While people with other disorders have demanded respect, people with mental illnesses are just getting around to making similar strong demands. None of my family are in here with me tonight nor would they wish to be. If I had cancer they'd be researching ways to get me treatment. I am sorry to hear that your family is not with you. Unfortunately, that is all too common.
Mental illness is hard for families to understand and deal with.
But it is also another members of the community also who have troubling accepting those with mental illnesses. You are correct that people with other illnesses get support, visits, cards, casseroles, while those with mental illnesses seldom do. It is a situation we are trying to change. In fact, this is one of the issues stressed in the Surgeon General's Report. Your website mentions books by Patti Duke and Kay Redfield Jamieson.