Mental Illnesses Are Very Real. Butt Out, ‘Dr. Cruise.’

For the record, postpartum depression is a very real concern for some women following the birth of a child. So is attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder for some children. And there’s nothing fake about the practice of psychiatry.

But to hear actor Tom Cruise tell it, people are being duped.

According to Cruise, new moms suffering from the baby blues or worse should just exercise and take vitamins. Drugs like Ritalin and Adderall, prescribed to children for ADHD, are "street drugs." And psychiatry is a "pseudoscience."

Spreading such false notions is potentially dangerous.

Nebraska mental-health professionals frequently cite how increasingly sophisticated drug research has helped produce impressive improvements for many mentally ill residents of our state.

Granted, medication isn’t for everyone. Pills can’t solve all problems. Overmedication can occur. And some valid concerns have been raised about an increased risk of suicide when starting, stopping or changing doses of antidepressants in both adolescents and adults.

But those are all issues that should be hammered out between a patient and her doctor or therapist. Education about the benefits and risks of taking antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs is essential. But there’s no reason for people to give up on them as a valid option because of a few misguided rants from Cruise.

The marked change in hormone levels following birth can legitimately lead to depression, which can be a debilitating disease whether brought on by postpartum changes or some other life circumstance or chemical imbalance. Left untreated, depression can cause harm to the sufferers or those around them, including their newborn babies.

And medication has helped many children with their inattention, hyperactivity or impulsiveness.

Cruise should stick to acting and leave medical diagnoses to the professionals.

And those battling mental illness shouldn’t be discouraged or fearful of seeking help. They should continue to work together with the many highly trained men and women in the psychiatry, psychology and mental-health fields to implement treatments that work best for their individual situations.