The people you see on the street aren't people who have occasional issues with depression or mild forms of bi-polar disease.
They're people with serious mental illnesses, many of whom have a substance abuse problem, who can be very dangerous to their families. These families have had to make the difficult choice between trying to help the mentally ill person, or ensuring the safety of other family members. I'd hate to be in a position where I'd have to kick out an uncle or a sibling to protect my kids, but I can't blame people for doing so- unless you're talking about a rich family that can afford full-time, professional care for a dangerous mentally-ill relative, what choice do they have?
Didn't grandpa Kennedy lobotomize his daughter because she was an embarassment? A state institution would have been better.