Sick people need our help and empathy, not to be stigmatised for their illness, but unfortunately for centuries people with contagious or serious illness have had to pay the penalty of society’s judgement. Slowly over the years it has begun to change but still it is not common to talk about our panic attacks (one in four people suffer these at some stage of their lives) or our depression (how would it affect your promotion at work) or the grief you are feeling simply because your wonderful dog died. We have become to some extent a society that ‘soldiers on’ and in doing that we bury our feelings and illnesses and surround ourselves with shame instead of understanding and healing.
