Stigma of Mental health...

The stigma attached to it goes deeper than the media, I think. What is the national media but an extension of ourselves anyway? Since we as a public provide the stories and the journalists to cover them... People have an ingrained fear of mental illness, far more than some other kind of illness like AIDS or leprosy. That's because mental illness isn't sexy or often visible. People are scared of what they don't undersand, which is understandable. People are too lazy, however, to get off their backsides and bother to inform themselves; easier to fall back on the comfortable definitions of things they have little knowledge of than to say, try to learn.

OK...ummm...I've known a number of people with mental illness,some of which are bi polar disorder, personality disorder, sociopathic disorder, and Schizophrenia.

Each of those people were violent to one extent or another, whether it was to themselves or others.

Mostly mentally violent, or abusive towards others and themselves, but each also have displayed physical violence towards close family and friends.

I'm not saying that there are not people out there that are in fact mild mannered and not abusive, but that has not been my experience ever.

Also, I've spoken to a number of people whom have family members with some of the above disorders, and the same things happened to them as well.

On there stable days...I have no problem leaving my babies with them when I go out shopping...but I would not trust them on other days at all.

The unfortunate truth is that my husband and I have had to stop communication with family members due to thier violent and unpradictable nature, not for lack of love, but rather for the safty of our family.

There is a fella I love dearly that is Bi Polar and Have had to call the police because he was stalking someone, and it was a scary deal...also he has sexually assulted people...not a cool thing.

I really think in many ways we don't talk about these things as a society, so we have this unrealistic image of people...and really...these people i'm talking about would not likly display any of the violent behaviours outside there intimate group of family and friends...as it would be devistating to them if anyone found out about thier illness.

This isn't just my personal experience, but also supported by studying in psychology class, and on my own.

I would never not talk to or interact with someone at work or anything because of a mental illness, but I'd also be watching for signs of an off day etc, and take steps to take care of myself and family from any form of violent behaviour.

Namaste

Shannix

8)

squigglepiggles...sorry to there that...it isn't right to discriminate against anyone. Sorry you had to go thr some rough times because if it.

My mom is sociopathic, and I put up with weird comment s aobu ther all the time, and they didn't even know about her issue exactly.

Namaste Shannix

My deceased brother was Paranoid Schizophrenic.

When he lived in South Australia, the mental health lot didn't have any time for him until they found it that he was a millionaire. So, they kept trying to have him involuntary admitted so they could take his assets off him and keep the money for the departments purse, as the law requires.

My mother had to live there with him to stop them from abusing the laws like that. When one of the social workers was found to be stealing food from his fridge which was feeding his young daughter, they filed a complaint against him then got him on false charges of sex abuse against his own child.

When it went to court, without the backing of the police, the deparment lost their case yet he was watched. When my brother actually thumped one of the social workers sent out for trying to force their way into his home, he was given a record and had to notify the police and mental health departments of everywhere he lived.

When he moved back to New South Wales(NSW), he couldn't live in a country town because the police would pick him up and send him to Sydney, advising that they considered him a risk to the community being Schizophrenic...he had no rights to challenge this at all.

I felt sorry for the poor bugger because the governments were after his money. Once they realised that he spent it all on drugs, they left him alone.

This story I found can be quite common.

"once they realised that he spent it all on drugs. they left him alone"

If that is the truth it is certainly surprisingly astute of the police.

why not?

Health is split into two areas both as important than the other mental and physical health.

What is wrong with the word Mental?