Imagine an illness that strikes one person in every five to varying degrees, causing untold human suffering and economic loss. An illness that effects all ages in every neighborhood but is kept secret because of the stigma attached. An illness for which many don’t or can’t receive treatment inspite of the fact that it is highly treatable. If this illness were an affliction of the lungs or the heart, our society would create an outcry at such neglect. If it was a broken bone it would not be hidden in shame, and yet a broken mind is.

As the movie "A Beautiful Mind" is recognized by the movie industry for the excellence of acting and production, it is also being recognized for opening the window to both the tragedy and the hope of serious mental illness. Schizophrenia is only one among the group of psychiatric disorders, but the one probably least understood by the public, most ridiculed, and most feared. Although those suffering from schizophrenia rarely experience visual hallucinations, the movie takes artistic license to help us experience the terror of the illness’s auditory hallucinations and delusions. If this movie can help us develop a compassion for those experiencing psychosis, perhaps it can help us openly acknowledge and accept other brain disorders such as depression and anxiety.

As John Nash’s story so poignantly portrays, mental illness, just like any other physical illness, is no respecter of intelligence, geography, social status, beauty, or potential. For every person who finds their ability to function impaired by a disease of the brain, families, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and fellow students are impacted. In other words, we are all touched in some way by mental illness. Why should this be a secret? While one co-worker openly talks of her recent appendectomy, shouldn’t another just as freely be able to share her recent recovery from depression? While the stigma of mental illness hides not only the suffering, it also then hides the hope and the successes. And while one neighbor readily receives treatment for his pneumonia, shouldn’t another neighbor just as easily receive treatment for his panic attacks.

While the winners of the Oscars were thanking everyone for their assistance and support, I would like to thank all involved in creating "A Beautiful Mind" for helping to destigmatize mental illness, especially Dr. and Mrs. Nash for sharing their story in such a public and inspiring way. To paraphrase one acceptance speech Sunday evening, to acknowledge mental illness takes more than a beautiful mind, it takes a beautiful heart.