This is just my way of shedding some light on the misconseptions of people with mental illness.

I have worked with people who have mental illness for a long time. What I have learned is that I have much to learn.I have learned that when I say to people I work with someone who has mental illness many times they will look like it must be a terrible job.That it must be very difficult. There seems to be a misconseption that people who have mental illness are all violent. If that were so I surely wouldn't be in this field.The truth is that people who have mental illness are often victims of crime.The percentage of people who have mental illness that are violent is the same as people who don't have a mental illness.I do not in any way put down people that are afraid of the people I work with. It is understandable.It is better now, but it used to be that people on movies and t.v. shows would be mentally ill if they did a violent crime. Or the horror movies would show someone who was mentally ill as very scarey.Let me bring some reality into this picture. The people I work with work in our snack bar, do janitorial work, work on the computer, work at Round Table and a cattering bussiness, and many other things.I would have no problem living next door to a home that was a program for people with mental illness.I work with people who have schizophrenia, which is one of the most severe diagnosis you can have.Many have been in hospitals for many years or in and out of hospitals.What I am asking is to be open minded about the word mental illness. Learn the real facts. Don't go by other peoples fears.Please give them a chance to be a part of our culture.They deserve it! Thank you so much for reading my article.