SANE Australia wrote to the Sunday Herald Sun recently, regarding the article 'Doctors' Dirty Secrets' published on 21.01.07.

Readers were concerned that the headline for the story insinuated that mental illnesses are something to be ashamed of and hidden away – that people affected by mental illness are ‘dirty’ and less deserving of help for their health condition.

The article related to doctors in Victoria affected by mental health, drug, and alcohol problems.  

Stories and headlines which stigmatise mental illness in this way mean that people feel the need to hide their condition for fear of losing friends and employment.