How to Tell Friends and Love Interests About Mental Illness

A mental illness diagnosis doesn’t mean you can’t date or make new friends. It does mean – at some point -- that you need to tell all the new people in your life that you’re living with depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, or whatever your mental health concerns are. In this episode, our hosts discuss telling the new people in our lives about our health issues – including the people they’ve dated. Highlights from ‘Mental Illness, Friends, Love Interests’ Episode [2:20] Being public and vocal about mental illness. [3:30] What is the right (and wrong) way to tell people you have a mental illness? [4:00] How soon is too soon? How late is too late? [7:00] Michelle shares her story of telling romantic partners. [11:30] We discuss when would we not share our diagnosis. [15:30] Some people don’t believe we have mental illnesses. [18:30] If we talk more about mental illness, people will understand it more. [20:30] People should still respect your boundaries when it comes to mental illness. [23:30] Michelle’s friends all knew she was schizophrenic before she was diagnosed.