Erase the stigma was the message during a candlelight vigil on Tuesday evening in Meridian.

The National Alliance on Mental Health, or NAMI, of Meridian, lit candles at the Lauderdale County Court Annex to bring awareness about mental health. The event included speakers, including a social worker and a clergy member, and a crowd of about 20 people.

The event was held in recognition of national mental health illness awareness week. The theme for this year is “Cure Stigma” as a way to address the negativity that is related to mental illness.

“People need to realize that stigma hurts,” said Rev. Deacon Betty Melton of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

According to the NAMI website, 1 in 5 Americans are affected by mental illness. Jill Walsh, president for NAMI Meridian, said stigma is what causes many people not to seek help. Walsh said words and phrases such as crazy and you lost your mind are harmful because it could make someone too scared to seek help. 

Walsh said she was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder when she reached adulthood. She said she didn’t like how she had a mood disorder when she was first diagnosed. Walsh said after seeking treatment and sharing her story with others she feels like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders.

Gwendolyn Brown, a social worker at the East Mississippi State Hospital, who spoke at the event, said having an event such as the vigil sheds some light into the darkness, describing how the candles are shining a light into a dark time of someone’s life. Brown said through her work she wants people to know that nothing is wrong with mental illness.

“It takes courage to tell your story,” Brown said.

Brown said she wanted to stress that mental illness is considered a medical illness, like heart disease and cancer. Brown also said we should educate our communities, families and ourselves by expanding our minds on what mental illness is. Brown said we should have respect for each other.

Brown said sometimes people have bias in relation to mental illness.

“That comes from being ignorant,” Brown said.

Melton compared stigma as a virus that needs to be cured. She said that people just don’t snap out of mental illness. It takes time. Melton also said that having stigma also takes lives. 

Melton said one way stigma can be addressed is to support people, choose the correct words, know the facts, be aware of our thinking, include everyone and focus on the positive. 

Brown also said if someone feels depressed, they should talk to someone, so they will not be alone. 

Amy Bishop Green said she came to the event because it is important to fight stigma and have the courage to ask for help.  

Walsh said she hopes that having more people talking about mental health will spread like wildfire, causing more people to speak up. 

 “Life is hard, we need support from as many people that we can get,” Walsh said.

Those who would like more information about mental health should call the local NAMI office at 601-917-1474 or email namimeridian@gmail.com. Also people can call the NAMI hotline at 1-800-950- 6264.