---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must bring the issue of mental illness…"
description: "\"We must bring the issue of mental illness out into the sunlight, out of the shadow, out of the closet, deal with it, treat people, have centers where p..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/john-lewis-1310_help_we-must-bring-the-issue-of-mental-illnes_494256.jpg"
---

#  We must bring the issue of mental illness out into the…

![“We must bring the issue of mental illness out into the sunlight, out of the shadow, out of the closet, deal with it, treat people, have centers where people can get the necessary help.” quote by John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/john-lewis-1310_help_we-must-bring-the-issue-of-mental-illnes_494256.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/john-lewis-1310_help_we-must-bring-the-issue-of-mental-illnes_494256.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/john-lewis-1310_help_we-must-bring-the-issue-of-mental-illnes_494256.jpg)

> “We must bring the issue of mental illness out into the sunlight, out of the shadow, out of the closet, deal with it, treat people, have centers where people can get the necessary help.”

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Advocates openly addressing mental illness, creating accessible treatment centers, and ending stigma.

**In simple terms:** Talk about mental health openly and provide help.

Key Takeaway

Support mental health visibility and services.

Themes

mental health stigma access to care advocacy

Mood

empathetic determined

Type

advocacy inspirational

When to use this quote

- schools
- workplaces
- healthcare systems
- family discussions

Key Concepts

public health policy community support

Questions to Reflect On

- How can communities reduce stigma?
- What policies improve access to care?

A Different Perspective

Limited resources and societal resistance can impede implementation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illness/) [Mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-illness/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/)

## Related quotes

> [First and foremost, it's a psychological issue and it's mental concentration - that's all it is. We're all big enough and strong enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-kelce/first-and-foremost-it-s-a-psychological-issue-and-it-s-mental/)

[Travis Kelce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-kelce/)

> [“If you really love someone, you have to be prepared to do what’s necessary to help them learn and grow, even if it’s painful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-christine-parker/if-you-really-love-someone-you-have-to-be-prepared-to-do-what-s/)

[Amy Christine Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-christine-parker/)

> [It is necessary to help others, not only in our prayers, but in our daily lives. If we find we cannot help others, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/it-is-necessary-to-help-others-not-only-in-our-prayers-but-in-our/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [I believe that the issue of mental health services for our troops deploying or returning from combat is one that demands the attention of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-delauro/i-believe-that-the-issue-of-mental-health-services-for-our-troops/)

[Rosa DeLauro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-delauro/)

> [“Among the many objects to which a wise and free people find it necessary to direct their attention, that of providing for their safety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jay/among-the-many-objects-to-which-a-wise-and-free-people-find-it/)

[John Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jay/)

> [You can't automate in the arts. Since the sixteenth century there has been no change in the number of people necessary to produce Hamlet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-wiley/you-can-t-automate-in-the-arts-since-the-sixteenth-century-there-has/)

William T. Wiley

> [The government needs to defend its people, to take necessary actions even if they are extremely painful and tragic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-herzog/the-government-needs-to-defend-its-people-to-take-necessary-actions/)

[Isaac Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-herzog/)

> [“there are people (men and women both, unfortunately) who have no good in them—none. That there are people whom it is necessary to detest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-are-people-men-and-women-both-unfortunately-who-have-no-good-in/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [Any communitys arm of force - military, police, security - needs people in it who can do necessary evil, and yet not be made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/any-communitys-arm-of-force-military-police-security-needs-people-in/)

[Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/)

> [Machines and people are both necessary for Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia, Google, and neither is sufficient on its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oren-etzioni/machines-and-people-are-both-necessary-for-facebook-twitter-wikipedia/)

[Oren Etzioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oren-etzioni/)

> [Egalitarian policies are the best way to unite and empower people, and are also a necessary counterweight to the sometimes detrimental influence of market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-siguroardottir/egalitarian-policies-are-the-best-way-to-unite-and-empower-people-and/)

[Johanna Siguroardottir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-siguroardottir/)

> [I think we need to talk about mental illness a lot more. People complain about tax dollars and say we don't have the money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/i-think-we-need-to-talk-about-mental-illness-a-lot-more-people/)

[Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/)

> [“Today, our view of genuine reality is increasingly clouded by professionals whose technical expertise often introduces a superficial and soulless model of the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-kleinman/today-our-view-of-genuine-reality-is-increasingly-clouded-by/)

[Arthur Kleinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-kleinman/)

> [This tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis of all human mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/this-tendency-to-avoid-problems-and-the-emotional-suffering-inherent/)

[Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/)

> [“I swear that I will never cause trouble for anybody, as long as I live!! So please! Nobody cause any trouble for me, either!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minoru-furuya/i-swear-that-i-will-never-cause-trouble-for-anybody-as-long-as-i-live/)

Minoru Furuya

## More by John Lewis

> [ I happen to believe that this election year \[2016\] is...one of the most important elections that we're going to face in a very long… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-happen-to-believe-that-this-election-year-2016-is-one-of-the-most/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [If you're not hopeful and optimistic, then you just give up. You have to take that long hard look and just believe that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/if-you-re-not-hopeful-and-optimistic-then-you-just-give-up-you-have/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [The reward for playing jazz is playing jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/the-reward-for-playing-jazz-is-playing-jazz/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [I am very, very hopeful about the American South - I believe that we will lead America to what Dr. King called 'the beloved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-am-very-very-hopeful-about-the-american-south-i-believe-that-we/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [ \[Donald Trump's inauguration\] will be the first one that I miss since I've been in Congress. You cannot be at home with something that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/donald-trump-s-inauguration-will-be-the-first-one-that-i-miss-since-i/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [To question the legitimacy of the next United States president, you know, and you're worried about a tweet that says, hey, why don't you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/to-question-the-legitimacy-of-the-next-united-states-president-you/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [We are tired of being beaten by policemen. We are tired of seeing our people locked up in jails over and over again. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/we-are-tired-of-being-beaten-by-policemen-we-are-tired-of-seeing-our/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [Now we have black and white elected officials working together. Today, we have gone beyond just passing laws. Now we have to create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/now-we-have-black-and-white-elected-officials-working-together-today/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [“For me, the nomination of Barack Obama as a candidate for president and his inauguration in Washington represents a brief glimpse at the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/for-me-the-nomination-of-barack-obama-as-a-candidate-for-president/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [Too many people struggled, suffered, and died to make it possible for every American to exercise their right to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/too-many-people-struggled-suffered-and-died-to-make-it-possible-for/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [The vote is precious. It's almost sacred, so go out and vote like you never voted before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/the-vote-is-precious-it-s-almost-sacred-so-go-out-and-vote-like-you/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [My position is very, very simple. That I fought too long and too hard against discrimination based on race and color, not to stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/my-position-is-very-very-simple-that-i-fought-too-long-and-too-hard/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [Many of us in Nashville accepted nonviolence as a way of life, a way of living, not simply as a technique or a tactic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/many-of-us-in-nashville-accepted-nonviolence-as-a-way-of-life-a-way/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [Right now, what my job is - pardon me? Those are just words. Right now, what my - my job is right now going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/right-now-what-my-job-is-pardon-me-those-are-just-words-right-now/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

> [ Donald Trump has made it clear that certainly over the last few years that President \[Barack\] Obama was born in Hawaii. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/donald-trump-has-made-it-clear-that-certainly-over-the-last-few-years/)

[John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

[Explore all 258 John Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/)

## More Help quotes

> [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/)

[John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/)

> [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/)

[Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/)

> [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/)

[Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/)

> [As much as you want to improve or help the team, as a centre-back your job is to go under the radar and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrone-mings/as-much-as-you-want-to-improve-or-help-the-team-as-a-centre-back-your/)

[Tyrone Mings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrone-mings/)

> [I want to help people struggling with whatever it is they're going through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santan-dave/i-want-to-help-people-struggling-with-whatever-it-is-they-re-going/)

[Santan Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santan-dave/)

> [There is a talent in dyslexia - it can help you see things creatively. So I wouldn't change a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-william-middleton/there-is-a-talent-in-dyslexia-it-can-help-you-see-things-creatively/)

[James William Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-william-middleton/)

> [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/)

[Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/)

> [You give because you love and cannot help giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/you-give-because-you-love-and-cannot-help-giving/)

[Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/)

> [For young people in the U.K. who find themselves without anywhere to live - perhaps they have left the family home after a relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/for-young-people-in-the-u-k-who-find-themselves-without-anywhere-to/)

[Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/)

> [Disasters affect every state, and North Carolinians have given our own tax dollars to help neighbors and those in other states in times of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/disasters-affect-every-state-and-north-carolinians-have-given-our-own/)

[Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/)

> [Try to help people rather than focusing on what's in it for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brogan/try-to-help-people-rather-than-focusing-on-what-s-in-it-for-me/)

[Chris Brogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brogan/)

> [God, help me to focus on Truth instead of the trial. Help me to give thanks instead of giving into fear. Help me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-daugherty/god-help-me-to-focus-on-truth-instead-of-the-trial-help-me-to-give/)

Whitney Daugherty

> [To nurture the sort of relationships that will truly help propel you towards accomplishing great things, you need to forget transactional networking and focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/to-nurture-the-sort-of-relationships-that-will-truly-help-propel-you/)

[Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/)

> [When certain stars take you under their wing, it does help as they gauge your potential and are willing to work with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-bhatt/when-certain-stars-take-you-under-their-wing-it-does-help-as-they/)

[Vikram Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-bhatt/)

> [Obviously you help your team win by producing runs. But you also help your team win by preventing runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-crawford/obviously-you-help-your-team-win-by-producing-runs-but-you-also-help/)

[Brandon Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-crawford/)

[Browse all 8,763 Help quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We must bring the issue of mental illness out into the sunlight, out of the shadow, out of the closet, deal with it, treat people, have centers where people can get the necessary help.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Lewis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/we-must-bring-the-issue-of-mental-illness-out-into-the-sunlight-out/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Help"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/we-must-bring-the-issue-of-mental-illness-out-into-the-sunlight-out/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/john-lewis-1310_help_we-must-bring-the-issue-of-mental-illnes_494256.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/john-lewis-1310_help_we-must-bring-the-issue-of-mental-illnes_494256.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/john-lewis-1310_help_we-must-bring-the-issue-of-mental-illnes_494256.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We must bring the issue of mental illness out into the sunlight, out of the shadow, out of the closet, deal…” — John Lewis",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "John Lewis",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We must bring the issue of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/we-must-bring-the-issue-of-mental-illness-out-into-the-sunlight-out/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/we-must-bring-the-issue-of-mental-illness-out-into-the-sunlight-out/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
