Stigma of mental illness suffering setback
Lewis DiuguidThe mass killings in Connecticut, Oregon, Colorado and New York have hurt people who suffer mental illness but in no way are violent.
Certainly people with guns who killed innocent individuals in the mass shootings had untreated mental illnesses. However, the overwhelming majority of people in the general population dealing with mental health problems are not violent at all.
They are the ones who are suffering because of the mass shootings. The stigma surrounding mental illness, which had been decreasing, is now growing.
People are looking at anyone who expresses concerns about stress, depression or other mental health issues with fear. That’s not good.
It is causing people who might normally seek medical treatment to withdraw, which only worsens their condition. Instead of the nation’s overall mental health getting better, the shootings set the U.S. on a trajectory to only get worse.
The stigma has to be erased for people to feel good and receive the needed support to seek help.
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