Why does mental illness still have such a stigma attached to it?
490021
Media and peoples reactions to something they do not know about. My mum has manic depression. She is completely normal, yet has "actively" had it four times in her life-just under severe pressure. Childbirth, my dad had cancer and her degree. She still takes tablets just in case but she is a completely normal person. Yet, she does not tell anyone she doesnt have to as a hell of a lot of people think she's "mental" and will become violent. Its like aids in small kids. So many people are scared to touch them be around others with aids because they do not know about the disease. People have no concept of mental illness, well a lot of people so the only information they get is from films or media. If more information was taught in schools or films more accurate it could cause people to react in a better way and so not so much stigma was associated with mental health problems
980780
It can go away with time when on the proper meds then with some people its also tied in with other illnesses such as bi polar and depression.Its very controllable if you are on the proper meds and take them as directed.
810270
Usually medication and they may have to try several to get the right one or combination of drugs to help.  It is a severe form of mental illness and it takes medication to keep the person from acting on thoughts and feelings when they are having a psychotic episode and hopefully to prevent more episodes or at least the severity. It is hard to treat and takes a Psychiatrist to diagnose and prescribe and the person may have to be admitted to be evaluated and treated with medication and therapy.
792761
It depends on the type of mental illness, and the severity of that illness. Some people are blissfully unaware that they are "crazy" and some people who have a mental illness are painfully aware of their illness. \n\nSome types of mental illness, such as schizophrenia, lend themselves to a higher level of "non-awareness," and certainly that changes within those diagnosed with schizophrenia, based on a number of individual factors. \n\nSometimes, when people with mental illnesses are not on prescription medication, or have a prescription, but are not taking it properly, or at all, they have a higher rate of psychosis, or hallucinations, or other symptoms may be exacerbated. \n\nSome folks with mental illnesses such as depression, or bi-polar illness know very well that there is something wrong. And other times, other mental illness, like character disorders, ingrain themselves so deeply in the very root of who people are, that they don't have any way of looking at the world except through those lenses of experience.  So in some cases, they have no frame of reference for thinking that they are "mentally ill." \n\nFinally, there are times when people may have become so ill from their mental illness and lack of resources like therapy and medication, that they spiral deeper into their illness. People have done awful things in those desperate times, and when they are then back on medication, the weight of coming out of that "fog" but knowing that something was terribly wrong is so heavy on their hearts and minds that they just want to disappear into their mental illness again. \n\nMental illness is terribly sad and it wreaks havoc on people and their families. And contrary to popular belief, the bulk of the mentally ill are not homeless people downtown. They're mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers. They're regular people, trying to live regular lives.
586070
"Mental illness" is much to broad a term for an answer to be possible.  Some indeed may have a higher, rather than lower, level of consciousness than so-called normal people.  You never know, do you?  Not really.  You cannot know what is going on in anyone else's mind, and psychology does not gain my trust when it pretends it does know.
1037250
luckily you cannot catch this disease since its a mental illness....removing it is a bit trickier... since they actually believe they know whats best for the rest of the world and cannot accept the fact that most people disagree with them as evidenced by the last two elections... they enjoy making up   what they consider catchy phrases such as fascist neo con Nazi  etc, and spreading propaganda  even if it  endangers  the country they live in...which they claim to love but  act like they hate....so though you may not be able to cure them... their symptoms are so  prominent, that it is easy to avoid them...
1056867
By definition they can't, since "choosing" to be mentally ill would in and of itself be an indication of mental incapacity (it's not a functional or rational decision).  Therefore, the road to mental illness, no matter how long or where it starts, is not one that's chosen by people.
1123169
I think it's crucial,considering most of the public is so critical towards mental health issues.If they had more knowledge they'd be more understanding of it.
401319
You're not describing mental illness.  You are describing assholism.\n\nMental illness is disturbed behavior in a specific, recognized pattern that is clearly identifiable and the same from person to person with the same disease.  More importantly, specific treatments tend to make the behavior better when applied to anyone who has been identified as having the specific mental illness.  The most common mental illnesses in society are depression, anxiety and eating disorders.  Clearly identifiable and reliably treatable are what identify mental illnesses.\n\nAssholism, on the other hand, is a moral issue.  The person is normal.  Problems are with attitudes, philosophies and beliefs.  Often, the person takes advantage of our overly cultured and non-violent society to get away with behaviors that 50 years ago would have resulted in him getting an extreme beating.  The best way to deal with this is to ostracize them.
943567
Psychologically speaking, failure to accept the truth is widely recognized as a symptom of a mental disorder. No sh_t!!!!!!!!
690725
Some Axis 1 illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are very likely to run in families and there have been many studies (identical twins separated at birth have been especially helpful) to support this.  Other illnesses, like PTSD and personality disorders, are mostly due to environment--though a person may have a genetic predispotion to develop them.  Mental illnesses are defined and diagnosed according to symptoms and behaviors; there really aren't many physically discernable/measurable characteristics.  For example, a blood sample can provide evidence of an infection because of the prescence of viral cells or bacteria, but a doctor can't look at the same sample and see a traumatic childhood or wildly fluctuating dopamine levels (at least not yet).  Since a few illnesses so commonly run in families, doctors may use heredity as a guide when they make a diagnosis, but they would still need to see a patient exhibit symptoms.  Genetics may be a key component to some mental illness, but it isn't everything by a long shot.  For example, having a schizophrenic twin doesn't suggest that a person is schizophrenic nearly as much as lining your hat in aluminum foil to keep government sattelites from controlling your brain.
696455
Umm, yeah sure. They should be more understanding of people with mental illness.\n\n(Don't forget to take your meds)\n\nCheers.
507597
You are wise to try and regain your brain power. All drugs should be weaned slowly even cigarettes. If you feel good go faster. Recovery from mental illness is not heard of very much because of the stigma.
507870
I don't suffer from it, I live with it. There's a big difference. I live in WV and we have a wonderful organization called the WV Mental Health Consumers' Association. It's an organization started by a few people who had tried other ways of dealing with mental illness and found the available treatments lacking. Now they have people who have been there, done that and now have found alternative ways to cope with mental health issues. Peer counseling, support groups and wellness groups and classes have all been life savers for me. I now volunteer for the organization. There is also a program we do called WRAP- Wellness Recovery Action Plans. It helps each person learn the skills to develop an action plan that helps reduce or eliminate symptoms and plan ways to maintain wellness or at least have a say over how you are taken care of when you are sick. For more info visit their website at www.wvmhca.org. You may find some valuable info there that could work for you.
617614
i think it is because as a person that is living with mental health instead of making mental health my life;...........people as a mass norm,know how they want to deal with everyday people.no challenges not bumps,but to talk with some with a mental health issue we are unsure of the way we are reacted to a mentally challenged person.crazy as sounds you talk to more people with mental issue then ya know.good luck finding your answer.you "DID"just interact with a mentally crazy person......p.s.we can be the most fun at a party too.lol
1148522
Yes.  But only in specific cases with certain illnesses.  I don't want to hear that crap about road rage or whatever the fancy name is nowadays.  Schizophrenia?  Absolutely.  That is a severe mental disorder where your perception of reality is extremely disoriented.  Depression?  Hell no.  Everyone gets depressed.  I was diagnosed with depression (bipolar actually) several years back.  Am I bipolar.  Nope.  It was my life situation that gave me the symtoms. Am I depressed now? Nope.  The only symptom I have is social anxiety.  Is that a reason to commit a crime?  Hell no. I know what is right and what is wrong.   However, when you have schizophrenia, autism, brain damage, or retardation, you don't always understand. Your perception of reality is very skewed, and nine times out of ten, you don't understand the wrongness of your actions, neither the consequnces.
731524
unfortunatly the stigma sticks