To this day, I still don’t know why I developed a mental health problem.

But prior to my diagnosis and treatments, my struggles with mental health felt unbearable. The first two years were especially hard, as constant stress and demands in a new environment probably had adverse effects on my mental state. What was second nature to me back at home suddenly became hard labor in this new environment. To adapt to this new environment during my adolescence was painful and lonely, and my health deteriorated quietly. It was then that the people around me started to notice symptomatic behaviors associated with mental health disorders. I remember I displayed some strange body languages. I would shake my head or blink or groan on some occasions. That happened quite often around the time right before I was hospitalized.

I was able to recover after receiving treatment, and I am so grateful for getting my health back. This harsh lesson had one positive effect on me – it made me more aware and conscious of my health than ever before.

Mental illness has a significant impact on patients and their families but these problems are frequently hidden. Unfortunately, for many in our current society, there is an unwritten agreement to avoid talking about mental illness or fundamentally believe in its existence.

Discussions on mental health are often guided by some “universal values” and “ethical codes:” 
“Are people with mental illness inferior to other people?”
“Did people with mental illness do bad things in their previous life?”
“Mental patients and geniuses are only separated by a thin line.”
“It is because of insufficient willpower that you have mental problems.”

These preconceived concepts hinder the recovery of patients and impact the public’s understanding of mental illness.