Stigma and discrimination towards mental illness

I think it makes the treatment that mentally ill people receive a lot worse.

I hate myself for doing it and as much as I'm trying to stop, every now and again I whine on about how depressing something is or how depressed I am. I think that's a big problem, the fact that it's so common and easy for people to misuse words like depressed and insane and OCD and bipolar, and even anorexic is now used as an adjective to describe someone who is slightly underweight. When people chuck these words around, they lose their meaning.

Therefore, since depressed is just another word for sad, when someone is actually clinically depressed, many people are unsympathetic and ignorant about the severity of the mental illness. They don't treat mental illness with the seriousness it deserves.

So, yes, I believe that the stigma surrounding mental illness has an effect. Now many people view the mentally ill as weak rather than victims. I'm not sure if I've answered your question correctly, I'm not entirely sure what you're asking:/

As the daughter of a schizophrenic father, I believe this may be the case.

Perhaps if those with mental disorders were treated as the equal individuals that they are, the psychological torment they experience would be greatly decreased.

My dad is, I think, bordering on possessing genius levels of intelligence - almost photographic memory, amazing scientific mindset (we have a joke that he's 'almost a doctor'!), incredible philosophy skills and, perhaps most importantly, a gift for immense kindness.

He has made me the person I am, he will go on doing so until he dies, if only he could see it.
I often wonder whether he understands what a great father he has been to me, I hope he doesn't go to his grave thinking that he's a terrible dad. He'd most certainly be wrong.

To think he could be judged and knocked by society merely for having a mental disorder makes me think this world has no morality. Not a shred.

He's the first of the two people I trust, with everything I have.

Thanks, Dad.

xx

Oh, I absolutely believe the stigma surrounding mental illness makes things a hell of a lot worse for people going through it. I'm bipolar, and there are many really awful things that happen during both a depression and manic phase. For me, my issues are compulsive spending, dangerous and erratic behaviour when driving, and suicidal tendencies...along with the tendency to self-injure during a depression. I get so much shit from people about how I should just "control my spending" or "stop driving like an asshole". I am getting help through the use of medications and therapy to help prevent these behaviours, and I AM getting a bit more in control. However, it just sucks when people judge someone who was born with a condition. People are sympathetic when they can see a disability. They're less than generous with someone who can see and walk, but is just as incapacitated as someone with a physical disability.

Definitely. I know firsthand the kind of impact it can have.

T-T-T-Today Junior!

Some 'discriminating' words are intended as a light hearted joke. But true the law looks at how the person reacts to it. Therefore some joking around could be illegal.

I think people of mental (or physical) handicap should lighten up a bit, we are taking 'discrimination' to new never seen before, heights in legal courts!