Even more people will try to convince themselves that they don't have a problem or will decide it is best to hide their illness from the world. Stigma is why. Intolerance and lack of understanding on the part of friends and relatives, as well as co-workers and supervisors, causes many people to hide their illness. The sad thing is, mental illness is not something to be ashamed of. It is a physical illness just as diabetes, heart disease and many other illnesses are.
Mental illness is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.
It can be treated with medication and talk-therapy. It cannot be caught like a cold or the flu. The majority of these people have never been violent and probably never will be. People with a mental illness can and do hold jobs. They may be a janitor, a salesclerk, a nurse or doctor, or even a college professor or president of a company.