Mental Illness is a disability

 Mental Illness is a disability. That any enlightened government should treat it as anything but, is a sickening idea. There is stigma against people with mental illnesses, and the type of support that people get varies. Luckily, here, you can quality for disability (social services) when you have a diagnosed mental illness. Although, I have heard the process can be tough. Still, society does not do enough to cater to people with disabilities and the failure to recognize a mental illness as such bothers me.

I once heard that a society should be judged on how it treats is less fortunate. Having seen what I've seen, I believe this. I don't know what the budget is like with government but it should substantially help those suffering from a disability.

There is a staggering amount of stigma that somehow says people with mental illnesses are just lazy or not "trying hard enough". The research shows (and I studied this in psychology) that severe mental illnesses are illnesses of the brain and nervous system. We can't control our bodies or our inability to work, they are just what they are. I don't know how feasible it is in a functioning mixed-economy society to fully support everyone with a mental illness or disability but I am certain great lengths should be taken to help out. And the cynic in me suspects that not enough is being done.