Why is there still a stigma (bias) related to having a mental illness that we have to guard each client鈥檚 priv

Why is there still a stigma (bias) related to having a mental illness that we have to guard each client鈥檚 privacy so closely?|||Everyone's medical records are private, not just those with mental illnesses.|||TT,


I do not think that the privacy laws are just for the "mentally ill", mental illness today is a very broad sprectrum, find me someone who does not have some type of "problem" and I am shocked.


Mental Illness used to be a big hush hush thing, but then back years ago, the doctors did not know how to deal with things.


When people felt problems arise, they would say to deal with it, but how....that was when people would deal with it by drinking or eating or sleeping all the time. Now it is more open, so you can get a more accurate diagnosis of what is troubling you.


Women with pms and change of life years ago were called crazy, children with attention problems were called "retarded", men going through the change were called middle aged crazy, now thank goodness, there are medicines that can help through different periods of life.


Again, as far as privacy, it is in all medical issues, financial issues, people have been sued by divulging information to the public on celebrity and important peoples financial and social matters, something had to be done to stop it.


As far as mental illness goes, hey, I know I am crazy, it is the person next to me that swears they are "sane" that worries me!|||Fear.





If people weren't so ignorant about mental illness' real issues, and not so biased by things like the movies then we could start to treat mental illness in society in the same way that we react to say a broken leg or diabetes.





Most people have been affected by mental illness in some way. Either through diagnosis, or knowing someone with a mental illness.


Talking about it helps to demystify the various conditions and will gradually break down the stigma associated with mental illness so that we as a society can concentrate more on mental health.





Even though ALL medical records are guarded by strict confidentiality, mental health records are subject to even more safeguards in most hospitals eg separate charts.


I believe that this only serves to label the patients more, even with the health professionals.|||Because it is society's belief that a person who suffers from a mental illness is mentally unstable and therefore cannot be trusted.


It's unfair and it's wrong and hopefully things will change that there isn't a bias against some of these poor people.|||Being you put this out...........you have no clients!





So you must be a "mental" like me!





The stigma is..........we have to admit we are mental! Look.............





I have been dealing with this for 20 years.





Be truthful, get a good therapist, GET good meds!





Best advice.............don't rely on meds.............find a good therapist!





ONLY A CRAZY LIKE ME, can recognize a "crazy" posted the question!|||The laws protect every patient, not just the mentally ill.