I think it's a shame that when it comes to brain diseases like alzheimer's and dementia, there is more help and research done as opposed to diseases like bipolar, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder. In general, society accepts diseases like alzheimer's and dementia and but other diseases like I just mentioned are taboo and those suffering are discouraged to talk about their illness because society deems these mental illnesses as taboo and therefore those suffering become discouraged to get help.Totally unfair how these illnesses are treated differently. When it comes to alzheimer's, people feel sorry for the person suffering. When it comes to schizophrenia or bipolar, major depression etc... people are judged and made fun of and thought of as "lesser than". It's true.
latimes/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-ann-romney-new-center-study-neurological-diseases-20141014-story.html#page=1
I remember back growing up in the 1950's, no one ever mentioned they were talking to a psychologist or anyone in that similar profession... oh good heavens, that was really taboo, but today it is more accepted and more common place. Plus the larger the metro area where one lives, more acceptable which holds true for any aspect of life that is different from others.
Access to care, proper treatment and support is seriously lacking in much of our country. Research is pathetically underfunded. People with poorly treated or untreated mental illness often self medicate and many times end up incarcerated or on the streets which only exacerbates the problem.
As someone who has loved ones battling these illnesses I have no patience for the ignorant attitudes of people who continue to vilify and stigmatize people with brain disorders. For that I have no more tolerance than I do for racists or bigots.
There is definitely still a stigma against those with mental illness. they are seen as unreliable and likely to do things their "sane" counterparts would not.
I also agree that mental illness is a disease just like any other say heart disease, kidney disease. i think some time in the future we will find that they all stem from the same general body defects.
Alzheimers does not carry the same stigma as other mental illnesses because it mainly affects the elderly and is therefor 'fogiven" because we expect granny to be a bit strange "It's her age you know"