Lived Experience Forum

[AllAboutMissy]

Hi guys, it's really interesting hearing your thoughts on ABC's Mental As. I was actually a guest speaker the Saturday at the beginning on the week on ABC News Radio talking about my bipolar and of course stigma.

the interview went for longer than expected and I was really happy with the questions they asked - this is obviously co-ordinated based on rules of radio etc...

I of course had some self preservation and left a lot of things out, but I had great feedback and it was really exciting to be part of mental health week.

[Terry]

Hi, i don't think there is necessarily any link between mental illness and suicide any more than any other (severe) health condition is linked with suicide.  The difference is that from the day a person starts to develop mental illness they get the cold shoulder and cruelty (to whatever degree - sometimes severe cruelty, such as the mental health system dishes out) - they never get anything else.  Any other health condition attracts sympathy or empathy, one would hope, and I think that's generally true.

the causes of stigma tend to be misinformation and ignorance.  of course, it doesn't help that the 'professionals' lump psychopaths and sociopaths in with all the nice, normal decent people with mental illnesses.  and it doesn't help that most psychopaths try to pass themselves off as having paranoid schizophrenia in order to get lesser penalties for the crimes they commit, and the psychiatrists mostly believe them.