why do u think there is still a stigma attached to people with mental health problems?

Answer 1

Because people fear anything different.
Generally, we think of the worst, the extreme... and don't realize that the guy with a mental illness is our neighbor, our brother, our postmaster, our nurse...
Due to ignorance, many mental health problems went undiagnosed until recently. Hence, our perception of a "mental health problem" was the extreme cases that made the news, or ended up in institutions - largely because we didn't know how to help, because of our lack of knowledge of brain function and chemistry...
In a nutshell, stigma = lack of education.

Answer 2

I think it starts at the top and works it's way down. It starts with the government.

The military does not recognize or treat mental illness like any other illness. The military leaders are taught to ignore it.

The insurance companies have no law for parity. Therefore, it's not covered like any other illness.

ETC. Where does this come from? Our government. There are laws and expectations passed onto organizations and positions of leadership in our country by the laws enacted or not enacted by the government. Mental illness is not treated as though it's a physical illness when it is, indeed, just that. There is no parity for insurance due to our government. There is no equality for our military due to our government. ETC.

From there, it moves down the line until you have "real" people, people we know in everyday life, buying into governmental propaganda. That is a great deal of the reason for the stigma.

Another cause comes from the mental health field itself, again from the top down. Mental health care professionals argue among themselves about whether some mental illness are real or are really mental illnesses, etc., ie, addictions, ADHD, etc. With this kind of thing going on among the professionals, it leaves everyday people having the ability to pick up the ball and run out of the field of reality with it with the idea that some professionals agree with them.

Answer 3

What is the answer you are looking for .In this illness unlike many other the brain is in question and hence the person in question often dose not want to accept help as they do not fully realise the abnormality or admit it.These days even in developing countries there are many good doctors and people have increased their awareness and acceptance like in the west.Even the number of people who are able to cope with the disability is on the increase so forget the stigma and lead or help lead a good life that God has given us

Answer 4

We tend to fear what we don't understand.
People who act or think or display behaviors different from us cause us to notice a difference. When the difference is something we do not recognize it sets off a bit of hesitation and caution with. We have all heard stories about the dangers of "wierdos" "creeps" "psychos" and the like. We have heard we should not cross their path. We've heard we should be afraid. It's not that we have a definite picture of what that person looks or acts like...but internally we are suspicious and afraid.
Often people with untreated mental health problems will stand out in a crowd by their words, reasoning, or behavior. Within ourselves we think "Ahaaa, maybe this is one of those psychos I'm supposed to be afraid of" Sad to say, a few of these people are a danger to others -(Like Jeffery Dahmer)

Let me calm your fears. Most of us who have difficulty with our brain chemistry or emotions are sane. We try oh-so-hard to be as normal as possible. We see our Dr. and take our medications that even out our rough spots. We deeply care about people, we pay our bills, and go to work like anyone else to feed our families. Sometimes a symptom or two will sneak out when we are stressed. In all though are we really any different from you?
It's a social fear because we do not understand who we can trust and who we need to fear.

Answer 5

Well it depends...Some people choose to LIVE with mental illness and some choose (perhaps that's not entirely true but...)to be mentally ill....People who are mentally ill are still capable of living a relatively normal life however most that I know are to busy feeling sorry for themselves that they don't even realize the life they are missing out on...

Answer 6

why do u think there is still a stigma attached to people with AIDS?

Answer 7

Ignorance. Psychology is different from Psychiatry.

Answer 8

How can you know what anyone is thinking? What would it matter?