Chirlane McCray on ‘the Invisible Disease’

The saying goes, “Healthy mind, health body.” But how often do we tend, acknowledge and nurture our mental health?

Mental illness shouldn’t be dismissed as something to simply “walk off.” Nor will “manning up” do the job. And being pegged as “crazy” is worlds away from resolving the problem. Mental illness is a disease that takes on many forms—from anxiety, bipolar disorder and depression to eating disorders and substance abuse.

In popular culture, we’ve seen prominent black men, like Kid Cudi and Kanye West, have bouts of mental illness in the public eye. And in an interview with Complex, Chance the Rapper, Mr. #BlackBoyJoy himself, spoke up about his issues with anxiety. “I don’t remember people talking about anxiety; I don’t remember, when I was growing up, that really being a thing,” Chance said.

Be clear: These celebrities are human, with real afflictions and illnesses. Still, mental illness is often…

Please read original article – Chirlane McCray on ‘the Invisible Disease’