One in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders in their lives. Around 450 million people currently suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading cause of ill-health and disability worldwide. Even though the numbers are so staggering there is still a strong stigma attached to mental health issues and people with mental health problems can and often do experience discrimination in all aspects of life. The health care system in this country and the ability for many to receive care at all is a giant issue. Many assume people with mental health issues can simply “get over it”, that is completely wrong.
While I can not speak for every person with a mental disorder, I can go in detail about my own. People make assumptions about me without knowing who I am. No one knows what takes place inside my brain or how past experiences have shaped the…