Ottawa- There are a lot of people that are supportive for mentally ill people in Canada, but many citizens view those with mental illness as second-class citizens.
According to a new poll just out from the Canadian Medial Association as many as 46 percent of Canadian citizens view those with mental illness with suspicion or as damaged.
The attitudes that are held by many citizens are ones that have been held for decades, and the government is slowly starting to be aware of the negative affects.
The Federal Government has announced plans to invest as much as $75 million dollars to help educate the public about mental health, and working to de mystify and remove the stigma from mental illness, but even with the investment it could take a long time.
The Canadian Medical Association released the poll as part of its overall 2008 Canadian National Report Card, on the state of the nation in medical and social issues.
Many people, especially older people in Canada view mental illness as an excuse to act out, or poor behaviour.
This is most times not the case, but it can affect how those with mental illness are typically treated in Canadian Society.