Stop the Stigma Associated to Mental Illness

In today's day and age most people know of someone who suffers from a mental illness. The drug use that has taken place over the last 20 or so years has, at times, seemed to have taken mental illness to epidemic proportions.

Mental Illness Behaviour
Because some of the symptoms of mental illness can be a bit frightening to the uninitiated, it really is not surprising that people are scared. Two very common symptoms can be yelling obscenities or abuse, and very unusual behaviour, such as talking to themselves, extensive hand movements or a couldn't care less attitude to their own safety.

Delusions and hallucinations can cause extreme behaviour and this can be concerning to someone who has never been in association with a mentally ill person.

Dress
Unfortunately, often a mentally ill person may dress a little bit different and this sometimes causes comments.

The Fear Suffered By The Mentally Ill
Knowing that people are looking at them, maybe because of their behaviour, speech or dress, a person with a mental illness does sometimes become fearful, and if they suffer from paranoia this can become a real problem. Also if they feel people are talking about them they can become very upset. The reality is though, that the percentage of dangerous mentally ill people is quite minimal compared to the number of people affected, so the public needs to be aware of this and be more tolerant. It could be their son or daughter they are looking at next.

Disease Of The Brain
A mental illness can be likened it to a heart attack or liver disease, in that it is a disease of the brain. In other words, an organ of the body that is not functioning properly and needs medication to get the function back on track.

Recovery From Mental Illness
With the medical knowledge available today, and the preparedness of people with a lived experience to speak out ,there are more and more strategies for sufferers to get well and start living a meaningful life. So too, has the availability of advanced medications, improved the chances of a better life for those suffering from a mental illness.