#societal attitudes

“…society’s attitude towards young children [is] one of enthusiastic support and encouragement, in that child care and development are viewed as an essential part of the function of parents with government playing a strongly supportive role. It is difficult to see the same enthusiastic support being directed towards the mentally ill in society. Instead the mentally ill are viewed with suspicion and distrust.”

— R D Mackay, Mental Condition Defences in the Criminal Law (1995)