Both Cancer and Mental Illness are common groups of illnesses that affect many Canadians -- is one worse than the other?

Define "mental illness"...

inane

Pronunciation: i-'nAn

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): inan·er; -est

Etymology: Latin inanis

Date: 1662

1 : EMPTY, INSUBSTANTIAL
2 : lacking significance, meaning, or point : SILLY
synonym see INSIPID

- inane·ly adverb
- inane·ness /-'nAn-n&s/ noun

Trying to get a rise out of me, big guy?

Very nice avatar, Rehan! I like it!

Originally posted by bookhead Both Cancer and Mental Illness are common groups of illnesses that affect many Canadians -- is one worse than the other?

There is a key distinction between the two. Mental Illness is a broad and ambiguous term which is applied to conditions which are psychological as well as physiological in origin including many which are not yet substantiated by medical study.

Cancer is a clearly physiological condition, there is no amiguity.

You can live with Mental Illness, you can't live with Cancer.

Originally posted by Abilityzone Very nice avatar, Rehan! I like it!

Thank Juju. I just picked it out from the ones that were available.

Originally posted by Rehan Define "mental illness"...

It's a big question, very much like defining "physical illness", but I would define "mental illness" as illnesses/diseases that affect the thinking and mood functions of the brain - the most common ones include: the mood disorders: Depression, Bipolar Disorder (aka Manic-Depression), Seasonal Affective Disorder; the anxiety disorders: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Social Phobia; the personality disorders: such as Paranoid Personality Disorder; and Schizophrenia.

Some of those are certainly much easier to deal with then cancer... So cancer gets my vote.

Originally posted by brash There is a key distinction between the two. Mental Illness is a broad and ambiguous term which is applied to conditions which are psychological as well as physiological in origin including many which are not yet substantiated by medical study.

Is the suffering less real if there is a psychological origin? Could you please list some of the many mental illnesses not yet substantiated by medical study...

Originally posted by brash Cancer is a clearly physiological condition, there is no amiguity. You can live with Mental Illness, you can't live with Cancer.

I think your latter point would be vehemently challenged by the many survivors of cancer, and your former point is no less debatable with the many studies of the impact of psychological stress on the origin and outcome of cancer...

Originally posted by Rehan Some of those are certainly much easier to deal with then cancer... So cancer gets my vote.

Which ones? Perhaps - Depression? After all you can just snap out of it, right? Think happy thoughts...

Originally posted by bookhead Is the suffering less real if there is a psychological origin?

Yes, because the key to dealing with psychological problems are within the sufferer's control. Severe physiological mental illness such as schizophrenia requires medical treatment such as medication.

I think your latter point would be vehemently challenged by the many survivors of cancer, and your former point is no less debatable with the many studies of the impact of psychological stress on the origin and outcome of cancer...

Surviving and living with cancer are two different things. The fact is, unless the cancer is eliminated it will eventually kill.

Originally posted by bookhead Which ones? Perhaps - Depression? After all you can just snap out of it, right? Think happy thoughts...

Actually, yes you can!

Originally posted by brash Actually, yes you can!

I won't honour a comment like that with a response...

In my immediate family, both my side and my
husbands side, we have clinical depression
and schizophrenia all over the place. Mental
illnesses can be treated, not cured. It is
something can comes and goes throughout
a lifetime. Like cancer, it can hit young and old,
in fact my 4 year old son is now being looked
at for childhood depression. There is also cancer
in my family. Both are just as heart-breaking.

mo2m, you're looking a trite masculine these days.....
And mom, my heart goes out to you.

I think this poll is like to comparing apples and oranges. I agree that one cannot be more or less devastating than the other.

"My boo-boo is bigger than yours", therefore I feel more pain? Come on, no way.