[Starbuck]

I Wish For Hope.

I wish societies could understand more about mental health.

It's worse elsewhere though, especially in France.

In North America, we have a better understanding of it, but there is still much to do.

Why is it so important not to show mental stress, social phobia, etc. ?

I would like to hear some opinions.

Sincerely,

Starbuck


Born in 1963 of French mom and Canadian dad. Studied and worked (Majors in History, Theology. M.A. in Sociology).

[Rapunzel]

Honestly, I think that a lot of people are afraid of it because they see signs of mental unwellness in themselves and don't want to admit it. But so many more people actually are affected at least to some degree than want to admit it. Someone who is able to face it and deal with it, in my opinion, is way ahead of those who insist on denying that they have any problems.

<font color=orange>There is an easy answer to your problem that is neat, plausible, and wrong.

</font color=orange>

[bptoo]

Starbuck,

When you think about the way those with mental disorders were treated a hundred years ago, this planet has indeed come a long way. But not far enough. I think it's important to not acknowledge your disorder in most social situations because too many people still believe that any of us are capable of grabbing a gun and killing everyone in sight if someone as much as says the wrong thing to us. Talk about walking around with blinders on! Of course it doesn't help that when a person with a mental disorder does commit a crime, the press harps on that fact and reinforces that negative thinking that much of our society already has. They don't understand that we are simply trying to survive, one day at a time.

The key, as far as I'm concerned, is education. If we educate our societies about mental health issues, we can begin to remove the stigmas that foster the fears that we (those of us with mental disorders) have to face everyday. As I've heard said before, If I had cancer I wouldn't be socially unacceptable. I didn't ask to be Bipolar, why treat me as though I did?

Good question Starbuck, and a topic I've always been very interested in.

Be well,
Greg

[Starbuck]

Hi Greg, Thank you for your reply, on which I agree entirely.

A better understanding of mental health is very important. It's not always easy for me to "open up" to others, because I worry they will think I'm an alien or something like that.

Humor helps me a lot, though. I find it to be an essential ingredient of being able to deal with my mental health problems.

Take care and have a nice day,

Starbuck



Born in 1963 of French mom and Canadian dad. Studied and worked (Majors in History, Theology. M.A. in Sociology).