Why is it that, in this supposedly enlightened age, mental illness still carries a stigma?

So many great answers. One thing that I feel causes individuals to shy away from discussing mental illness could be a carry over from the old days. Visions of locking people away in institutions and seeing movies and documentaries showing them rocking and such created these notions.

Years ago doctors advised parents to put a child in an institution for what we consider very mild cases of mental retardation or mental illness today It was only in the 1990's that these places began to close and those individuals were mainstreamed into society in supported living homes. Many learned to use transportation, cook meals, keep a home and pay bills on their own with a little support. They had someone to watch over their medications and monitor them to make sure they took them or to refer them if their weren't taking them or having any reactions.

In my humble opinion I think many of us at one time or another might have thought "Am I going crazy"? I know that during difficult times in my life that thought has crossed my mind given certain situations. Perhaps there is a history or mental illness in many families that cause people to be uncomfortable discussing it.

Hi! I strongly consider there is still a poor stigma related to mental ailment'. Might be not up to years prior.However society, persons,even Drs, hospitals,and many others most of the time just have no thought what intellectual well being disorders are all about. I've lost the final 9+ yrs of my lifestyles to more than a few emotional/mental illness'. Agoraphobia,social anxiousness,and so forth. Just like AIDS, folks are afraid,aren't expert or do not suppose in the concept of intellectual wellbeing problems. I consider the intellectual wellbeing group nonetheless has a ways to go to break down barriers for persons suffering from these sickness'. I assume what frustrates me the most is the misdiagnosing and labeling Drs give sufferers.They make it seem as when you've got a demise sentence. Study,seem into meds your Dr could prescribe,speak to your pharmacist.I am not joking when I say your pharmacist will also be your pleasant friend and suggest. They're so much extra "up" on the meds,aspect results,what the med is for exactly. I desire you the excellent!

I am not sure why? I have a child with autism and epilepsy. I didn't know there was so much epilepsy in my family until I started talking openly with relatives about her problems. Low and behold I found out all sorts of people in my family and in my husbands family had epilepsy but no one talked about it. Like it was something that made them less human or something. I think it is the same thing with any mental illness. Many people think the person who is mentally ill can choose whether or not they can control their illness or that they are using it so they can be accepted for bad behavior. Not true of course but it doesn't stop many many people from thinking this.

I have had people walk up to me on the street and tell me that they would excise the demon from my daughter. Or that if I had only disciplined her that she wouldn't be the way she is. She has a gene deletion BTW but that doesn't stop people. I have had people ask me if I dropped her on her head when she was a baby. People often think that it is caused by my wrong living or because we are not good Christians or because of something we did in a past life or because we are just bad parents. It makes me want to cry. I believe talking about it is the only way it will ever get better for those who are sick, however they are sick mental illness included. You can't find a cure if you don't admit anything is wrong!

Perhaps it is due to the many people who use & abuse the terms of "mental illness" as a way to get a check every month & the stay in the world of drug & alcohol abusers with little to no accountability by the so called "mental health professionals"?

In my area, a large percentage of people frequent the mental health offices to get their checks & food vouchers...then they cash the checks down the street (where they also get that free sandwich from the voucher), pay a check cashing fee, (which is far too high), walk around the corner & pick up their bag of dope from the dealer, then get high & hang out in plain view getting stupid & keeping that stigma going that the mentally ill are a pain & a drain on society,

I don't fell that way about all people who are truly struggling with their problems. I just can't understand why the system does not seem to be able to help the people that appear to need it the most! Why spend all this money just to enable the mentally ill to get stuck in a bigger rut of the street mentality of abuse aded into their already confused state about a healthy way to live!

I'm all for mandatory testing for people livng off a government issued check. Any govt who just gives away $ seems to have a mental illness of their own! That's my personal opinion regarding the subject of the mentally ill. I live in a building that has been filled with them & it's an eye-opener!

because when you say mental illness, people don't hear this, they hear "crazy". Your mental well being is as important as your physical and spiritual well being. But it used to be such a barberic treatment process, and it leaves people vulnerable to a profession that can seem down right scary..Not to mention when a person deals with "issues" they usually involve other parties and that brings up more fear and guilt..no telling how many people walk around in emotional pain that don't tell anyone for fear of the "c" word. You are only as sick as your secrets..

They don't have to talk about it for me to realize when people are suffering from mental illness. I am very uncomfortable with anyone who has mental problems. My own father suffered from depression and was an alcoholic. He committed suicide at age 71. He talked, talked, talked and then talked some more to anyone who would listen. No whispering for dad. And my point is? Open discussion of mental illness doesn't solve the problem or cure the illness.

The mind is so complex. I don't necessarily think it is still whispered about as in years past. Mental illness affects so many people. Bi polar is one of the conditions that is spoken of so much today. I believe that most people if asked can name someone they know of that has mental illness. I agree that in the past mental illness was kept behind close doors, but in today's age of therapy and medications that are beneficial, I think it is being addressed more than one may realize.

Because it is in their head, you know, it cannot be seen with an x-ray or MRI , hard to diagnose, often mis-diagnosed. And some people think it is a sign that they are witches or possessed. Yeah there are those who cannot get past that age old thing. I know people who think that psychiatrists and mental health counselors are quacks. The mentality of those who do not have to deal with a mental illness just boggles the mind.

I can only speak for myself but in order to rise above the stigmas one must be intellectually able to think outside the box. When one narrows their judgments to inside that box they never get over that stage in life. Small unwilling to change hearts and heads live in that stigma world.

Go right ahead. Probably 30% of the people you talk with are or have been mental health clients. I keep my mouth shut because if they want to talk about it they will and if they don't it isn't my place to bring the topic up.