Stigma and Discrimination
People with a mental illness have often found that when it comes to their physical health needs they can be subject to unequal access to services and can often feel stigmatised and discriminated against when they try to access general health care services.
Legislation is in place to counteract and deal with discrimination on the grounds of disability, including mental disability. There is also now a legal duty on all public agencies including the NHS to be proactive in supporting the rights of people with disabilities.