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Isabel Field

sole proprietor/director, CHILD ADVOCATE CLASS ACTION & CHILD ADVOCATE

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Debate: Is mental illness contagious?

We are constantly being told 'it is in our genes' But I feel perfectly normal kids can have their mental state changed because of mistreatment. I also feel that being exposed to mental illness can cause mental illness.What do you think and what are your experiences?

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    Allan Macdougall 50+

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    Oct 30 2012: 'Mental illnesses' are only illnesses when judged within the context of what is now regarded as 'normal'.

    If a contagion does exist, then it is passed on as an insidious auto-suggestion of that judgement - through a dysfunctional mixture of stigma, misdiagnosis, and the medicalisation of behaviours that in other societies might be regarded as normal and acceptable.

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