My explanation for it is about knowledge and people. People are informed by personal experience. When there is none they build their framework of understanding by whatever else is about, which is often the mentality which leads to prejudice.
To defeat prejudice it takes social contact theory applied at a grassroots level. I hoped this was the way forward for mental illness.
It isn't. Not without the key element: coming out.
The reason is because of drugs. So many people do them but so few know. Those within social circles of drug users know other users. Those outside don't.
Drug users who cross the line from circles of users to circles of non-users make a choice and the choice relates to activating the power of social contact theory.
Though many do drugs they keep it hidden and are only open in their circle, where they feel safe. They never speak out in public for fear of career and reputation.
Such is the stigma.
Social contact theory takes signifcant personal change and, perhaps worse, sacrifice. It is always those forebearers of change who get the worst of it...be it suffragettes or gandhi.
The mental health system works to ensure this never happens. It takes courage and insanity, things their treatments remove and the diagnoses perjoratise.
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