Nia Long Quotes

In an ideal world, it would not take a film star to get the media focused on mental illness.

We need to change the culture of this topic and make it OK to speak about mental health and suicide.

Getting to have an opportunity to tell a story that is about mental illness and how it affects one's self and one's community was really something that really meant a lot to me.

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.

We're becoming so much better at destigmatizing all sorts of things, including mental illness in 'Silver Linings.'

Abraham Lincoln suffered from depression and yet was a great president. Don’t you think that should help with the stigma of mental illness? We should tell everyone about that.

Many politicians, celebrities, businessmen and women, and community leaders now are open about their struggles with mental illnesses, something almost unheard of when I began. Together, we are spreading the word that mental health affects all of us and deserves our support and attention.

I gave myself the nickname 'Bipolar Rock N' Roller' way back in the 1990s, when - as much as we don't talk about mental health now - back then it was almost nonexistent. And if it was broached, it was done in a very pejorative way.

Canadians know me so well - I am part of Canada's collective memory - and my fame would get people through the door who would not otherwise be interesting in talking about mental health.

We need to do more to raise awareness of perinatal mental health illness and address the stigma that still surrounds it in our society.

We need to be open about mental illness, and demand the mental health services we need.

It's not something I'm embarrassed about. Depression is an issue that tends to be brushed under the carpet. My hope is that if people with a public profile are prepared to talk about it, then it might prompt other people to talk about it too.

I'm lucky to have depression less severely than a lot of people. I know some find it useful to talk about it and people are definitely doing that more. It's becoming less stigmatised.

I am privileged to have people around me who understand mental illnesses and mental health. However, the stigma around it is huge.

It's so important that we figure out a way of moving beyond the stigma that still exists around treatment for mental health.

I'd love for mental illness to be seen in the way that other horrible illnesses are. When people get cancer, very few parents will say, 'Oh I feel so bad for giving you so much unhealthy food over the years.'

Along with some things I've seen in my own life, it showed me that depression needs to be treated in the same way that other medical conditions are. We don't necessarily think about it in the same light, but it should be taken seriously and people should get help. And we should talk about it and not be ashamed about it.

The prevalence of mental illness compels me to give it - and the people suffering from it - a voice.

I think we need to get rid of is improving our minds and our mental health. You know, when when you suffer from depression, you go this is something that I have and I can work on it, you know? I often think of depression, though, as more of a - as more of a symptom than a cause.

I want to destigmatize the words mental illness.

Do I have to talk to insane people?" "You're a librarian now. I'm afraid it's mandatory.

Diagnoses exist to help get people services they need - but there's no such thing as mental illness. We're all mentally ill.

It's estimated that 16 million people in the U.S. have struggled with depression - and I include myself in that statistic. It's real, and it's not shameful, and there is help available. You can bring it to the light, you can tell the truth, you can go to a meeting, you can reach out to a friend. None of us are alone.

When public figures remain silent about depression, there is a cost to the rest of society. Silence contributes to the misperception that successful people do not get depressed, and it keeps the public from seeing that treatment allows many individuals to return to competitive professional lives.