“You are not your illness.”

Glenn Close, esteemed Hollywood actress and six-time Academy Award nominee, thinks that "ending the stigma around mental disorders is one of the greatest challenges of our time."

After watching her sister Jessie and nephew Calen experience the effects of having bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, Close founded Bring Change 2 Mind, a non-profit organization that aims to end the stigma around mental illness. She wants to encourage people to speak up about their different mental health-related issues.

"Starting the conversation will end stigma but it has to be embraced by a grassroots movement," she told BuzzFeed. "There are millions of people who don't get help, or are unable to lead fulfilling, productive lives because of stigma."

In honor of BuzzFeed's Mental Health Week, Close spoke with us over email and gave some insight into what she's learned about mental illnesses over the past six years. Here's what she had to say:

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It's important to speak out about mental health.

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"I think it's vitally important to talk about mental health because it will, literally save lives. Not talking about mental health issues means that the toxic stigma that is still out there will continue to keep people from asking for help, from getting the treatment they need and from helping people to understand that a mental illness is a chronic disease, like any other chronic disease. You are not your illness."

She’s seen firsthand how people can be deserted because of their illness.

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