Many of the mental illnesses that our population suffers from today are still big gray areas for medical organizations and professionals. Some have such similar characteristics that it's hard to distinguish between the two and give a definitive diagnosis, but the question on most people's minds is 'is the right term disability for mental illness, or should we treat mental illness as something else entirely?'.

The definition of disability is quite simple. A disability is something that stops you from being able to do certain things (that the majority of society can do), so shouldn't it stand that disability for mental illness is the right word? After all, mental illness often inhibits the sufferer's ability to function adequately in their environment or society.

Many people argue otherwise, because a great percentage of people who have been diagnosed with a mental illness are not impaired as such, but simply they function differently from the rest of society. Someone with health anxiety, for example, will still visit the doctor when they are ill, but they simply keep going back and might go to different doctors for second opinions. This doesn't mean they need help or aid, just perhaps a little leniency and patience on the part of the doctor until they feel satisfied.

What many people with mental illnesses would like is that it is not thought of as a 'disease' that is dangerous and that they are unsafe to be around, and not that it is a disability that requires aid and special care either. All that they ask for is that people recognize mental illness for exactly what it is and simply to be more aware of it. Will treatment as soon as it starts and the right kind of attitudes many people suffering from a mental illness can learn and adapt to function in society no different from another and it needs to be recognized that there are vary varying degrees of mental disorders.

Of course, there are others who may need more sustained and intense care in order to have good quality of life. Some people, such as those with post traumatic stress disorder or SAD may only need treatment at certain times within their lives. During summer, someone with SAD may function and behave in exactly the same way as everyone else, so it would be unfair for them to be thought of as 'insane' or 'unpleasant to be around' during this time, simply because they've been diagnosed with a mental disorder.

Mistaking disability for mental illness is common and perhaps the only way that our society can make sense of what mental illness is. After all, many people with mental illness do require benefits, accommodation and treatment at some point in their lives because working may not be an option. What is essential is that someone with a mental illness, or someone caring for them are open with the nature of the illness and especially the name of it so that the public have the opportunity to learn and become more aware of how they can help these people integrate into society more.

Stan Tian

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