Taking mental health issues seriously makes a tremendous difference in obtaining treatment for mental illnesses as well as creating a sense of value and validation for those dealing with mental illness.

Last year, a good friend of mine confided in me that he felt deeply depressed, anxious and suicidal. I was grateful that he would trust me enough to take his concerns seriously. He was at a loss, out of work, and had no insurance and no hope for feeling better.

I shared with him the...