To what extent do you think the stigma of mental health is improving in the UK?

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zoobatron__@reddit

Don’t take assholes on Reddit as the opinion of everyone in the UK. Some people online are toxic and it doesn’t mean everyone from the same place feels the same way

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I don't think everyone from the same place feels the same way, but as I said, in the 12 years or so, I've been diagnosed, I've literally never had one nasty comment, let alone 7-10. I'm interested to hear from other people with MH disorders and how they've been treated. For example, I know the DWP has been incredibly hostile to many people with mental and physical illnesses. I wonder how much of this hostility at a government level has been absorbed by the public.

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Wide-Permit4283@reddit

Honestly being mentally ill only matters if you are famous. Short of that no one cares unless they are your family or friends. The DWP is a rigid structure and barely functions at what it is supposed to do as a safety net for the unemployed and ill...

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KingDebone@reddit

I keep hearing that it's improving but in my experience it's all performative. Everyone has ADHD or some kind of anxiety issue self diagnosed of course which means people that really suffer get lumped in with the same people who just get a bit nervous at roundabouts. And those are the kinds of things people want to hear about, mental health awareness means tell me your small problems that don't matter. Noone wants to hear about the heavy stuff cause that's trauma dumping and too much. Could just be my experience.

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privateTortoise@reddit

Told a few colleagues at work I'm autistic and everytime got 'we all are to some degree'. I want to reply I'll happily have a go at some brain surgery on you to remove sections of your brain that are undeveloped in mine so as to grasp what I sometimes have to cope with.

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Wide-Permit4283@reddit

Lol that's like saying "we are all brain surgeons to a degree"... Honestly your brain isn't undeveloped you just have different wiring, it's like seeing things through a different set of lenses. People are so stupid.

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rainpatter@reddit

I heavily dislike that anxiety is a word being thrown around now. "I'm having anxiety right now" No, you're nervous to a normal degree over a situation such as a job interview. Unless you're sweating, ruminating, having heart palpitations and feeling close to passing out and avoidance behaviours are impacting your day to day living, you are not the same. The *disorder* of GAD is your brain and body setting off at 99% inappropriate times reacting to perceived threat

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KingDebone@reddit

Yeah, same with depression... but you can't say to someone "you're not depressed, you're grieving". Obviously I get they're not mutually exclusive but when sad things happen, it's normal to be sad. Blaming it on an external thing like depression will inevitably hamper healing. Depression is like a rust working it's way into everything for seemingly no reason except to ruin the thing it has taken hold of.

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Loud_Matter_6794@reddit

Yesss. Agree

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rainpatter@reddit

Or the usual to a depressed person, are you doing yoga? Are you eating healthy? When they can't even manage sleep and brushing their teeth.

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Loud_Matter_6794@reddit

1000% agree

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moubliepas@reddit

In my experience, the massive rise in self diagnosed disorders, and the flood of IT MIGHT BE AUTISM to any and every sign of difference, is really really ruining it for people with actual diagnosed issues. Literally, any time anybody mentions someone being an arsehole, being weird, being creepy, struggling in any way or just misunderstanding something there'll be some dick on the internet saying how it could be autism or ADHD. Which is why both disorders are now apparently seen as 'anybody with any possible problem', which yeah, does not help people who struggle in non-normal ways. TLDR: internet people, stop suggesting everyone has autism. If everybody has it, nobody does, and the symptoms are not 'person who sometimes feels uncomfortable and misunderstans things'.

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KingDebone@reddit

Yeah it is a bit ridiculous. I saw a post the other week of someone saying coffee makes them feel sleepy and on that alone they were diagnosed with ADHD by the comment section and I got downvoted for suggesting that it could be a host of things and isn't an ADHD diagnosis.

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privateTortoise@reddit

They're probably buying decaf.

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Worried-Courage2322@reddit

This is it. "Mental Health" is such a throwaway term with no real meaning to the majority, with only a surface level understanding. Life is meant to be hard at times, you are meant to struggle sometimes but people are way too quick to diagnose themselves with an issue/disorder instead of working through it or understanding that that's life.

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Fonzoozle@reddit

i think its getting worse. "Mental illnesses" like depression and anxiety are now some kind of badge of honour and companies have profited off the "awareness campaigns" and the self-care, look after your mental health tropes. While this is obviously important, the spirit of it is empty. The parameters of illness is now so watered down that someone with an ordinary bad mood for a few days calls it depression, or its somehow glamorised, quirky, romanticised on social media particulalry on tiktok and instagram - put a finger down "mental illness edition", almost collecting diagnoses to this or that like stickers. The real conversation does not seem to mind about the MHA legislation, or those most oppressed living in hospitals, in the community who are subject to archaic medication regimes and deprived of their liberty, cameras monitoring them without their consent in their hospital rooms. The conversation does not expand to the more serious, confusing, upsetting, ugly side of mental illness like psychosis or extreme emotional distress or someone hurting themselves or someone else. I'm deeply frustrated watching societies complex interaction with and perception of mental health and mental illness. I think my last sentence speaks to a concern about distinguishing between mental health and mental illness. Anyway, due to everything ive just said i think perceptions of mental illness are convoluted and wrapped up too neatly in the conversations that have been going on about mental health. People relate to most things cause who hasnt had a stressed or down few weeks in their life and most can just push through it or recover quite well with some basic therapy. When someone with severe and enduring illness isn't so able to push through or recover, the stigma is real. We cant get jobs, we're not allowed to drive, the internet completely forgets the important stuff. im tired of it.

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Pristine-Ad-6391@reddit

It does seem everyone now suffers but do they all really suffer..

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Alpharius0megon88@reddit

Not much. I’ve been ruled out of many career paths due to this. Plus a few potential relationships. Crazy that there’s still this massive stigma surrounding this. Now I completely understand if someone is unfit to do certain things but it’s strange I suffer from depression I take my medication and am good. Only thing that’s keeping me depressed is am 36 no career path that interests me and the ones I wanted are all a no go. I do have an upcoming interview with Kent Police but I doubt they will except me. Well that’s me rant hopefully I get some career

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NorthernSoul1977@reddit

Our chief exec is constantly talking about mental health. I find it all a bit patronising to be honest. Also, there's a lot of young folk who are off work with mental health issues. Truth is there's nothing wrong with them, they just hate their job and are having a healthy reaction to that. If you are unhappy with your circumstances cos they're shit, if course that will effect you. There's nothing wrong with that. It would be me talking if you were just relentlessly optimistic and upbeat if you despised your job.

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Fukthisite@reddit

It's like a competition these days for who has autism or adhd. Seems like everyone has it these days. So that tells me that plenty of people are talking about mental health and are not scared to do so. 20 years ago it was totally different in my experience.

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foxyfaefife@reddit

Agreed. If you actually had a serious condition where you’re hearing voices and contemplating suicide I think you’d be less keen to wear your heart on your sleeve and think of it as some interesting aspect of your personality. A lot of dull people are jumping on the mental health and “neurodiversity” bandwagon as they think the sun shines out their arsehole and it makes them all that more fascinating whilst explaining their flaws. I find the whole thing deeply tedious.

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Loud_Matter_6794@reddit

Love this.

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HemOrBroids@reddit

Cerntainly on Reddit it seems like everyone has some kind of condition or 'ism' that they shoehorn into each and every comment that they make. It numbs me to it, which is probably evidence of a personality disorder of some kind.

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ironwilledf-up@reddit

Stigma against all cluster bs and autism are pervasive within the NHS.

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QueenConcept@reddit

This countries approach to mental health is basically "it's ok to not be ok - as long as it doesn't interfere with your work or affect anyone else in any way". So basically I don't think it's gotten any better. We've just found a way to pat ourselves on the back for being more tolerant without actually being any more tolerant.

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horrible_goose_@reddit

Oh, absolutely this! You can have depression and everyone will be very sympathetic and call you 'brave', but only as long as you don't cry, keep up with your personal hygiene, remain social, smile all the time, and aren't showing any symptoms or signs of struggling at all

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privateTortoise@reddit

Hanging on in quiet desperation is the english way.

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Id1ing@reddit

Aha so much this. What society has got better at is acknowledging is essentially mild depression. Suicidal depression or psychosis? People don't want to know.

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privateTortoise@reddit

It hasn't but plenty of lip service and a few adverts is all that's changed. Was constructively made to quit a job I enjoyed after duress from staff and management at my bringing to their attention of illegal and fraudulent practices. With no support from nhs (4 times discharged from mh team without once talking to a qualified practitioner lest psychiatrist) and unable to cope with applying for support your just left to cope on your own. At some point I'll say fuck it and remove the head of the individual that pissed me off or I'll open a large nitrogen bottle in a very small room, probably the latter but as I've repeatedly said this to rhe mh team, gp and mh nurse if they aren't bother than why should I.

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SoftandSquidgy@reddit

I think a lot of open minded folk are trying to understand mental health issues. Whereas closed minded people are digging in deeper with their refusal to accept anything that they haven’t personally experienced. So while the stigma is improving from an ‘official’ sense, in that more laws protect people from being discriminated against, personal experiences may not reflect that. I’ve seriously regretted opening up to some people about my past struggles, and current one regarding neurodivergence realisations. I guess some people will always be a*holes about these things.

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Whyisthethethe@reddit

I think destigmatisation is only happening for common mental illnesses, while attitudes towards more severe ones like schizophrenia haven’t really changed at all. It’s good there’s some change but people are quite selective in there open mindedness

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Tapsa39@reddit (OP)

I think I was just shocked by the very real hatred and animosity I received in response to an innocent and unprovacative reply I made. It started to feel like a pile on with a lot of gaslighting. It's not anything I've experienced in the Netherlands or Finland.

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SoftandSquidgy@reddit

I am sorry you’ve had that happen to you. Unfortunately that’s the internet for you, it makes it so easy to argue with a seemingly faceless entity that people end up saying horrible or dumb crap, forgetting that they’re speaking to another human being. Add to that the dumbassss who live to rile others and it can become a huge toxic mess. When that happens I just nope out of the chat/forum/subreddit and take it as a lesson learned. Fortunately it can also be a force for good, whereby we have access to online support groups that can truly help us all just get through life the best we can.

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Agreeable_Fig_3713@reddit

The uk is not one massive homogeneous place. Just because someone in hackney thinks you’re a sweetie and offers you a cuppa doesn’t mean that someone in Buckie isn’t going to think you’re a wrong un and to be avoided.

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palishkoto@reddit

I don't mean this to be rude, but do you speak Finnish or Swedish? I think there can be an element if you're largely in an environment where you're dealing with more "internationalised" people then you see people with broader mindsets and viewpoints, whereas the kind of attitudes that often come from ignorance are often more from people with less experience of different viewpoints etc in real life. I wonder if there's an element of dealing with different types of people, especially compared to Reddit where the floodgates are open.

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Arseypoowank@reddit

I’ve made an observation with many of those that tend to belittle anxiety/depression. Those people usually have it themselves, and quite badly, but try to hide it because they’ve been in an environment where they’re viewed as weak if they show vulnerability so put up a tough front. They’re basically in the “lady doth protest too much” camp and are in total denial. While what they do is obnoxious, they’re usually miserable and I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of those make up the statistics of people who commit suicide. Then of course there’s just the out and out arseholes who don’t care about anyone other than themselves, but they’re beyond helping so you just have to ignore them.

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ArstotzkaHero@reddit

More people struggle than ever, and more people are talking about it. What I do NOT see, is people getting help they're entitled to, people getting support in their lives and I don't see people recovering. My concern is that most people struggle mentally at times and it's not an abnormal mental health condition but actually a healthy response to stress or trauma. As such, these conditions do not garner much intervention from the NHS, are severely underfunded or the types of therapy are extremely subtle and very long term requiring time and energy nobody is willing to provide. Someone wanting to control the minds of the population might convince them they're ill when they are not, when you've convinced yourself you're sad and angry and isolated from others you're easier to manipulate and way less likely to collude and form bonds with your fellow man because people are caught in the whirlwind of comparisons and hatred for each other with ammunition given to you by a ruling class that needs you to stay angry and sad for their system to keep paying only them.

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TorchKing101@reddit

Not at all.

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pixelunicorns@reddit

I believe it's become more normal in large groups that it can be spoken about, e.g., at my university and college I was given help and support for my issues. It wasn't seen by other students as unfair or an advantage, and if any had negative opinions they kept them to themselves. The staff were for the most part incredibly kind, patient, and supportive without me feeling like I was just being pitied. And it's similar at work, the organisation wants to be seen as diverse and supportive so we have social events and charities that support mental health. I can also discuss any of my needs easily with my manager and she's made sure I am accommodated for. Most people in my family and friends are supportive and happy to help me or talk to me. Obviously not everything is okay to talk about, some have their own issues and I wouldn't feel comfortable anyway, that's what therapy and journalling are for. The only issues I've had are when people are talking about people with the same disorder online. They say horrible things and generalise the crap out of personality disorders, making the worst assumptions. It makes me feel uncomfortable because I always wonder what people in my life think of me when they learn I have the same diagnosis. Does their opinion change? Is that why some people have just quietly left my life or now keep their distance?

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dionysus-media@reddit

I'm horribly depressed as well as my other mental health issues, and no mental health professional wants to see me. They all think I'm lying.

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Sink-Em-Low@reddit

I think its brought out far too many folks who like the idea of attention seeking and then wallowing in their misery. Personally I'd have more respect for people with mental health crises if they didn't blame EVERYTHING it on and took some responsibility for their actions. Having a nervous breakdown over your dying cactus is different to a parent dying.

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Temporary-Zebra97@reddit

A cactus dying might just be the final straw in a long long of setbacks that tip someone over the edge. It’s a bit like seeing a pregnant woman never assume she is pregnant unless she tells you or you see her giving birth she could be just fat I have made that mistake on a train, so never assume about mental health it could be a attention seeking pain snail or it could be genuine.

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Sink-Em-Low@reddit

I appreciate your words there but I feel very strongly that 99% of people have the basic capacity to process their very basic emotions BUT chose not to. This leads to very poor decision-making that ultimately leads to having their mental health left in the gutter. They then wallow in this self pity. Life is about following a path no matter how slowly, positive choices are everywhere and people can indulgence in making poor choices. Society then insultingly and gratuitously congrats them for in essence, complaining about their about their poor choices. Again having ones family r### and murdered will require professional help but drinking too much or doing drugs and then driving a car into a wall is there fault.

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Gold_Razzmatazz4696@reddit

Could it be you're referring to a comment you made on the topic of having intrusive thoughts relating to 'fancying' female friends? Because you didn't mention your mental health issues until after your comment, and people were pointing out that these can be normal thoughts for humans as we all have a bit of 'lizard brain' in us. You then made a sarcastic comment implying that people told you how your synptoms feel (despite not having previously mentioned you had MH stuggles at this point) and told them to shut the f up. You came across as rude and abrasive, particularly because you hadn't mentioned your MH struggles at this point. This is likely why you received negativity.

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peachpie_888@reddit

Experiences will vary severely depending on who you have around you, which area of UK you live in, and who you work for. I’ve only had a mental health journey this past year and I’m 30. First my ADHD got crippling and that needed to be addressed and medicated. I was distressed because wdym prescription meth for the rest of my life?? I was very upset for a while but obviously the medication did wonders and eventually I got over it. To be clear what I got over was my own unrecognized stigma about mental health medication. Then came the big whammy. Through a very long convoluted story I found out my upbringing was very abusive, I had to cease my relationship with my only parent, and got diagnosed with complex PTSD. Enter a roller coaster of symptoms which either left me acting quite emotionally unhinged, or put me in complete life paralysis torturing me for weeks on end. Medication after medication. I couldn’t hide it. I had to tell my work, I had to tell my friends, I had to make it clear this isn’t going to be over in 2 weeks and truly I don’t know how soon my doctor and I will get it under control because you can’t really truly medicate PTSD. You can medicate some of the symptoms to make it feasible to undergo therapy. I was absolutely terrified of how I’ll be perceived when I already felt so weak, helpless and terrified. I received nothing but support, understanding, space when I needed it, etc. I’ll never be able to repay the people in my life and my employer for what they have done for me during this time. I write this as I’m on day 1 finally out of a month long trigger episode that almost took me out. Three days ago I was so close to feeling like I want to give up because I was so exhausted. I had an outburst at my boss last week. I’ve cried in every feedback meeting in the last month. But once I had that breakthrough, realized I needed a couple days to reset, and sent an email at 7pm on Tuesday asking if I can have some days off with immediate effect, I received a response saying “yep absolutely, take the rest of the week”. There are good people out there and there are people who will understand and empathise. I am blown away by how many people have told me their own stories when I have shared mine. It is incredibly sad that not everyone and not even most will be as lucky as I have been. There is a lot of stigma out there, sometimes we carry it until we experience these challenges ourselves. I certainly did. Now I have an insane amount of empathy for anyone experiencing mental health challenges and I think I’ll be a better person for it for the rest of my life.

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birdie-pie@reddit

I think to an extent, it's slowly getting better. A lot of people in the millennial generation and younger are far more aware of MH disorders and such. But so many people are hatefully ignorant, I feel lucky I've not experienced much of this. I do think people on the internet just like to be dickheads, and a lot of them wouldn't say anything to your face. They just feel empowered by the anonymity of the internet, and they probably have their own issues relating to their own MH that they're somewhat projecting. I also suffer from OCD, and no one knows what it is. It's very fucking annoying. I was at the gym the other day, and the trainer mentioned the weights on either side of the bar being the same brand, and that being an OCD thing so they match. This is usually what I experience, and while just ignorance, it's hurtful to people with OCD as it diminishes what an awful and debilitating disorder it is. I did have an ex-colleague who would use OCD in this way. "I like "X" to be clean, it's my OCD" and that sort of shit. After a few times I called it out, told her I have actually been diagnosed with it, and explained very briefly that liking things clean and tidy isn't what OCD is, and she said "well I think it is" and I told her that it's a proper condition with a definition, so it's fact and not something she can dispute, and that she's wrong. She said "well that's not what I think it is, so we'll have to agree to disagree". Then another time I called her out, she said "why can't you just let me say it!? Why do you have to get all deep about it!". I've had colleagues do this a lot, particularly in my last workplace, with misunderstood disorders, like OCD, tourettes, bipolar etc. management didn't care too much, and it got exhausting to correct people because they think you're an arsehole for correcting them.

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H0vit0@reddit

I’m going through quite a hard time mentally and I reached out to my football group chat, and to a man they could not have been more supportive and affirming. We lost one of our number due to suicide a good few years back now and that really impacted the group as a whole. He was one of the quieter lads, was always distanced and never attended any social gatherings and there was a lot of looking back and wondering if we could have done more to help him at the time. I was pretty open in my last job interview about my struggles with mental health, because the culture of the company seemed to be one that would be understanding of it during the interview (it felt more like a get to know you chat than a skill based interview). I got the job and sure enough they have been supportive as a company and as individuals. In previous years I never would have spoken about this to my football crew and I absolutely would not have spoken about this in an interview. I think there’s definitely a big movement around mental health awareness, especially men being able to talk honestly and openly to other men and I can say it’s definitely had an impact on me.

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The_Blip@reddit

My experience is that in terms of policy it's gotten better, but lots of people feel the same as they always have. The places I've worked in have been quite good about letting people take time off work for mental health related reasons, but the people themselves have a bit of an eyeroll attitude about it.

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foxyfaefife@reddit

Speaking as someone who has had strong delusions of a religious nature due to several psychotic episodes/bipolar disorder, the details of it is between me and my psychiatrist. I don’t particularly want the acceptance or understanding of strangers and I don’t particularly care if people think the symptoms are valid or not. It’s a private health matter and nothing more.

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Other_Exercise@reddit

Because years ago, I think even mentioning mental health in reference yourself was going to get yourself mentally tarred in other's minds.

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OffTempestuousness@reddit

I have yet to experience stigma in real life over my mental health condition I think. I'm super open about having bipolar schizoaffective and more people are either sympathetic. For me lately its less stigma more misunderstanding, but it comes from a different place so doesn't bother me as much. The internet is a different place but I don't take it too seriously.

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early_onset_villainy@reddit

Reddit is filled with dickheads, so don’t take that as gospel. I will say, however, that I have had many awful experiences - particularly within the NHS - over the course of my mental health journey. People outside of the healthcare system are usually very nice and try to be as helpful as they can. I think most of the issues come from lack of education and knowledge on a wider range of illnesses. There’s been a huge push in the UK towards support for mental health, but that has pretty much only encompassed depression and anxiety. There are a wealth of illnesses and disorders that are still heavily stigmatised and we unfortunately do still see a lot of bad experiences happening to those who have them.

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Verlorenfrog@reddit

I think it's slowly getting there, definitely a long, long way to go yet though. I think since many celebs have been open about their struggles, it's made people realise that anyone can have mental health issues, regardless of how rich or successful you may be.

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Stunning_Ad7647@reddit

I think the stigma is improving, but it's got its own teething problems. I've seen in family members and acquaintances some or all of the following: * Self diagnoses * A reliance on any sort of mental health problem as an identity (some of what I've seen is wild) * Private clinics willing to throw out diagnoses to anyone willing to stump up the cash * A clear problem with screen time, diet, physical exercise, and a reluctance to try and fix the issues that are causing a lot of the issues * People that flat out feign illness (this happens WAY more than people think) So whilst things are improving on the whole, I'd say the above make it difficult for some people to get onboard with it all.

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AdrenalineAnxiety@reddit

I've posted a lot about my anxiety and mental health on reddit and I talk about it openly in real life and have never received a nasty comment about it, although I do find especially in person, people don't really understand it. I also say I have general anxiety disorder and often get the response "oh yeah I get anxious about things too", and there's a bit of a misunderstanding about feeling a bit of anxiety (which is a totally normal human response to some things) and having a disorder where it affects every facet of your life. People also have trouble understanding that this isn't something that I can take a pill for and be cured in 6 months. I was diagnosed over 20 years ago; it's a life long disorder. But I know they're trying to show empathy even though it can come off a bit dismissive and ignorant. Wonder if I'll receive nasty comments now!

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jamesbeil@reddit

Very little substantive change - people make the right noises, but the practical access to support is very poor. I had one friend with what was reasonably well controlled schizophrenia - she was allowed to linger on PIP and without more focused support, got steadily worse and worse. It's as if the whole world says 'cancer is really bad,' but every patient had to wait five years to see a doctor who'd then tell them their cancer wasn't so bad, and they should take a paracetemol. Bananas.

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SamVimesBootTheory@reddit

I think broadly we are getting better But in terms of reddit, the anonymity of the internet plus the general attitude on reddit does tend to draw out people just casually throwing out their really shitty opinions although I think a lot of them are born of ignorance rather than malice. Like I have adhd, and I have seen so many bad comments from people who have been sucked into that 'oh it's all overdiagnosed and it's tiktoks fault and it's just people wanting to get access to speed' comments on here.

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Flashy_Jacket_8427@reddit

It isn't, the illusion of offering support is there but the support is inadequate and not good enough. In my job I have been moved to various departments because I haven't actually done anything wrong but have been told not to talk about my mental health issues as "colleagues aren't trained and don't know how to deal with it". Making me feel even more like some kind of person that should be avoided. COVID exhausted the good will most people have so now there is no compassion or empathy. It's all an illusion.

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imminentmailing463@reddit

Public understanding and discussion around mental health is so, so much better. I'm in my early thirties and when I was growing up all the way to about my early twenties, mental health was just not something I ever recall being talked about. In about her mid fifties my nan had what I now realise was a mental health breakdown. It was never talked about as such in my family. In fact, it was never talked about at all. My other nan has anxiety and depression these days, and people in the family, including my nan herself, are totally comfortable describing it like that. When I was in my early twenties doing my master's I had a spell where I now realise what I was experiencing were depressive symptoms. Went on for a few months. I had no idea that's what I was experiencing, I just didn't have the awareness and knowledge to identify it, because mental health discussion was not mainstream. And I certainly didn't talk to friends. Compared to now, where me and my friends will often talk about our mental health. I honestly find it amazing how much it's changed and how quickly.

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nohairday@reddit

The awareness and acceptance of mental health has vastly improved from when I was a kid in the 80s. Unfortunately, the funding and availability of services for treatment has vastly decreased over the same time. So we need to be more aware of and understanding of mental health issues, because it's close to fucking impossible to get proper treatment for a large percentage of people. I'm lucky enough to have been bad enough to get referred to a psychiatrist several years ago, and am finally on medication that seems to be helping me. Don't take people on reddit seriously though. Some people enjoy being absolute twats because of the anonymity, and some people are just morons - but they're both universal traits, not limited to the UK. Bipolar, major depressive episodes, anxiety and several other issues that I really can't be bothered trying to get a diagnosis for thanks to a 7+ year wait time.

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Chilton_Squid@reddit

It's almost impossible to explain how much the public understanding of mental health has improved since 2010. People online will say it's terrible etc etc but honestly the understanding side, at least, has rocketed. Never has it acceptable to talk about your mental health issues publicly, now people are applauded for being open about it.

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AloysiusRevisited@reddit

Judging from the willingness of people to declare mental health issues in public, I'd suggest much less stigmatised

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Moogle-Mail@reddit

You seem be comparing real life to reddit - they are two very different places. I have zero problem talking about my mental health issues with friends and family but I don't broadcast them on an online forum to strangers. You seem to be comparing apples to bowling balls.

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Flaramon@reddit

I'm with Bipolar, EUPD and DID: the internet is a vicious place because people can make comments 'anonymously' - i.e. not to your face. I have scars, personality issues and am quick to snap - but I've only ever had one person say something about it to my face. But in those ten years, I've tried to open up on the internet and it's true: people prefer to play doctor than actually help. The reason is simple: they can't actually help you over the internet.

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codechris@reddit

Reddit is not real life. It doesn't represent the UK

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MarsBarFiend@reddit

I think it's definitely improved/improving. I can find it goes too far for my own comfort though; any bad day I have is met with "are you okay mental health wise?" when I've just had a bad day and that's all there is to it. I left work the other day for a meeting and had told my manager but not the staff - was gone about 3 hours and my manager left the building too. I then had staff ringing my mobile in the meeting as they'd put 2+2 together and got 5, having not been told I'd left for the meeting (as they had no business knowing and I work largely on my own). I found it slightly odd but funny. It's probably a good thing.

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AutoModerator@reddit

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