The cases of Kanye West, Ben El Tabori and the network star who is currently hospitalized are very unfortunate, but they also have an important meaning in society: raising awareness of mental problems.
Three celebrities hit the headlines this week with three different stories: the first, a successful American rapper who is apparently in a continuous manic attack and spews out into the world a series of harsh statements that led him to severe losses.
The second, Ben El Tabori, who on the birthday of his son, Tho Prince, apologized to him for the difficult recordings and explained:
"Unfortunately, not many people know, but I have been diagnosed with mania since the age of 18, which sometimes erupts especially on people I love and can touch me emotionally.
Mania is not an excuse for any form of behavior and I am sorry to everyone who heard the recordings, and I will never forgive myself for letting myself get to this place.'
The third, a reality TV star who documents in her story what she is going through, makes false accusations against her associates who claim that she is not stable at the moment.
You don't have to be a psychiatrist to know that mental illness is a complex thing.
There are quite a few mentally ill people around us who, instead of receiving support and taking care of themselves, are busy hiding and fearing that they will be found out.
The fear is legitimate, and the dilemmas are many.
Will they hire me?
What will they think of me?
Will they continue to be my friends and will they continue to love me?
In the not so distant past, mental illness was a shame.
And there are still many who are ashamed and hide.
In our neighborhood they were called "crazy", and who wants to be "crazy"?
And so a strange and absurd situation is created that precisely those who need our help more than many others, are ashamed of us.
Mental illness, like any illness, affects everyone.
No matter how famous, rich or successful you are.
And just like when the hand hurts we go to the orthopedist, also when our mind hurts we need to go to treat and give a cure through the doctor and the appropriate medicines.
A combination of powerful and high volume advertising with gentle souls is a sure route to a car accident.
To survive and last in this harsh world you need to know how to maintain stability and a strong chin.
The three, headed by Kanye West, were forced to be the presenters of this tough disease, at least for the past week.
They and we too would have preferred to talk about them in other contexts, but the universe wanted differently, and if it already happened, maybe it's time to change the perception.
We as a society must show tolerance and acceptance and a little less judgment and bullying, which are often based on fear and lack of knowledge.
erans@israelhayom.co.il
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us