I once met a neurologist that didn't believe in mental illnesses. He absolutely astounded me. I really think people have a very difficult time grasping the concept. You can see physical deformities...you can see brain damage on an mri...you can actually some disorders on an mri, but most of the information on mental disorders is young and just getting to be taken seriously outside of a few select groups. Mental disorders are not imaginary made up things...all though there are aspects of peoples personalities that can be attributed to other things. I think that's where part of the confusion and blow it off attitude come from.