Great thread! And some amazing answers.. I've kinda struggled with this issue a bit too, though I believe 'schizophrenia' to be a 'worse' diagnosis (stigma-wise, with regard to beliefs and cliches etc) than 'bipolar'. And yeah, I've been handed the 'diabetes' ditty too... (which I didn't really buy, they just seemed to want me on meds for life, though diabetes onset can be treatable with exercise and nutrition when early enough, at least for some people, it seems)

I've taken Abilify and it made me depressed, ha! How's that for an advertisment??
With a lower dose it's much better, but still... (the psychiatrist would just say 'you were depressed anyway')

As for the OP, these things have been 'engrained', the pop culture is full of prejudices and cliches... it's important to watch more positive films/documentaries and such too!

In Stephen Fry's documentary on bipolar, a doctor cured her bipolar with fish oil! Now would something that can be 'cured' with fish oil (at least it might work for some people) make someone be a 'bad' person? It depends if you've done 'bad' things while having the problems, but even then, did you do 'bad things' willingly and with intention? Things to consider...