I find that the easier it is to explain a disease - the more likely people are going to accept it.

I mean how would you adequately summarize a personality disorder? Or autism?

Statistics also play a role - depression is a widespread illness, it's something more likely to appear on social media, on television, be covered via health insurance etc.

At the end of the day there will always be fear and suspicion over 'invisible' conditions. The issue of blame, causality etc. is harder to explain way.

I have to add though, i think sometimes we need to get ourselves a bit, we're not being bear baited in cages anymore. Yes progress is slow but how much is really being done anyway? Where's the last rally you saw for MH awareness? Case in point; the English mental health charity Mind recently had a campaign whereby everyone involved was asked to send a template of a manifesto of treatment options to the new government to consider. As every local MP in this country was emailed, shorter waiting times for talking therapies and better access to emergency care will now be coming into affect.

In short, if you're not happy, shout about it. It DOES work.