Well known (or somewhat well known) Individuals who deal with Mental Heath Issues
Jane Pauley, NBC newsbroadcaster, since the age of 25, talks candidly
about her depression and bipolar illnesses. In her new book, "Skywriting: A Life
Out of the Blue."she tells about her childhood and family problems, and how she
discovered her need for medication to control mood swings.
Linda Hamilton, actress, has gone public with her diagnosis of
bi-polar disorder diagnosed at a young age. Hamilton, well known for her part with
Arnold Schwarzenegger in "The Terminator" movies explains how helpful medication
has been for her and that she understands she will have to be on medication for
the rest of her life.
Shawn Colvin, Winner of two Grammys in music, talked about her
struggle with depression. Colvin has suffered from major depressive disorder for
more than 20 years. "During the worst times, I shut the world out, refusing to get
out of bed. Even the smallest tasks were overwhelming," she said.
Judy Collins, singer and songwriter, has written a book titled
"Sanity and Grace: A Journey of Suicide, Survival and Strength," (2003). The book
chronicles her journey as a survivor of depression after the suicide of her 33-year-old
son in 1992. She states that her own spiritual life and practice have been a strength
for her as she battles with her illness.
Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison, prof. of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins
University, Baltimore, MD, author of many books on mental illness. Dr. Jamison has
bipolar illness herself and has attempted suicide. Her book "Touched With Fire,"
lists and describes many famous persons whose lives have been changed by bipolar
illness.
Maurice Bernard, portraying Sonny Corinthos on "General Hospital"
weekdays on ABC, tells the National Mental Health Association that he suffered from
bi-polar disorder for many years before he was diagnosed and given medication to
bring his illness under control.
William Styron, author, writes about his own depression in his
book, "Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness, " (1990) and his decision to seek
help. His earlier works which he wrote prior to his diagnosis and admission of his
illness described with uncanny accuracy, the symptoms and the problems he would
experience later in his life. He was one of the first to write about other famous
persons who struggled with mental illness and for explaining the almost unexplainable
experience of a brain disorder to those who had never experienced it in a way which
gained their sympathy and admiration.
John Nash, Nobel Prize Winner in mathematics, has faced a lifelong
battle with schizophrenia. He was known as the “Phantom of Fine Hall” at Princeton
where his reclusive, ghost like figure could be seen roaming around, leaving messages
of his mathematical genus on the boards of empty classrooms. His struggle was well
documented in the book "A Beautiful Mind," by Sylvia Nasar which was later made
into a movie by the same name.