Even Today, the Stigma of Mental Illness Won't Fade And that can
cause people to feel isolated, afraid -- and even forgo
treatments By Dennis Thompson THURSDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News)
-- People with a mental illness struggle with symptoms ranging
from crushing depression and crippling anxiety to powerful
delusions and hallucinations that force them to actively sort
out the real from the imagined. And if that weren't enough, they
also have to deal with the way the rest of the world perceives
their inner struggle. Stigma associated with mental illness
remains widespread in U.S. society, despite some progress made
in demystifying these medical conditions, said Michael J.
Fitzpatrick, executive director of the National Alliance on
Mental Illness (NAMI). "It's pervasive, but it's nuanced, too,"
Fitzpatrick said. "Most Americans understand that mental
illnesses are treatable illnesses. I think people basically
understand depression. Depression is talked about in the media
and is considered a treatable disease. Bu