Another 'crazy' child actor.....

Here is the Huffington Post article that I am basing this blog on: http://huff.to/1pgUdAr. I often talk about stigma in my blog.  And here it is.  In another perceptive article,  Huffington Post cuts through the baloney and touches on the heart of the matter.  Amanda Bynes is a mentally ill young woman.  Her behavior and struggles have been fodder for a Hollywood publicity machine dedicated to exposing the foibles of celebrity.  Like Brittney Spears before her, her deterioration has been endlessly chronicled. And the result is that a family involved in a horrendous health struggle has had the additional burden of publicity.  Now, we can debate the rights of celebrities to privacy endlessly, but the bigger issue is how we treat mental illness as a society.

Being different is punished.  Struggling with mental illness is seen as a character defect.  The mentally ill are judged.  Treatment isn't readily available.  I wonder if anyone is supporting Amanda Bynes and her family instead of commenting on her out of control behavior?  Has anyone brought her family a casserole or sent supportive messages?  Or is it just about exploitation?  I don't know since I'm not a friend.  But I think it's time for me to reach out in the only way I know.  Through my blog.

Here it is:  I hope that Amanda and her family are able to find a way through the complexity of living with mental illness.  I hope that you find help, Amanda.  I want you to do well. All human beings dealing with illness deserve compassion.  Even child actors. Please take care.