New Zealand university magazine criticized for telling people with mental illnesses not to have children

From The Press in New Zealand:

A controversial Canta magazine article on mental health has been slammed as "outrageous" by a leading mental health expert.

The article, entitled Mental Illness and penned by a columnist named "Deborah", appeared on the Canterbury University's student magazine website on Thursday.

It has angered some readers.

The article is critical of television campaigns aimed at reducing the stigma surrounding mental illnesses.

It reads: "It is well-documented that there is a genetic precursor for many mental disorders. You don't want your kids to have the same problems you have, do you? Make sure you adopt, rather than making kids yourself. Predisposing children to mental disorders is just cruel."

Mental Health Foundation chief executive Judi Clements said parts of the article were "outrageous". "Without being po-faced, this is not something to trivialise."

The article also says: "There is a guy in my shared office that has no social skills. He is really annoying and everyone hates him. No-one wants to work or play with this guy. And I treat him with the respect he deserves, aka none.

"But what if he comes out and says that he has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome or some proper mental illness? His annoying anti-social behaviour is not acceptable. By blaming it all on some illness, does that mean I have to put up with it? Hell no."

In response, Alyson Bradley, who has Asperger's syndrome, wrote: "I have Asperger's and my biggest problem continues to be ignorance from individuals like yourself."

Yesterday she told The Press the article was "absolutely horrendous".

Most responses had been angry. One said: "Oh give Deborah a break. People with NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder) have just as much right to speak out as anyone else. They can't help themselves."