Mental Health Stigma?

What is the stigam attached to mental health caused by, do you feel uncomfortable with the idea of "mental illness," have you experienced prejudice because of this attitude? (My interest is genuine.)

what is your country out of interst cherry?

There is more than one stigma attached to mental health conditions. Yes it is uncomfortable, and the stigma most attached that troubles me the worst, is that because the person can't see what is wrong with you, it's as if you are just making it up. If you walk in on crutches, people are much more empathetic, than if they see someone having a panic attack. Terms like "unbalanced, mentally ill" are tossed around pretty freely, without really understanding what is going on. I have a friend who suffers from severe depression and a very severe case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and her own family thinks that she could change this, if she would just fight it, get a job, get up in the morning, take a shower, etc... and everything will fall back into place. I know that mental conditions can do a lot of damage to the person with the illness, but it hurts to have other people trying to diagnose you, and tell you how to get over it, when they really do not have a clue as to what the person with the illness is facing. If you would like to know more info. about a particular illness, or talk about it in greater detail, or if you have more questions, please feel free to e-mail me at brew40fw@msn.com, I hope this helps, and I wish you the best

Yeah there is a lot of prejudice and ignorance about the illnesses and about people wth mental illnesses in my country but donno about yours.Probable to be alike.They think as if they're super normal and people with the diagnosis are inbalanced and potential dangers,etc etc.

Hi, you no doubt have experienced, or feel that you are misunderstood. We who have mental disorders, often caused by physical chemical imbalance, or thro sress, other illnesses, and the list is lengthly. Stigma is often understood as a mark of shame. Anyone can be hurt by being misunderstood, or perceived as 'different'.
Yet the real 'illness' lies with those folk who relate unkindly to those with mental illness , or disabilities.
Their illness unfortunately is being ill themselves, ill..informed !!!
Often the mentally ill are placed in 'the too hard basket', has it not often been so.

I found that, having a sense of humour helped me, as I found ways to help people understand, [if they wished to!] For example, I have severe depression and what is known as Psychco-motor retardation.

If asked about why I am ill, I tell them this , that I have Clinical depression, which sounds better than just depression, and add and p-m-retardation.
They say"whats that"? And I say, "Well it is like having a slow Hard Drive on your computer.I am slowed up in most things.
If they ask , knowing I have Depression, [and I'm having a good day], I say "I'm doing really well today thanks!, but I'll get over it!!!And I laugh. And then ask them "And how are you, ...really?
Their was a time as a child when wearing glasses made you into a freak! Now it is a sign of intellegence! So try not to stgmatise yourself, it isn't easy, yet can be faced and learnt.Don't be ashamed of who you are, you are more than your illness.And as we continue to place ourselves 'out there', we will find many who are going thro the same 'club'
Take care, and be as adventuress as you are able.

I think a lot of it is fueled by Hollywood. Usually people in movies with some sort of mental disorder are flying off the deep end chopping other people to bits. The problem with portraying mentally ill people in that way is that it's completely false. There is actually a less chance of someone with a mental disorder committing a violent crime than someone without.