How can we remove the stigma of mental health?

Most people who have a diagnosis of a mental health brain disorder are not criminals unlike TV or the Movies show.
I feel that it is the last stigma.
You can be Gay, have AIDS/HIV now; even at one time having cancer was not discussed.. But dare admit that you on medication for depression or such.
I have lost friendships because of my disclosure of having depression.
The support and understanding of family and friends helps a lot. As we can not just snap out of it without help. It is a disease, a chemical imbalance and a life that has just to many bad events happen to them .
I hope with Owen Wilson's disclosure that it will help a little more to acceptance and understanding.

Part of people's reaction to mental illness is the implicit narcissism of those with mental disorders. Many tend to focus on the problem and fail to get on with the business of living once treatment regime is underway.

It a person that is being treated for depression fails to change behavior and attitudes when it comes to relationship the stigma remains. Don't make a big deal of your "condition" around others, you may be treated differently. Sure it's chemical imbalance, it's your's not the other persons.. get it? Disclosure is stupid, narcissistic, for that matter so are those who tend to tout any of the "special" needs.
I've been a recovering drunk for 21 years, I live my life by living in the solution and not the problem. Perhaps you should too..

Good example with Owen. I think that you should start a program in your community showing people that it's common and that you can't snap out of it and that it is a real problem, not a cry for attention or being wimpy. Find a list of common celebs or other people who have depression/bipolar/bpd, etc. and tell people.

I think that it will take someone really famous as it did with Aids. Once people started to learn that some of our most famous movie stars were dying of AIDS we started to realize that AIDS could strike anyone. That was when people started to realize that AIDS could and would strike anyone including them, that's when it stopped being only the "Gay" diseases and became everyone disease. When some one like that admits to having an mental illness and then everyone can accept that it's not something that "crazy" homeless and poor people get than we will be able to start getting rid of the stigma. Once enough people realize its something that can hit her family they are more likely to be sympathetic to it rather than to revile it.