40 Worst Comments About Mental Illness on Quora

What questions are people asking about mental health? Quora posts indicate that misconceptions and myths related to mental illness and addiction prevail. Read the top 40 most unsettling questions on Quora.com.

I turned to Quora (an online platform for asking questions) to see what people today are asking about mental illness. What I found ranged from thought-provoking to comical to disturbing, illustrating how common misconceptions are. Here are some of the worst comments and questions I came across:

woman sleeping
Photo by Ivan Oboleninov on Pexels.com

40 Worst Comments & Disturbing Posts About Mental Illness (on Quora)

1. “Is mental illness really an illness?”

2. “Is mental illness catchable?”

3. “Do people with mental disorders have friends?”

4. “Are people who self-harm just looking for attention?”

5. “Is drug addiction really just a lack of willpower?”

6. “Can a person be intelligent and a drug addict?”

7. “Should drug addicts be left to die?”

8. “Why can’t drug addicts just stop? What compels a person to continue with a destructive behavior despite the obvious problems their behavior causes?” (Note: Addiction is a brain disease, which is why someone struggling with substance abuse can’t “just stop.”)

9. “Why should one feel sorry or sympathetic for drug addicts, given most of them chose this life?”

10. “Instead of ‘rescuing’ drug addicts who have overdosed, wouldn’t society as a whole benefit from just letting nature take its course?” (If that was the case, shouldn’t we then withhold all types of medical treatment and preventative or life-saving measures… to allow nature to take its course?)

11. “Is there any country in the world that won in the war against drugs by killing the users or the drug addicts?”

12. “Why should we lament drug addicted celebrities dying of drug-related causes? It’s their fault for starting a drug habit.”

13. “Why save drug addicts from overdosing? From my experience they were problems for their families, a drain on society from their teen years, and won’t get better once addicted.” (All diseases are a drain on society to an extent; that doesn’t mean lives aren’t worth saving.)

14. “How do you differentiate between drug addicts and real homeless people when giving money?” (You don’t; find other ways to help.)

15. “What are the best ways to punish an alcoholic?”

16. “Don’t you think it’s time we stop spreading the myth that alcoholism is a disease? You can’t catch it from anyone. One chooses to drink alcohol.”

17. “Why do people who are oppressed/abused never defend themselves and have pride?”

18. “Why don’t I have empathy for people who end up in abusive or unhealthy relationships? I feel that they deserve it for being such a poor judge of character.”

19. “Why do most women put up with domestic violence?” (Most women?? “Put up”??)

20. “Are schizophrenics aware they’re crazy?”

21. “Are schizophrenic people allowed to drive?”

22. “Do people who become schizophrenic become that way because they are morally conflicted?”

23. “Are schizophrenics able to learn?”

24. “Can a schizophrenic be coherent enough to answer a question like ‘What is life like with schizophrenia?’ on Quora?”

25. “Can one ‘catch’ schizophrenia by hanging out too long with schizophrenics?”

26. “Can schizophrenics have normal sex?” (Yes, or kinky, whichever they prefer)

27. “Why do people ignore the positive impact spanking has on raising children?” (See #28)

28. “Is being spoiled as a child a cause of mental illness such as depression?” (No, but spanking is linked to mental disorders and addiction in adulthood.)

29. “Should mentally ill people be allowed to reproduce?”

30. “Should people with mental illness be allowed to vote?”

31. “Are we breeding weakness into the gene pool by treating and allowing people with physical and mental illnesses to procreate?”

32. “Why are we allowing mental illnesses of sexual orientation disturbance and gender identity disorder that were changed for political reasons, to be accepted like race?”

33. “Why do some people with mental illness refuse to work and live off the government when they are perfectly capable of working?”

34. “Why are mentally disturbed women allowed to have children?”

35. “I feel no sympathy for the homeless because I feel like it is their own fault. Are there examples of seemingly “normal” and respectable people becoming homeless?”

36. “How is poverty not a choice? At what point does an individual stop blaming their parents/society/the government and take responsibility for their own life?” (White privilege at its finest)

37. “Why are mental disorders so common nowadays? Is it just an “excuse” to do bad or selfish things?”

38. “Are most ‘crazy’ people really just suffering from a low IQ?”

39. “Why do some people have sympathy for those who commit suicide? It is very cowardly and selfish to take your life.”

40. “Is suicide part of the world’s survival of the fittest theory?”


worst comments

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500 Free Printable Workbooks & Manuals for Therapists

A list of over 500 free printable workbooks, manuals, toolkits, and guides for mental health professionals or self-help.

(Updated 4/9/23) The following list is comprised of links to over 500 free printable workbooks, manuals, toolkits, and guides that are published online and are free to use with clients and/or for self-help purposes. Some of the manuals, including Individual Resiliency Training and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychotic Symptoms, are evidence-based.

Please repost this and/or share with anyone you think could benefit from these free printable workbooks and clinical tools!


For free printable workbooks and guides designed especially for youth/family, click here. For additional free printable workbooks and resources on a variety of mental health topics, see 200+ Sites with Free Therapy Worksheets & Handouts and 50 Free Mental Health Worksheets & Handouts.


Free Printable Workbooks, Manuals, & Self-Help Guides for Mental Health Professionals & Consumers

Disclaimer: Links are provided for informational and educational purposes. I recommend reviewing each resource before using for updated copyright protections that may have changed since it was posted here. When in doubt, contact the author(s).


Substance Use Disorders & Addiction

Free printable workbooks, manuals, toolkits/self-help guides for substance and behavioral (i.e., food, gambling, etc.) addictions and recovery


There are several SAMHSA workbooks listed below; you can find additional free publications on SAMHSA’s website. For fact sheets and brochures, go to the National Institute on Drug Abuse website or the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. If you’re looking for 12-step literature, many 12-step organizations post free reading materials, workbooks, and worksheets; don’t forget to check local chapters! (See 12-Step Recovery Groups for a comprehensive list of recovery support group sites.)

Other great places to look for free printable workbooks and resources for addiction include education/advocacy and professional membership organization sites. (Refer to the Resource Links page on this site for an extensive list.)


💜 = Resource for Veterans
🏳️‍🌈 = LGBTQ+ Resource

Anxiety & Mood Disorders

Free printable workbooks and other resources for anxiety (generalized, social phobia/anxiety, panic attacks), depressive and bipolar disorders, and prenatal/postpartum anxiety and depression


For more factsheets, brochures, and booklets, see SAMHSA, National Institute of Mental Health, NHS UK, CMHA, and education/advocacy sites listed on the Resource Links page on this site.


💜 = Resource for Veterans

Anxiety Disorders
Depressive & Bipolar Disorders
Postpartum Anxiety & Depression

Schizophrenia & Psychotic Disorders

A small collection of free printable workbooks, manuals, toolkits, and guides for schizophrenia spectrum and related disorders

Obsessive-Compulsive & Hoarding Disorders

Free printable workbooks, manuals, and guides for obsessive-compulsive, hoarding, and related disorders and issues

Trauma & PTSD

Free printable workbooks, manuals, and guides for trauma (including vicarious trauma) and PTSD

💜 = Resource for Veterans

Eating Disorders

Free printable workbooks and toolkits/guides for anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorders

Suicide & Self-Harm

Free printable workbooks and toolkits/guide for suicide prevention and recovery and for non-suicidal self-injury

For additional resources for suicide, see 100+ Resources for Suicide Prevention & Recovery.

Grief & Loss

Free printable workbooks and toolkits/guides for grief and loss

For additional resources for grief and loss, see Grief & Loss: A Comprehensive Resource Guide and 3 Powerful TED Talks on Grief.

Anger

Free printable workbooks, manuals, and guides for coping with anger

For additional anger management tools, see 75 Helpful Anger Management Resources.

Self-Esteem: Free Printable Workbooks & Guides

Healthy Relationships & Communication

For additional related tools, see 50 Free Marriage & Relationship Assessment Tools.

Meditation & Mindfulness

Resiliency, Personal Development, & Wellness

Free Printable Workbooks for Forgiveness
  • DIY Workbook Series from the Positive Psychology Research Group at Virginia Commonwealth University (All of the following workbooks can be accessed through this link)
    • The Path to Humility: Six Practical Sections for Becoming a More Humble Person (84 pages)
    • The Path to Forgiveness: Six Practical Sections for Becoming a More Forgiving Person
    • Your Path to REACH Forgiveness: Become a More Forgiving Person in Less Than Two Hours
    • Moving Forward: Six Steps to Forgiving Yourself and Breaking Free from the Past (70 pages)
    • Experiencing Forgiveness: Six Practical Sections for Becoming a More Forgiving Christian
    • The Path to Patience: Six Practical Sections for Becoming a More Patient Person
    • The Path to Positivity: Six Practical Sections for Becoming a More Positive Person
  • Moving Forward: Six Steps to Forgiving Yourself (Self-Directed Learning), 2nd Ed. | (Printable workbook) Source: Virginia Commonwealth University/ForgiveSelf.com, 69 pages) 2015
Free Printable Workbooks & Guides for Sleep
Free Printable Workbooks & Guides for Stress

Self-Care

Free printable workbooks, toolkits, and guides for self-care

Nutrition & Exercise

Free printable workbooks, manuals, and guides for diet, physical activity, and health


CBT, DBT, & MI

Note: The free printable workbooks and other resources listed in the following section may also be listed in other sections of this post.


CBT: Free Printable Workbooks & Manuals
DBT: Free Printable Workbooks & Manuals
Motivational Interviewing

Additional Free Printable Workbooks, Manuals, & Self-Help Guides

🔝

free printable PDF workbooks

Please comment with links to additional free printable workbooks and PDF resources for therapy or self-help!

4 Ways to Fight Stigma with Language

Words have power. They are impactful. They can contribute to stigma and divide humanity. To help fight stigma, change your language.

Have you ever been called a bitch? A creep? A whore? Have you received criticism that felt unfair or dismissive? Maybe someone’s words made you feel belittled or unappreciated. Language has the power to shape our experiences, and words become weapons when used to wound.

Consider the power of hearing your name spoken aloud. It instantly grabs your attention, pulling you into the present moment. You’re most likely going to respond or at least pause in what you’re doing.

Words are impactful, not only for the person being labeled, but for an entire group of people. They contribute to stigma while fueling biases. They can divide humanity. Retard. White trash. Crazy. Junkie. N*****. Slut. Spic.

Why Language Matters: 4 Words/Phrases to Stop Saying

If you side against ignorance and want to end the stigma associated with mental illness, change your language. The following words or phrases contribute to stigma:

“Addict”

There are many negative connotations surrounding this word. Similarly, “alcoholic” can be demeaning. A person who is addicted to drugs or alcohol has a medical condition. Instead of calling them an addict (or junkie or tweaker or crackhead), say “person with a substance use disorder.” Demonstrate the same empathy you would for a person who has cancer or MS or paralysis.

“Schizophrenic”

Don’t label a person who suffers from mental illness. They are more than the disorder they’re afflicted with. Calling someone “schizophrenic” or “borderline” or “bipolar” reduces them to an illness, not a person. It’s dehumanizing.

“Retarded”

True, “mental retardation” used to be the diagnostic terminology for classifying individuals with lower IQs. Today, however, it’s mostly used as an insult. The American Psychiatric Association has eliminated the term as a classification; the correct term is “intellectual disability.”

“Committed suicide”

This phrase suggests that the person who dies by suicide is criminal. Criminals commit crimes. An individual who dies by suicide should not be placed in the same category. Instead, say “died by suicide.” This demonstrates respect for both the individual and their loved ones.


Language has the power to influence and shape the world. You have power. Be a positive influence and choose to fight stigma instead of contributing to the toxicity.


#JunkieLivesDontMatter

Many believe that addiction is choice and that individuals who use drugs are just “junkies” – and #JunkieLivesDontMatter.

This article is inspired, in part, by an ignorant (not ill-intended) meme posted by a healthcare worker on social media.

The meme said,

“So if a kid has an allergic reaction the parents have to pay a ridiculous price for an Epi pen. But a junkie who has OD’d for their 15th time gets Narcan for free? What a screwed up world we live in.”

Implication: A “junkie” doesn’t deserve a second chance at life. (#JunkieLivesDontMatter) They’re a waste of resources because they lack the willpower to stop using. A person with a substance use disorder is choosing that life. Why interfere? (Especially when all that money could be spent saving more deserving lives.)

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

If you believe it is screwed up for a “junkie” to have a chance at life (and recovery) because they “chose addiction,” your opinion is contrary to the National Institute of Health, the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and decades of scientific research. You’re also a part of the movement: #JunkieLivesDontMatter

Image by SplitShire from Pixabay

Many have joined the movement, as evidenced by the following social media posts:

“Out of all of the houses, 2 hobos decided to overdose on my front steps… thank god the medics got here in time to ensure they could die another day…”

“I think we had less ODs before Narcan came on board. They realize they can be saved if gotten to in time. Maybe they need to be locked up & not let out until they attend rehab while in jail.”

“If it can be easily established that they have a recent history of drug [abuse]… then yes… withhold the lifesaving drug because they chose this. It’s harsh, but justice is not served by saving them.”

“If you don’t have it figured [out] by the 3rd overdose, you are just prolonging the inevitable and wasting tax payers money.”

“If we are repeatedly saving your life and you are not willing to change this behavior, why should we be obligated to keep saving you?”

“My personal opinion is we can’t keep letting people overdose and saving them just so they can repeat the cycle.”

“By continuously administering Narcan, sure, we’re saving their life, but are they really living? I don’t think so.”

#JunkieLivesDontMatter

Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay

#JunkieLivesDontMatter: Addiction & Stigma

According to the American Psychiatric Association,

Addiction is a complex condition, a brain disease that is manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequence. People with addiction (severe substance use disorder) have an intense focus on using a certain substance(s), such as alcohol or drugs, to the point that it takes over their life. They keep using alcohol or a drug even when they know it will cause problems.

Addiction is a scientifically-proven brain disease. Despite this, many persist in the belief that it’s a choice, or worse… a moral failing.

The notion comes from an early model of addiction, “the moral model,” which was deeply rooted in religion. Addiction was attributed to a sinful nature and weakness of character. Therefore, the addict must repent… or suffer the consequences of his/her actions; addiction warranted punishment, not empathy. Unsurprisingly, this created stigma. It also prevented those struggling with addiction from seeking treatment.

Centuries later, many hold on to the view that an individual suffering from a substance use disorder is lazy or weak… or a worthless junkie.

Today, in the midst of the opioid epidemic, stigma’s unrelenting grip perseveres. Stigma is a poison; it’s dehumanizing. It’s easy to forget a person is a person when you view them as garbage, trash… a “junkie.” Stigma tells us, “Take out the trash.” #JunkieLivesDontMatter

Image by Hamed Mehrnik from Pixabay

To fully recognize stigma’s impact, compare addiction to other diseases. Consider common medical emergencies; many are related to lifestyle. Imagine being hospitalized after your third stroke, and the doctor telling you, “This is the third time I’ve saved your life, yet you refuse to exercise. I shouldn’t be obligated to continue to provide life-saving care.” Or, imagine a long-time smoker who develops lung cancer; they’re not demeaned, called names, or denied treatment.

Moreover, an EMS worker wouldn’t withhold CPR from an individual in cardiac arrest if they were obese. It’s not a debate.

If You’re Dead, You Have a 0% Chance of Recovery

We’re in the midst of an epidemic.

According to the CDC, 115 Americans die from an opioid overdose every day.

In 2016, over 42,000 individuals died from opioid overdose.

Life expectancy in America is actually declining due to an increase in fatal overdoses.

Image by Simon Orlob from Pixabay

Narcan does not enable addiction. It enables life. (The dead can’t recover.)

#Recovery #Empathy #FightStigma #EndTheEpedemic #SaveALife


If you live in Fairfax County (Virginia), sign up for a free REVIVE! Training!

#junkielivesdontmatter