First of all we must realize that mental illness is the same as cancer, aids, heart disease etc. I think too many times, we in the black community treat mental illness as a joke. If someone is delusional, we say their crazy. Or if they are depressed, we say oh it's just the blues so pray about it. While prayer is highly affective, why won't we go seek medical help just like we do any other disease? My advice to you is not to treat her any differently. Also find out what illness she has been diagnosed with and read up on it. That way you'll know what she's experiencing and what sort of behavior she will exhibit so that you can be prepared. Frankly, she might snap at you and you must come to realize that she is going through something and it's the disease not her. Also, if you're really close to her you might consider yourself going to some sort of self help group for caretakers of people with mental illness. Their is also a book titled "Willow Weep for Me" by Mari Nana Ana Danqua. It's about the author's (An African women's) bout with clinical depression. It might give you more insight into mental illness. I hope I was of some help.
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KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY, INC.
SPR 97
XI LAMBDA
[This message has been edited by NUPE4LIFE (edited December 01, 2000).]
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