Mental illness does not always look like “madness”

Apr 14, 2026 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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(Kaieteur News) – For many people, the idea of mental illness is tied to a very specific image: someone wandering the streets, talking to themselves, behaving in ways that are clearly “not normal.”

Because of this, it can be difficult to accept that a person who looks calm, speaks clearly, goes to work, or takes care of their family could also be mentally ill. Yet, this is exactly what modern understanding of mental health tells us—many people who are struggling deeply do not “look” sick at all.

Mental illness is not always something you can see from the outside. In fact, some of the most serious struggles happen quietly, inside a person’s thoughts and emotions. A person may smile, hold a conversation, or carry out daily tasks, while at the same time feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, or trapped. Just as someone can have high blood pressure without obvious signs, a person can have a serious mental health condition without appearing “crazy.”

When people talk about suicide today, it is no longer seen simply as a personal decision made in a clear state of mind. Most mental health professionals understand it as something that often happens when a person is not thinking clearly because they are overwhelmed by emotional pain. Imagine feeling so weighed down by problems, sadness, or stress that it becomes hard to see any way out. Over time, that feeling can grow so strong that the person begins to believe things that are not really true. They may, for example, think that their situation will never improve, or that their loved ones would be better off without them.

These kinds of thoughts can feel completely real to the person experiencing them, even if they don’t make sense to others. It’s like looking at the world through a dark filter. Everything appears worse than it actually is. A person in that state is not making decisions the way they normally would. Their judgment is clouded by pain. In some cases, the situation becomes even more serious. A person may begin to lose touch with reality in certain ways. They might believe things that are not true but feel completely convinced that they are. For example, they may think that danger is everywhere, or that suffering is unavoidable. These beliefs can be so strong that they guide the person’s actions.

This helps explain something that is very hard for many people to understand: how a parent could harm their own child. In ordinary thinking, this seems impossible, because parents are expected to protect their children at all costs. But when a person’s mind is deeply affected by mental illness, their sense of reality and judgment can become distorted. They may believe, however wrongly, that they are protecting the child from a worse fate. In their mind, they are not acting out of hatred, but out of fear, confusion, or a misguided sense of care.

It is important understand that this does not mean excusing the harm done. The loss and pain caused by such actions are real and devastating. However, understanding the mental state behind these actions helps us see that they do not come from a “normal” way of thinking. Another important point is that people in severe emotional distress can act suddenly. When stress, conflict, or emotional pain builds up, it can reach a breaking point. At that moment, a person may act in ways that are completely out of character. Someone who has always been loving and responsible may do something shocking because, in that moment, they are not thinking clearly.

In many communities, mental illness is only recognized when it is extreme and visible. If someone is not shouting, wandering, or behaving wildly, people assume they are fine. But this way of thinking can be dangerous, because it ignores the many people who are suffering silently. The truth is that mental illness exists on a wide range. Some people show obvious signs, but many do not. A person can look “normal” on the outside and still be struggling deeply on the inside. They may hide their feelings, feel ashamed to speak up, or not even realize that what they are experiencing is a form of illness.

If we begin to understand this, we can respond differently. Instead of immediately judging or dismissing, we can start to ask deeper questions: What was this person going through? Were there signs of distress that were missed? Could help have been offered earlier?

Recognising that mental illness is not always visible is an important step toward prevention. It encourages us to take emotional suffering seriously, even when it is not obvious. It reminds us that behind actions we struggle to understand, there may be a mind that is not functioning as it normally would. In the end, moving away from the idea that mental illness only looks like “madness” allows for a more compassionate and realistic understanding of human behaviour. It opens the door to better support, earlier intervention, and, hopefully, fewer tragedies.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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• madness, mental health, Mental illness, Peeping Tom, talking to themselves

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