Carmen Pineiro, LMHC

This year, Borinquen Medical center along with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and organizations nationwide calls on everyone to shine a light on mental illness and replace stigma with hope. During the week of October 2-8, BMC will raise awareness about mental illness with the hopes to reduce stigma, provide support, educate and advocate for equal care. Let's come together with compassion and help improve the lives of those 43 million adults living with a mental illness.

Individuals and families affected by mental illness are often subjected to stigma and discrimination. This makes is difficult to open up and discuss symptoms even with a doctor. The fear and stigma of living with a mental illness can often become isolating. Therefore, on this particular week we ask those living with a mental illnesxs, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar or substance use to stand up and speak up. Make on appointment with a doctor or mental health counselor, tell your friends, support someone who is struggling!!

Here are some celebrities who have openly shared their struggle with mental illness:

1. Emma Stone - childhood panic attacks

2. Demi Lovato - depression bipolar

3. Dwayne Johnson, The Rock - depression

4. Sarah Silverman – depression and panic attacks

5. Barbara Streisand - social phobia

6. Dolly Parton - depression

7. Drew Barrymore - depression and substance use addiction

8. Howard stern - OCD

9. Jim Carey - depression

10. Michael Phelps - ADHD

11. Mel Gibson - bipolar

12. Paula Abdul - bulimia

13. DMX - bipolar

14. Britney Spears - postpartum depression and bipolar

15. Leonardo DiCaprio - OCD

At BMC’s behavioral office counselors will be available to provide free screenings tools, education and answer any questions about mental health condition or treatment, October 2-8, 2016, at 100 NE 38 St, Unit 5, between 9 am and 4 pm. Together we can replace stigma with hope.