Great strides have been made in educating the public about mental illness and presenting those suffering from it in a sympathetic light. Nonetheless, much remains to be done. To this day, those suffering from mental illness may be afraid to tell their friends and family for fear of being barred from advancement within society. Discrimination against individuals with mental illness - and sometimes even their family members - persists. Too few people are aware that many of history's greatest figures - Abraham Lincoln, for example, or Winston Churchill - have suffered from depression.

When someone is suffering from a crippling condition like depression, the belief that others will consider one weak or worse, crazy, makes it all the more difficult to seek help.