I agree that there is a lot stigma attached to a mental illness diagnosis. I've been really open about mine to close friends and family but not anyone else. Oddly enough people will give tons of sympathy and empathy for lots of other illnesses, mention MI and ppl start backing away and giving you the gimlet eye.

DownandLonely I agree about sharing with others about clinical depression, it really, really isn't like "feeling a little blue". There is the common thought that somehow if you'd just try a little harder, be a little stronger you'd "get out of this".

You wouldn't give that advice for, diabetes or high blood pressure or cancer, because that's a physical disease you can't deal with it that way, well newsflash so is mental illness.