Is the stigma of mental illness a matter of semantics?
The wall dividing physical and mental illness, a solid fixture of the medical landscape for almost 400 years, is tumbling down thanks to new insight on the human brain. Scientists now know that clinical depression, schizophrenia and other forms of “mental” illness actually are physical disorders. The symptoms occur because of physical changes in the brain — just as diabetes or a heart attack occur because of physical changes in the pancreas or heart. Nevertheless, medicine clings to the outdated and hurtful term “mental illness.” That term’s stigma — the topic of a 1999 White House conference and numerous reports — discourages millions from getting treatment. Nearly two-thirds of people with mental disorders never seek treatment. The stigma causes bias, distrust, stereotyping, fear, embarrassment and anger. Studies also suggest this stigma contributes to the public’s reluctance to pay for better mental health services through insurance premiums or taxes. People think health insuranc
