Discussion "We need to remove the stigma from mental illness"

[johnny]

You often hear people say that after someone kills themselves.

That saying always annoys me though. I think the vast majority of people out there understand mental illness is a real thing.

People who suffer from it but don't talk about might just not think there is any point, since talking about it probably won't solve their problems.

I think the stigma that really needs to be removed is that suicide is never rational, that people shouldn't have the right to ctb, etc

 

[stellabelle]

There is stigma behind mental health though. Ever see reactions when someone finds out that you're bipolar? People treat you poorly because you're struggling, regardless of which condition a person has. They call them crazy when in reality they are suffering.

I agree that talking about it doesn't solve problems. It's not worth the effort, and can just create more problems honestly.

Suicide is just highly misunderstood and a sensitive topic.

 

[lost_soul83]

You often hear people say that after someone kills themselves.

That saying always annoys me though. I think the vast majority of people out there understand mental illness is a real thing.

People who suffer from it but don't talk about might just not think there is any point, since talking about it probably won't solve their problems.

I think the stigma that really needs to be removed is that suicide is never rational, that people shouldn't have the right to ctb, etc

I totally agree. I honestly don't know what's so hard to understand about someone that's suffering, wanting to end that suffering. Everyone has a breaking point and if a person feels that they've reached theirs, they should be able to make a rational decision about how they want to continue or simply not continue at all, and they shouldn't be chastised for that decision or locked up involuntarily in some mental hospital. People make decisions about how they want their lives to go all the time. Why can't they decide that they don't want to live anymore?

 

[TAW122]

I agree with you. It's sad that mental illness and suicide is very poorly and wrongly understood by the majority in society.

I agree that talking about it doesn't solve problems. It's not worth the effort, and can just create more problems honestly.

Yes, and this is one of the major reasons (among others) why I don't find seeing a therapist or mental health counselor to be of any use. Taking drugs is another big no, but that's a different topic altogether.

I totally agree. I honestly don't know what's so hard to understand about someone that's suffering, wanting to end that suffering. Everyone has a breaking point and if a person feels that they've reached theirs, they should be able to make a rational decision about how they want to continue or simply not continue at all, and they shouldn't be chastised for that decision or locked up involuntarily in some mental hospital. People make decisions about how they want their lives to go all the time. Why can't they decide that they don't want to live anymore?

This is a great post here. It's ironic that society seems to be ok with just about any other decision in life, but when it comes to decide on one's terms of life and death, then society balks at it and views the person as ill.

 

[Stepda]

It is misunderstood by some, just because they may not know what it feels like. You can't condemn someone for that. They maybe just don't understand although it makes perfect sense to you.

 

[Jen Erik]

I think the stigma that really needs to be removed is that suicide is never rational, that people shouldn't have the right to ctb, etc

Yes, and that wanting to ctb is not necessarily indicative of mental illness.

 

[VoloFataliDoce]

You'd be surprised at the sheer number of people who don't believe in mental illness. And then you get the wonderful people who make the worst attempts at sympathy you will ever see; those who say "it's all in your head". Of course it is, you idiots!

Look, the brain is a very complex organ. It can be damaged just like the heart, lungs, or liver. Unfortunately, people choose not to think that way, and so whenever the topic of mental illness comes up the balk at the idea that it is natural for our brains to "get sick". These same people are the ones who deny funding and treatment options for mental health, and then when tragedies or suicides happen they can't comprehend the reason.

Sorry for the rant. I've had to deal with many cruel and idiotic people in my life, and some of the things they would say aren't even coherent enough to argue against.

 

[Asdr5633]

From my perspective, I understand the stigma around mental illness and suicide. If a person learns that somebody else has a mental illness, such as borderline personality disorder, then it makes sense that they have evolved to feel a stigma towards that person. That's because it's evolutionarily disadvantageous to become friends with such people or to date such people or to do business with such people, because people with mentally illnesses are more unstable and more likely to end up harming you in some way. Sounds harsh maybe but that's how it is - I've seen many examples in my personal life.

 

[Sixfeetunder]

Both need to be removed. People's mental disorders aren't taken seriously until they kill themselves. Then they're shamed. Both need to be de-stigmatized.