Why is mental illness a contested term?

Since mental illness is classed as an illness, which puts people outside of society, the feelings it provokes makes people labelled as mentally ill feel shame and in its wider context alienates and excludes them from the ordinary opportunities of society. It is a horrible experience. It is easy to understand why people may fear it and avoid it. It is almost possible to see why people may fear mentally ill people and why they may feel shame for what those around them go through and yet, all the hundreds of thousands of people who experience illness are ordinary people going through extraordinary experiences which they did not seek out, ordinary people who are diminished by the reaction of their culture and society to mental illness….(short extract)