Stigma and Mental illness

In recent years there has been an increase in celebrities and politicians who are willing to disclose that they have experienced mental illness. Many support campaigns such as Time to Change or Shift, organisations that are promoting an end to stigma for people with mental health problems . I am wondering if there is a change in how the general public perceives mental illness. Often opinions are swayed by the media which does seem to be changing its attitude as a result of these campaigns. Sometime it seems that those who already have a vested interested in reducing stigma are now more vocal but is there any change in general attitudes? Last October I organised a debate entitled Mental Health Questions. Those who attended all had an interest in mental health issues. I have been wondering how to reach people who have not even thought about mental illness perhaps because they have never encountered it or are scared of the unknown. I was delivering some mental health awareness training recently when a delegate explained that it is difficult to understand mental illness and know how to support someone when you do not know how it affects individuals. We are more likely to have some idea of how to help someone with a physical condition such as diabetes becuse the condition is widely publised. So to end my ramblings I think that attitudes are changing but that those of us that do have a passion to end stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness should continue to shout out about it. Let me know what you think.