Reducing the Social Stigma of Mental Illness

Personally I am unsure.
When it comes to Mental Illness I have found that is not only the sufferer that is impacted. For many years I struggled to talk about my problems with my mother. It is hard to explain something to someone when they have not experienced it themselves. An example is breaking an bone. I have never broken a bone in my life, the worst I have done is sprain one. Whilst |have seen people with broken bones it is not quite so simple to put yourself into their position. When it comes to Mental Health it is even more difficult to sympathize. How can someone understand when they can't even see the effects it is having on someone.
I think sites like this are a brilliant resource. It allows people to express themselves in a safe environment. I try to create the same feeling on my blog. Trying to explain an anxiety disorder to someone who is a musician for example, can be incredibly difficult. Sites like this on the other hand provide a place for people to speak. Learning to write down the symptoms and emotions helps those that suffer get some weight off their shoulders, and at the same time it provides a useful guide for people who do not suffer to get a greater understanding.

In my opinion, people that judge anyone else based on Mental health, Race, Religion etc, is simply ignorant. Now i do not mean that in a negative sense, I simply mean that the information has not reached them yet or they are unable to understand at this point. For this reason it is important for those with conditions to speak up. The world can change its perspective, we see this all throughout history. It just takes a little effort.