Do people with diseases deserve more respect than people with mental illnesses?

Question

So many times I have heard someone talk about how it is terrible when someone gets a disease. And how brave they are to cope with it. Even if it isn't something permenant or life threatening. Then the same person will tell a person with a mental illness that it is all in their head and they need to get over it. After meeting a good friend who has a mental illness, and watching him shake like a leaf and go into sweats if he doesn't get his meds on time, I can hardly believe he is just a weak person who needs to "get over it." So the main question is, do you think that people with diseases are more entitled to respect for handling their illness than people with mental illnesses?

Answer 1

No I don't believe that is fair. I have Lupus and people are so sympathetic towards me in that situation, however I also suffer from depression that years ago was totally debilitating and I often found that people's opinions were along the lines of, "just get out of the house, you will feel better" or "give it time you will get over it" and even "it's not that bad, it's not like you have cancer, then you would really have something to worry about". Well I did have something to worry about, my depression almost cost me my life. People are still generally quite intolerant of Mental Illness and sometimes ignorant of the cause and the extreme depths it can reach. They seem to feel that it's in your control, well depression at least. It's a very sad situation. Another reason that coping with a Mental Illness is so hard and requires more understanding is what you have yourself stated, it seems less acceptable and life threatening.

Answer 2

People with a mental illness deserve just as much respect as they would if they had any other disease. Our society is very ignorant when confronted with a person with a mental illness and our insurance companies either refuse treatment or severely limit treatment even though most studies show that full treatment is cost effective. Celebrities such as Tom Cruise show their flagrant ignorance in the defiance of scientific proof and spout their views to audiences that perpetuate the many myths about mental illness.

Mental illness is a real illness! It can be treated but left untreated, it can also kill. If you know someone with a mental illness, do some research and try to know what they may be experiencing. Visit web sites to get information on support groups or meetings such as NAMI.

Answer 3

The sigma that this country has about Mental illnesses is terrible. Mental illnesses are a disease. It's not something that's "all in your head". It's a legitimate sickness that is caused by both biological and environment factors. The stigma about psychiatric medication is just as bad... but people need to learn and there needs to be more public awareness. To a mentally ill person, taking medication is just as important as a diabetic taking their meds to keep their sugar levels under control.

Answer 4

They deserve equal respect... I feel that you can get over a lot of physical ailments, but what people don't realize is that many mental illnesses stick with you until the day you die and ruin your life until then. People who have physical diseases can often find comfort in loved ones, but those with mental illnesses are rarely understood by friends and family.... and it's harder to go through anything alone. Anyone with a mental illness is a fighter in my eyes, and deserve respect at all times.

Answer 5

Your own question suggests bias. Mental or physical, disease is something that affects you at anytime to various degrees. You can be innoculated from polio or Austism. You can be cured from the flu or color blindness. You can be treated for diabetes or ADD. You can die from cancer or sleep deprivation. The brain is the most complex, energy consuming organ in the human body. The various mental maladies are outnumbered by other ailments because there are many other organs but one brain. Mental illness is more ingrained, complex, and misdiagnosed than any other disease.

All who suffer always deserve respect, but you must always pay special attention to the diseases you cannot see in plain sight.

Answer 6

I understand what you mean, because I got depression too. I looks fine outside, because I tend to swallow all the pain inside and not show it out. And it's not fair if people minimize my situation, just because I look fine, not on a wheel chair and still have my 2 hands and 2 legs.

I guess is hard for some people to understand mental illness patient, because their illness is not so visible COMPARE with other illness when patient walking with a oxygen tank or going blind etc. Compare is not fair.

The world is so busy and no one have the time to try to UNDERSTAND each other, putting their feet on other people shoes. You cannot judge by the outside, you have to see the inside, everybody knows this but they tend to forget.

Also, the media sterotype people with mental health disease, and it affect how the public view mental health issues.
Mental health patients, are strange, scary, nerd, etc etc.

Answer 7

Ah, this question and your observation really are important. I think that until the day that society understands that mental illness is no different from any other disease, our society will not be civilized. It is unbelievable to me how many people assume mental illness affects IQ, and that people could just "Snap out of It". It is cruel to think that way. Also, the myth that people with mental illness are more likely to commit crimes. That is absolutely untrue, they average exactly as the general population. People with mental illness can be brilliant and loving, and their suffering is profound and tragic.

Answer 8

No, i feel that anyone who has a terminal disease or mental illness should not be treated differently from each other because no matter what type of illness one has, they should be treated the same. some people that have any type of illness or disease do not wish to be treated differently because they feel like they are being treated as though they are weak and can not have the normalcies of life.

Answer 9

I agree with you. There is some sort of stigma attached to mental illnesses. Sometimes it is justified (occassionally people make these things up). Most of the time, though, mental illnesses are REAL illnesses and should be treated with the same respect as physical illnesses.

Answer 10

No, each deserve equal respect, it is sad when someone MUST see a physical disease before showing respect or compassion.