Glenn Close Speaks Out on Sister's Mental Illness

Actress Glenn Close is sharing her family's experiences with mental illness as a way of challenging stereotypes and lessening the stigma associated with psychological illness.

Close has recorded a new public service announcement that shows her alongside her sister Jessie, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Jessie's son Caleb, who suffers from schizoaffective disorder, is also featured in the PSA.

The actress—who has played her share of psychologically unbalanced characters on screen—said she wants to open up a dialogue about living with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and similar illnesses.

"Mental illness is just part of the human condition," Close said in an appearance on Good Morning America. "I envision [a time] when we can talk about it as freely and openly as cancer or diabetes."

The new campaign is part of the vision of BringChange2Mind.org, an organization founded by Close to bring support to people with mental illnesses and enhance access to information about these diseases.

In a column published in the Huffington Post, Close said she hopes these efforts will help "break through the silence and fear" to confront the stigma of mental illness head-on.