Are Neighbors With Mental Health Conditions Welcome?

Flipping through my social media the other night, I saw a post discussing group homes in my area followed by a string of comments. While many, like myself, spoke in support. Some left objections relaying fears of how potential new neighbors living with mental health diagnoses could present a risk to children and the greater community.

For maybe the first time in the space I lived, I felt unwelcome.

I doubt such concerns would be raised about a new living space for senior citizens, even those needing memory care. Still, the implications were clear to me, some citizens did not want new neighbors with mental health conditions. What about current folk?

I live with mental health conditions. I'm also a psychotherapist, writer, partner, friend, and someone who cares a lot about children. Does my village see me in this way too?

Why does mental illness strike such fear?

I mean, we aren't all wild-eyed werewolves running around with chainsaws.

At least, I'm not.

When violent crime makes news, often mental illness is brought up as a potential explanation. Yet, the reality is that the vast majority of violent criminals do not have a mental health condition (Varshney et al., 2016).

While it certainly shouldn't be a requirement of residence, people living with mental health conditions often grant innovative perspectives, deep compassion, and other assets to the community. One in four Americans live with a diagnosable mental health condition. When I think of individuals I have known who do, I am thankful to have these people in my life. Some of the most creative, kind, and intelligent people I have met live with a mental health condition.

Does the 'not in my backyard' mentality apply to the many great contributors in the world with these diagnoses? People like Vincent van Gogh, Jim Carey, Lady Gaga, or Michael Phelps? Is the expectation that a person with mental illness is some kind of exceptional creative genius or a danger to society? That's not how things work.

Still, people living with mental illness are, however, at much higher risk of becoming victims of violence.

I believe that fear and pervasive myths have a lot to do with that. A narrative that someone could be dangerous leads people to act on the defensive, regardless of whether it would be warranted.

Misunderstandings create glass walls, and ceilings that prevent many individuals with mental illness from accessing opportunities to be their best. A research study of 274 people living with serious mental health conditions found a relationship between experience of discrimination and outcomes in areas including housing and quality of life (Mejia-Lancheros et al., 2021).

This not only hurts individuals diagnosed with a mental health condition, but it also damages the greater community. It keeps us from appreciating and learning from each other.

I hope that, in time, the 'not in my backyard' conversation will be a thing of the past when it comes to mental health. People with mental health conditions like myself are neighbors with backyards too. This kind of discourse hurts us.