Why are people uncomfortable talking about mental health?

[wish_me_luck]

I am not sure if this has been discussed/asked before (perhaps I should have perused the topic via the search bar before I asked); but, why are people so uncomfortable talking about mental health and/or mental illness?

This goes for not only lay people, but healthcare professionals (including nurses), as well. It's not a topic that involves any graphic nature (such as sex) and it seems to be a growing issue, yet people are very uncomfortable talking about it. Actually, I think people are opening up about sex more nowadays than mental health.

I never really understood why mental health and mental illness were a taboo subjects.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I wish I could afford to work PRN, but I need health insurance in the worst way, so I have to plan on working at least 3/4 time. I don't mind that so much. But the idea of going back to five-day weeks scares the daylights out of me---that schedule has ALWAYS been difficult for me to maintain over the long term, and it hasn't gotten any easier with age and repeated exacerbations of my bipolar illness. And since I won't be disclosing my diagnosis to any future employer, it's best if I don't put myself in situations that I know are apt to trigger an episode.

It's sad that we have to shut down on a significant part of our selves in order to survive in the working world, and to avoid making other people uncomfortable.