mental illness and stuttering

Mental illness and stuttering are, rightly or wrongly regarded by the general public as serious handicaps. In some recent surveys certain comparisons were noted; and whilst mental illness is seen as a more serious condition, it was worrying that the differences in views of mental illness and stuttering were actually negligible. This obviously was just a small cross-section of opinions and it only represents the respondents own attitudes, but it does however suggest, in one respect an over-emphasis of the problems experienced by those who stutter; and secondly an ignorance of the conditions of both mental illness and stuttering.

Children who stutter need to be protected, but unfortunately teasing within schools will be inevitable and it’s probably more important to concentrate on how to react to spiteful comments. Mental illness and stuttering in the young are both confusing and frustrating for sufferers and friends and family need to be fully supportive and sensitive to the fragility of feelings. There is undoubtedly a great deal of work required to develop society into a greater understanding of mental illness and stuttering. Effort has to be concentrated in schools, communities, support groups and of course families, to enhance awareness of mental illness and stuttering and reach a large section of the population.