people, especially those he considered less fortunate than himself; for his outgoing and friendly personality, for his sometimes strange and offbeat sense of humor; for his passion for his favorite baseball team — the Oakland Athletics, and football team — the Oakland Raiders; and for his love of music — especially the rock variety.

He was a trained Pharmacy Technician — and carried an active technician’s license of which he was very proud.

He was often a volunteer with community help organizations. He volunteered at various times over the years for projects with the NAMI organization.

He was also a long time volunteer with the Sacramento Chapter of the American Red Cross. He received a “Volunteer of the Month” Award plaque from them for his service to firefighting activities during the Oakland Hills wildfires back in the early 90′s. He was very proud of this award and kept the small plaque on his apartment wall. In the award write-up, he was recognized for placing himself in harm’s way to deliver drinking water to the fire fighters and to the affected area residents. He continued to volunteer for the Red Cross until he severely broke his leg doing his volunteer work. In whatever endeavor he attempted, he always had the betterment of others in maind.

He was our son, brother, uncle, nephew and loving companion. We remember him for the man he was. He was simply a wonderful person and someone of whom our family is very proud.

-Jim Johnston, Family & Friends

Chris was the beloved son of Jim and Deanna Johnston. A much loved and cherished brother of Jackie, Erin and brother-in-law Steve. A beloved uncle to nieces Amanda and Hannah and nephews Nolan and Jake along with many caring and loving aunts and uncles.

He was a very much loved sweetheart and companion to Shari for many years.

Chris suffered with the effects of a severe brain disorder, known as Bipolar Disorder, and was ill for most of his life. Like any of us, Chris was not a perfect person and would not want to be remembered that way.

Many in our society would have labeled him as his illness, as it does many others like him. But Chris was never seen as an illness to us in his family. We know his illness was a dominant part of his life, and it was part of “what” he was — but it was definitely not “who” he was, and we do not remember him that way at all. Our Chris was a valued and integral part of our family. We remember him fondly, because he was genuinely a kind and gentle person.

We remember him for his high moral standards; for his concern and caring for family members and other people, especially those he considered less fortunate than himself; for his outgoing and friendly personality, for his sometimes strange and offbeat sense of humor; for his passion for his favorite baseball team — the Oakland Athletics, and football team — the Oakland Raiders; and for his love of music — especially the rock variety.

He was a trained Pharmacy Technician — and carried an active technician’s license of which he was very proud.

He was often a volunteer with community help organizations. He volunteered at various times over the years for projects with the NAMI organization.
He was also a long time volunteer with the Sacramento Chapter of the American Red Cross. He received a “Volunteer of the Month” Award plaque from them for his service to firefighting activities during the Oakland Hills wildfires back in the early 90′s. He was very proud of this award and kept the small plaque on his apartment wall. In the award write-up, he was recognized for placing himself in harm’s way to deliver drinking water to the fire fighters and to the affected area residents. He continued to volunteer for the Red Cross until he severely broke his leg doing his volunteer work. In whatever endeavor he attempted, he always had the betterment of others in maind.

He was our son, brother, uncle, nephew and loving companion. We remember him for the man he was. He was simply a wonderful person and someone of whom our family is very proud.

-Jim Johnston, Family & Friends

The study was a result of a nine category survey taken by the organization that interviewed nationally representative samples of people in 18 countries across the globe. Overall, the survey reached nearly 90,000 people.

To be able to compare the data by socioeconomic indicators, the survey divided countries into categories of high-income and low-to-middle-income, based upon World Bank classifications.

The study concluded that 15 percent of people in high income countries were likely to face a episode of depression in their lifetime, whereas 11 percent of people in low income countries would also face the same reality once in their lifetime.

Findings of the survey conclude that France (21 percent) and the United States (19.2 percent) had the highest instances of people that faced clinical depression once in their lifetime, while lower-income countries such as China (6.5 percent) and Mexico (8 percent) had the lowest incidences of depression.

In fact, four of the five countries that topped the list where high income countries: France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United States.

Brazil was the only country in the low-to-middle-income category that made the top five.

The study also finds an important gender disparity with regards to depression, as women have a twofold increased risk of having major depressive episodes.

Researchers suggest that although people in higher-income countries on average make more money, factors such as income inequality; which is larger in higher income countries, and stress, are not taken into consideration in the study and can serve as reasons behind the phenomenon of higher levels of depression in wealthy nations.

Other factors persist with regard to the income depression divide.

Timothy Classen, an assistant professor of economics at Loyola University Chicago that has extensively researched the link between suicide and economics told CNN that, “There are significant disparities across countries in terms of the availability of social acceptance of mental health care for depression.”

Social stigma and lack of medical support for depression can place countries lower on the depression indicator list, even though their population is suffering from depression.

The study concludes that depression is a severe global problem that is only getting worse. It ranks depression as the fourth leading cause of disability worldwide and projects that by 2020 it will be the second leading cause of disability.

For Sally Ragonut, chairwoman of the Merced County Mental Health Board, a need to know has morphed into a desire to help.

Ragonut has volunteered with the board since 2004 — around the same time her adult son was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, which causes psychosis and mood problems.

The mental health board provided Ragonut the opportunity to learn more about her son’s illness, but she stayed to help others.

“It’s kind of like networking,” Ragonut said. “You learn, and then you’re able to help others.”

Because of her dedication to mental health awareness in Merced County, Supervisor Hub Walsh presented Ragonut with a plaque and thanked her during an April 19 Board of Supervisors meeting.

Ragonut’s knowledge of mental illness makes her a valuable asset to the county, he said. “She just has this need to know,” Walsh said. “She wants to understand.”

With the skills Ragonut developed as a teacher, she runs smooth meetings that create a learning environment, he noted.

After teaching for 25 years, Ragonut said she still wants to learn, but her efforts to educate have moved beyond her son. She now volunteers with the board to help others, too.

Local mental health advisory boards are responsible for several tasks, including evaluating the community’s mental health needs, reviewing county agreements relating to mental health and reviewing the county’s performance, according to the California Welfare and Institutions Code.

Manuel Jimenez, director of Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Services for Merced County, meets Ragonut once a week to discuss the mental health board agenda. “She’s brought new life to the board, she’s brought a different insight to it,” said Jimenez, who’s been with the county for two years.

By holding meetings in several locations, Ragonut has made them more accessible for residents in Merced County, Jimenez said. The extra effort goes a long way toward spreading knowledge about mental illness.

Although other diseases, such as cancer, get more attention, mental illness is just as hard for families to deal with, Ragonut said. “The big issue is stigma, because people don’t want to talk about it,” she said.

Many families in Merced County feel lost when they find out their loved one has a mental illness, but because Ragonut went through a similar experience, she’s able to help them work through it.

One of the most important elements to treating mental illness is catching it early and learning about it, she said. “With more knowledge, you can start the process of getting help much quicker,” Ragonut said. “The longer a person has a mental illness, the longer it takes for the medication and the help to set in.”

Mental illness is often generational, she said, adding that her mother was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the ’70s.

Medical knowledge and technology has greatly increased since then. “Now, there are so many medications out that are so helpful,” Ragonut said. “Psychiatrists can find just the right dosage to use, and also a combination of medications put together that’s unique for an individual.”

Ragonut thanks God for placing her in a position to help others, and she said there are always solutions for those suffering from mental illness.

“There is hope and recovery for everyone with a mental illness,” she said. “Seek help and don’t give up.”

Stigma has made mental illnesses (and people who have them) notorious. The fear of being labeled mentally ill causes patients to avoid seeking help, perhaps out of fear of humiliation or shame. These frets may seem nonsensical, but they are real. The stereotype of mental illness not only affects those with disorders but also their friends and families. They may inadvertently treat the patient differently, perhaps walking on eggshells around them, or be insensitive, and their behavior can be attributed to the perception they have received through stigma. So, how can we eradicate stigma?

Active Minds is a national organization that develops and supports student-run mental health awareness, education and advocacy chapters on campuses nationwide. The group’s mission is to remove the stigma that surrounds mental illness and create a comfortable environment for open conversation about mental health. The UC Berkeley chapter formed in 2007.

Because awareness is essential to eradicate stigma, this semester was filled with many activities. Andy Behrman, author of “Electroboy: a Memoir of Mania” and a bipolar disorder survivor, was a guest speaker on campus on March 10 during the Mind and Body Awareness Week in collaboration with the Tang Center. He spoke of his experiences with shock therapy and suicide attempts. Active Minds also hosted an art show on the theme of “Dis-Connect” on April 12, where various art forms were utilized to express the views on stigma of mental illness within the community.

But the work is never done. We must continue to spread awareness. Active Minds is currently working with the Health Workers Program to initiate a Mental Health Educational Program in the residence halls where students struggling with mental illnesses can turn for guidance. The co-president of Active Minds facilitated two sections of the DeCal “Understanding Depression,” with psychology department chair Stephen Hinshaw serving as the instructor of record, that focused on personal accounts of depression. Lastly, Active Minds is looking to start a 5K run next semester to raise mental health awareness.

Active Minds was created by people experiencing difficulties with the stigma surrounding mental health for people having difficulties coping with stigma. The first step to solving any issue is to promote awareness, and that is the purpose of Active Minds. Ask, talk, listen. Every voice counts, and only you can make the difference. Break the stigma.

Is it fear?

Maybe. But in spite of the media’s tendency to sensationalize crimes committed by people who have been treated for mental illness, studies have shown that as a group, people living with mental illness are no more likely to be violent than the general population.

In fact, our country’s own history includes people who have made major contributions to our society while at the same time struggling with mental health problems. Icons like Lincoln, Beethoven, Hemingway, Michelangelo, Churchill, and Dickens all experienced one of the major mental illnesses.

So why do we put so much distance between ourselves and other human beings who are obviously suffering and in need of comfort, instead of reaching out to them to help or offer support?

At Programs For People in Framingham, Massachusetts, clients recount stigmatizing events, painfully endured. They have lost friends after being hospitalized for psychiatric reasons. They have been ostracized by co-workers following a psychiatric hospitalization.

They say they have been stigmatized for being unemployed, been called “lazy” by family members, and pressured endlessly to get a job. They have even been asked inappropriate, probing questions by non-psychiatric, medical professionals.

It seems as though effects of stigmatization are almost as toxic as the illness, itself.

Why do kids pick on other kids who seem different? Why do adults denigrate others who appear to fall out of the norm?

Is it something deeply imbedded within the human psyche, some perverse Darwinian striving for survival of the fittest? Does it make us feel more sure of our own sanity to question the sanity of others?

In truth, relating to the strengths of anyone is much more personally rewarding than focusing on perceived weaknesses. In spite of our need for individuality and uniqueness, we all long to feel connected. We yearn to belong, to be understood, and to fit in somewhere.

Often when clients at Programs For People finally get up the courage to express the way they feel, they are absolutely amazed to find out that others have felt the very same way. When staff tell them that “lots of people, not just those with mental health issues, feel that way” they are incredulous.

Stigmatizing has lessened to some degree because, fortunately or unfortunately, these days almost everyone knows a relative, friend, or co-worker who has experienced mental illness.

In those instances, when we know and care about someone, it’s easier to see them as a person who happens to have a mental illness. Too often, however, those whom we do not know are defined, in entirety, by the illness.

We need to look deep inside of ourselves about this, with greater compassion. What if it happened to us?

Once a client leaned forward and said to me, with incredible emphasis and feeling, “Do you know what it’s like to hear someone whispering in your ear all the time?”

Even though I knew through my work that some people with mental illness hear voices, I was stunned. For the first time, I really imagined and felt what that would be like.

Put yourself there. Not easy to handle.

What helps people who have experienced mental illness feel better about themselves is knowing that there are people who care, understand, and stand by them – people who know that even with the illness, we are all still much more alike than different from each other.

About the Author: Iris Carroll, MPH, is director of Programs For People, a Framingham-based agency that helps people to recover from mental illness and become employed.

Statistics show that women are twice as likely as men to be affected by depression, regardless of race or ethnic background. As many as one in eight women will experience depression.

“Nearly 18 million Americans experience depression every year,” said Ken Duckworth, M.D., medical director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “The good news is that with a correct diagnosis, most people can be treated effectively. The bad news is that two-thirds of all people living with depression don’t get the help they need.”

Some experiences related to depression are unique to women, including postpartum changes, infertility and hormonal fluctuations throughout the course of life.

To help women find the resources they need, NAMI has created a brochure, “Women and Depression.”

“Information in the brochure will help women to help themselves-as well as other women,” said Duckworth. “All family members will benefit by using it as a reference.”

Major depression is a medical illness that affects a person’s mind, mood, body and behavior. It is more than “feeling down” because of a recent loss or the result of family, work or financial stresses; it occurs when these feelings become more intense and persist to the point that they affect daily functioning.

Middle-aged Hispanic women have the highest rate of depressive symptoms, followed by middle-aged African-American women.

Young Asian-American women have the highest rate of younger groups and the second-highest rate of suicide among 15- to 24- year-olds. American Indians and Alaska Native adolescents are most likely to attempt suicide and die from it.

The 13-page brochure highlights symptoms, causes, women of color, life stages and treatment, with additional sections on seeking professional help, self-help, preventing recurrent depression and helping other women.

The brochure’s publication was supported by an educational grant from Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

For more information, visit www.nami.org/womendepression.

Although nearly 18 million Americans experience depression every year, only one-third seek help.