One of the things that makes it hard for people to speak about mental health challenges is the stigma that is associated with mental illness. The language used to describe conditions such as disorder, abnormal, crazy makes it difficult for one to admit to themselves or others that they are unwell. The hospitals or treatment facilities, methods (straight jacket) and medicines(Zombie look, drooling) used to treat mental illness have not helped in informing or assuring people that mental health conditions are just as natural as physical  ones. Hence they can also be treated without shame, stigma or loss of dignity and self-respect. Thus it is important to note that having a mental health condition does not mean that one is weak, stupid or unstable but they are just sick or unwell. Just like physical illness, no one wakes up in the morning and plans to have high blood pressure, cancer, sugar diabetes, a stroke or a heart attack. It is something that happens because there is a malfunction in the body resulting in illness. In the same line of thinking, no one decides to be confused, hear voices, see things others do not see, take off their clothes and run in the streets naked, speak gibberish or fail to control their feelings or worries. Therefore what is clear about both physical and mental health conditions is that:

• No one chooses, plans or decides to be sick
• They are natural occurrences when there is a malfunction in the body
• One should not be held responsible for their illness
• One should not feel ashamed about being sick
• One should not be humiliated or stigmatized for being unwell.

Thus if mental illness does not occur as a result of personal faults or choices that people make, then people suffering from them must be compassionate to themselves by refusing to  agree with negative labels that are incorrectly used to define and describe their conditions or who they are. Society should also become more aware of the role it plays in increasing stigma and shame associated with mental illness which can prevent health seeking behaviour and further perpetuate illness.