Beyond

I know we're only just meeting for the first time but I'd like to ask you a question
How many of you suffer from or know someone who suffers from a mental illness
Your family
Your friends
Your classmates at school
Your colleagues at work
I'll bet that virtually everyone knows someone with a mental illness
Depression schizophrenia bipolar and anxiety disorders
And also intellectual disturbances like autism
And learning disabilities and ADHD
Twenty percent of the world's population suffers from a mental disorder at some point in their lifetime
That's one in five people
A billion people worldwide
So if you do the math everyone should know someone who suffers from a mental disorder

Hold your breath
Count to ten
Eyes open
Keep dreaming
Stay with you
Long enough to say goodbye
In this world
Love means what you'd never go without
But always remember God

And higher than you'll find
Anywhere on planet earth
And higher than you'll find
Beyond the shores of paradise

We lack an understanding and awareness of what mental illness is
We're reluctant or ashamed to admit it and
Mental illness is highly stigmatized

Insistent in failure
Consistent betrayer
So hard to find someone always on your side
And with you every time

But on the day of the event you got sick and you had to cancel
When you call to cancel would you prefer to say that you couldn't come because you had a kidney stone
Or that you were depressed and suicidal
Or would you rather say that you'd threw out your back or were having a panic attack
Or would you rather explain that you were having a migraine headache
Or you were strung out on prescription pain medication

And higher than you'll find
Anywhere on planet earth
And higher than you'll find
Beyond the shores of paradise
And higher than you'll find
Anywhere on planet earth
And higher than you'll find
Beyond the shores of paradise

Beyond the shores of paradise
But the brain is infinitely more complicated than the heart
Or any other organ in the human body for that matter
The brain gives rise to consciousness and creativity and it also houses the human spirit
So I find it particularly ironic that while people suffer with mental disorders
In the 21st Century when we do have treatments the biggest barriers are lack of awareness lack of access to care
And stigma



Credits
Writer(s): Richard Hyman
Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

Link