It really makes me realize why the faith emphasizes the importance of family. Without my mum, i don't know how i could have crawled back to a sane state of mind. My dad was sort of a "pull your socks up" kind of man, but when he saw how badly i was crippled, he made the best effort he could to understand by doing some research into mental health.
My poor mum felt so helpless, watching me sit there in a big heap and cry all day and night, but she helped me back on my feet. With the help of my doctors and psychologists, i'm back fighting fit and never ever want to go back to that dark state of mind again. I would never wish it on anyone.
It's great that you're helping where you can with others experiencing the same sort of thing. There were some great quotes here...
http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/arti ... icle=173... That i found in relation to mental illness. It was sort of reassuring to read. There's something soothing about the guardians first quote...
Let us hope . . . scientists will find better and permanent cures for the mentally afflicted. But in this world such an illness is truly a heavy burden to bear!
(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian, 12 April 1948)