It is not surprising that the first lady is stepping up to the plate on a sensitive subject. She took on obesity. She has driven the dialogue around the need to support our military families. Now she is speaking to 40 million Americans — roughly one in five Americans — who experience a diagnosable mental health condition. Her coalition is releasing a list of signs and symptoms of depression and opening up the conversation about the spectrum of stress-related issues.
There is a wide spectrum from anxiety to mental illness, but most experts agree that treatment is often most effective in the early stage of distress and depression. By putting a spotlight on mental illness, the first lady is helping to remove the stigma around emotional issues. Talking about depression is less taboo when the highest woman in the country is talks about it.