[BB_Eye]

I actually think the opposite. That there is too much of a stigma around mental illness and that it is still taboo to discuss in many situations. For one thing in my area, you have to go on a three month waiting list before getting access to mental health services.

There are attention-seekers around. I know a girl who claims to be agoraphobic, yet she behaves, loudly and arrogantly in public (nobody suffering agoraphobia would do this). But you'll get them everywhere and I shouldn't have to remind people that attention-seeking is very much a symptom of underlying mental health issues... usually a personality disorder. Ironically, it's unlikely such people will ever choose to confront their real problems.

At the bottom of all this, mental health problems are a tremendous cost to people organisations, the economy, etc and the symptoms are just as destructive at large as physical health problems, yet mental health services are underfunded and those claiming welfare on grounds of mental incapacity in the benefits system are treated with undue suspicion. Plus there are many lowlives out there (in all professions) out to exploit those unable to stick up for themselves, meaning teachers, GP's, social workers and welfare officers are less likely to be acting in their interests.