Mental health is a topic that most people find uncomfortable or difficult to understand. It’s one that contains a lot of controversy. Mental illness is a rising problem in the United States, yet there are groups of people who don’t even believe it’s a real issue. Additionally, mental illness isn’t taken as seriously in this country as other diseases. The legitimacy of the issue is left up to debate while millions of victims are left untreated and vulnerable. Stereotypes also have quite an effect on the issue. They have become such a staple in our society and stigma surrounding it has become quite negative. Those with mental illness are seen as broken, insane, damaged, etc. Many believe victims of mental illness are only doing it for attention. …show more content…
Richard McNally, PhD, a clinical psychologist at Harvard University, states, “mental illnesses are likely to have multiple causes, including genetic, biological and environmental factors. Of course, that's true for many chronic diseases, heart disease and diabetes included. But for mental illnesses, we're a particularly long way from understanding the interplay among those factors.” (qtd. in Weir). Contrary to popular belief, it’s not something someone can make up on the spot. But still, scientists don’t have a complete, understanding on how those factors affect the brain, so there isn’t a definitive way to diagnose a patient. But, there is a standing system used to identify psychological abnormalities for the purpose of …show more content…
The National Alliance on Mental Illness is one of the larger working organizations. They are committed to making a difference in both people with mental health conditions as well as the people in their lives. Their public policy platform discusses how their stance on the issue of mental health. They believe that any and all acts of stigma and discrimination are considered cruel. They feel that the media portrays those with mental illness as “prone to violence” and depictions are “degrading stereotypes and [reinforcing] societal prejudices that serve as impediments to recovery.” (Natl. Alliance on Mental Illness 3). NAMI’s advocating has successfully contributed to securing better funding for research, protecting access to treatments, and attaining parity to “ensure that mental illness is treated equally to physical illness in most insurance plans”, according to their website. Groups like NAMI are essential to promoting a stigma-free world. Their “#StigmaFree” campaign promotes eliminating the stereotypes associated with mental health conditions. Additionally, NAMI has almost one thousand local state organizations and affiliations across the U.S. People can get involved in their communities and spark potential
Before beginning my argument I would like to clarify the current criteria for diagnosing mental illness. First, the patient must show “clinically significant detriment” (Gray 578). This could be shown by way of “distress (painful feelings) or impairment of functioning (interference with the ability to work, play, or get along with people” (578). Second, the distress must have “an internal source… in the person’s biology, mental structures (ways of perceiving, thinking, or feeling) or learned habits) – and not i...
The stigma and negative associations that go with mental illness have been around as long as mental illness itself has been recognized. As society has advanced, little changes have been made to the deep-rooted ideas that go along with psychological disorders. It is clearly seen throughout history that people with mental illness are discriminated against, cast out of society, and deemed “damaged”. They are unable to escape the stigma that goes along with their illness, and are often left to defend themselves in a world that is not accepting of differences in people. Society needs to realize what it is doing, and how it is affecting these people who are affected with mental illness.
The media in American society has a major influential impact on the minds and beliefs of millions of people. Whether through the news, television shows, or film, the media acts as a huge database for knowledge and instruction. It is both an auditory and visual database that can press images and ideas into people's minds. Even if the individual has no prior exposure or knowledge to something, the media can project into people's minds and leave a lasting impression. Though obviously people are aware of what they are listening to or watching, thoughts and assumptions can drift into their minds without even realizing it. These thoughts that drift in are extremely influential. The massive impact it can leave on America's perception leads to generalizations, assumptions, and stigmas. The media influence is not always negative, however. In most cases it has beneficial and positive aspects. Without the media, people would be drastically less informed and conscientious about major issues in the world around us. In some cases, however, the way the media portrays an issue can twist one's perception, leaving an assumption instead of a factual concept. Mental illness is one of the biggest concepts that the media has distorted due to the majority of portrayals the media presents. Mental health is extremely important and plays a key role in every individual's life. Yet it is also has millions of misconceptions. Mental illness is more common that one would like to believe. In reality, one in five Americans will suffer from a mental disorder in any given year. Though that ratio is about equivalent to more than fifty-four million people, mental illness still remains a shameful and stigmatized topic (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.). The taboo of mental illness has an extensive and exhausting history, dating back to the beginning of American colonization. It has not been an easy road to say the least. Due to the endless efforts and research of certain foundations and individuals, the ideas and functions of mental health have improved significantly. The advancements made in the field are impressive and without them humankind would not be the same. Yet then why do only fewer than eight million people who are in need of help seek treatment? (National Mental Health Association, 2001). The history, stigmatization, and perce...
The discussion of mental health is slowly being brought to the social surface to create a more inclusive society for those dealing with a mental illness. However, those with a mental illness are continuously being affected by stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination by those who simply don’t comprehend the complexity of the human brain (Glaser, G.2017). As more people become mental health activist, they are exposing the plethora of issues surrounding the overall mental and physical stability of those who are negatively affected by the social construct of what it means to be normal.
There are so many types of mental illnesses that affect people every day. When some people think of mental illnesses they think of the ones that would cause people to have physical symptoms as well, but that’s untrue, there are many more that you would never know anyone has if you were to see them on the street. As defined by the 2008 encyclopedia “a mental illness is any disease of the mind or brain that seriously affects a person’s ability or behavior. Symptoms of a mental illness may include extreme moods, such as excessive sadness or anxiety, or a decreased ability to think clearly or remember well.” A mentally ill person has severe symptoms that damage the person’s ability to function in everyday activities and situations. Every nation and every economic level can be affected by a mental illness. In the United States alone about 3% of the population has severe mental illness and to add to that number about 40% of people will experience a type of mental illness at least once in their lives. Some cases of mental illnesses can go away on their own, but some cases are so severe that they require professional treatment. There is so much more available to help people recover from their symptoms than in the past.
Lysette Anthony once said “Mental Illness leaves a huge legacy, not just for the person suffering from it but for those around them”. Mental Illness affects our society in many different ways from our families all the way to our work environments. Mental Illness can affect our society mainly through medical cost, injuries, and even disability. Some people well, most people think that mental illness is just an health condition that changes people’s mood or feeling which it is but, it’s also a condition that may affect someone’s ability to function and when it affects someone’s ability to function then it’s affecting a lot of people in the world.
Stereotypes and stigmas promote a dangerous, single-minded perspective. These incomplete or half-truths are often far more duplicitous than lies, as they are more difficult to detect. When these perspectives remain unchecked, they can result in far-reaching, adverse consequences. It is the individual’s duty to refuse to perpetuate this single story perspective. Due to misinformation presented by the media, the stigma surrounding mental illness has created a discriminatory single story perspective; however, through honest and open dialogue, particularly with those suffering from these diseases, these stereotypes can be abolished.
Mental illnesses are common today and the stigmas that follow behind it. Stigmas can be created anybody including families, friends, co-workers, or even someone you don 't know. A stigma that is created usually sets a person apart from everybody else such as sexual orientation, gender or physical disabilities. A person with a mental illness is frequently labeled as a stereotype which can create negative attitudes.
NAMI describes themselves “as the most formidable grassroots mental healthy advocacy organization”. This organization was formed in 1979. The basis of their believe and drive is that mental health effects everyone. The mission of NAMI is to eradicate mental health illness and to improve the quality of life for those suffering with a mental health illness. NAMI offers support, education, awareness, advocacy, and research. NAMI appears to have been created by family and those dealing with mental health illnesses. Members are those who are dedicated to improving the lives; anyone who wants to join can. This can consist of individuals who know someone who is affected by a mental health illness, someone struggling with one on, a family member, or anyone that wants to be supportive. NAMI’s encourages all to be involved to help and volunteer to create awareness, support, educate, and advocate.
Advocates for people with mental illnesses have urged the government
There are many ways in which the mentally ill are degraded and shamed. Most commonly, people are stated to be “depressed” rather than someone who “has depression”. It is a common perception that mental illnesses are not a priority when it comes to Government spending just as it is forgotten that most mental health disorders can be treated and lead a normal life if treatment is successful. The effect of this makes a sufferer feels embarrassed and feel dehumanized. A common perception is that they should be feared or looked down upon for something they have not caused. People experience stigma as a barrier that can affect nearly every aspect of life—limiting opportunities for employment, housing and education, causing the loss of family ...
The stigma is created by the lack of knowledge, narrow-minded attitudes, and the acts of judgment against people who have a mental illness. The stigma results in extensive consequences for the individuals being affected. The stigma ends up becoming worse than the mental illness itself because it prevents individuals from seeking help during the early stages of the mental illness. There is even a vast availability of mental-health treatments that are effective, yet the majority of people experiencing problems related to mental-health does not seek help. 28% of the adult population of the United States have a diagnosable mental condition and only 8% seek treatment. These statistics help prove that stigma is one of the main reasons for individuals not willing to seek help. The individual fears being stigmatized. They fear being rejected by their loved ones and the general public. They do not want to be devalued. The way that individuals with mental illnesses are called “the mentally ill” in the media just makes the stigma even worse. This makes the person feel defined solely by their disability, which is inhumane. The person begins to feel less of a human being. In the media, they are viewed as being dangerous and violent, which results with inhumanity towards the individual. This just increases the negative stereotypes towards individuals with a mental
With so many inaccurate an unfair public perceptions to individuals with a mental illness may be responsible for the violent crimes being committed in neighborhoods and all around the world. When a violent crime has been committed the media will always link it to a person being mentally ill. Which can be damaging to the people who really suffer from a mental illness. They may be to embarrass to seek medical care, causing a fear of them being judged. Others may not really care on the person’s wellbeing and think that all people who commit violent crimes should be considered with having some type of mental illness
In some cases the causes of mental illness primarily found inside the individual. Some of them have been associated with an abnormal balance of neurotransmitters in the brain. If they are out of balance the communication between nerve cell in the brain disrupted (Royal Australian and New Zealand College of psychiatrist, 2005). Hence, leading to symptoms of mental illness like depression, schizophrenia. On the other hand, genetics also plays a significant role to acquire mental disorder, which is passed...
Mass media “references to people with mental health problems found more than four in ten articles in the press used derogatory terms about mental health and nearly half of press coverage related mental illness to violence and crime” (Esseler, 244). This is causing for people to look down upon the mention of mental illnesses and many times ignore the importance of confronting this issue. Therefore the importance of removing this stigmatization is crucial. Education allows to make more informed decisions and then changing the perception of mental illness can lead towards policy changes toward the improvement of mental health (Sakellari,