Will parity for mental health payments make mental illness better understood and accepted?

Of course, mental health advocates had to work long and hard to get Congress to pass the mental health parity act. This act requires health insurers to reimburse mental health providers at the same rate as they reimburse physical health providers.

However, once the act kicks in, and people start seeing that mental health issues are being paid for at a rate comparable to physical health providers, will they start taking mental illness more seriously? I.e., see it as more legitimate. Not think that people are wimps or faking it so much as they did before? Not laughing at therapists as being a kind of paid friend? What’s your take?