In a word.....no. Not when there are still mentally ill so heavily numbered among the homeless and in our jails. Not when the mentally ill still have to fight for care and services related to their illness. Even when they are insured. Not when the mentally ill are the victims of violence because of their condition, even at the hands of police. (http://www.policestateusa.com/2014/christian-alberto-sierra/ )
Not when people still equate mental illness with violence. Not when our approach remains condemnation. Not care and treatment.
Has it improved? Yes, because people are willing to challenge stigma. Do some people get love and support in spite of a diagnosis? Yes. And they are lucky. Are more people becoming more knowledgeable about what mental illness is and how to deal with it? Absolutely, yes. Things are changing. But pretending that means stigma doesn't exist shows ignorance of the reality as experienced by other people.
Why did I write this post? A friend diagnosed with mental illness talked about how they don't believe there is stigma anymore. This person believes stigma is something that the mentally ill person believes is true. A creation of our minds. That reminds me of what a variety of people have said to me about depression. They tell me that I create my depression and I can change it just by thinking I don't have it. They don't seem to understand the biochemical reality of depression. Which results in....stigma.
Don't mistake progress for the eradication of the problem. We have a way to go. When all people living with mental illness can count on treatment, understanding from society, and safety...that is when it can be seen as 'solved'. But not until then, my friend....
Not when people still equate mental illness with violence. Not when our approach remains condemnation. Not care and treatment.
Has it improved? Yes, because people are willing to challenge stigma. Do some people get love and support in spite of a diagnosis? Yes. And they are lucky. Are more people becoming more knowledgeable about what mental illness is and how to deal with it? Absolutely, yes. Things are changing. But pretending that means stigma doesn't exist shows ignorance of the reality as experienced by other people.
Why did I write this post? A friend diagnosed with mental illness talked about how they don't believe there is stigma anymore. This person believes stigma is something that the mentally ill person believes is true. A creation of our minds. That reminds me of what a variety of people have said to me about depression. They tell me that I create my depression and I can change it just by thinking I don't have it. They don't seem to understand the biochemical reality of depression. Which results in....stigma.
Don't mistake progress for the eradication of the problem. We have a way to go. When all people living with mental illness can count on treatment, understanding from society, and safety...that is when it can be seen as 'solved'. But not until then, my friend....
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