Laura Benanti Quotes

The problem with the stigma around mental health is really about the stories that we tell ourselves as a society. What is normal? That's just a story that we tell ourselves.

I was hoping that I could say stuff about mental illness that maybe people didn't know. You know, speak up for bipolar disorder and let people know a little bit more about it that they may not have known.

I'm not really interested in promoting 'Olive' as a series about depression or mental illness.

We must make sure the stigma is removed around mental health and commanders must make it clear on a consistent basis that their door is open for everyone. Servicemembers need to know that command is there for them, to offer assistance however and wherever needed.

My mom Neerja and I started this movement called Mpower. The whole idea is to break the stigma attached to mental illnesses.

Not talking about mental illness is killing people. We need that to stop.

I think psychology would be an easy transition and figuring out the human mind somehow.

Psychology was going to be my minor in college. I've always been really interested in the human mind, which is probably why I'm an actor.

It is an odd paradox that a society, which can now speak openly and unabashedly about topics that were once unspeakable, still remains largely silent when it comes to mental illness.

The greatest benefit of depression is the fact that when I have talked about it, every so often someone comes up and says, 'You saved my dad's life.'

People accuse me of glamorizing mental illness. Looking back sometimes, that's true. But I don't feel guilty.

Mental health needs a great deal of attention. It's the final taboo and it needs to be faced and dealt with.

The fact is, psychiatric help is not widely available to CIA agents - and as in the military, there is a stigma attached to admitting post-traumatic stress.

People take the mickey out of mental health, but it is very delicate.

You know, ever since man had any notion that some of his other people, his colleagues, could be different, could be strange, could be severely depressed or what we now recognize as schizophrenia, he was certain that this kind of illness had to come from evil spirits getting into the body.

As no one knew much about my mental illness, a lot of people had the attitude that I had the capability to 'kick it' and get better instantly. This was the most frustrating attitude for me.

Mental illnesses are so frightening and there's so much ignorance about them that I think it comforts people to think, 'Oh, well, it happens to these people because they deserve it.'

Mental health is seen as a massive drag to have to write about - worthy, dull. Something you should 'have' to read / write about.

I want to break down some of the stigma associated with mental illness.

The only reason I've shared my story is to take that tiny baby step of breaking down the stigma attached to depression.

When I announced my focus on mental health as first lady of Georgia in 1971, none but five mental health advocates in the state wanted to be involved with the issue.

We have funny ideas about how people in mental institutions act. We think of drooling and people going booga-booga and climbing the wall. These are exceptional cases.

A lot of people are living with mental illness around them. Either you love one or you are one.

When people dont know exactly what depression is, they can be judgmental.

My mother struggled immensely with mental illness, and so did I. She grew up bipolar, but it was never diagnosed nor recognized. It was shrugged off like a 'symptom' of being female - of her being weak. I also experienced this growing up: I felt that the great pain I experienced was a dramatisation.