The United States’ Lack of Mental Health Care

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Recommended: Historical background on mental health

About 75-80 million people in the United States are mentally ill to some extent (For the Mentally Ill, Finding Treatment Grows Harder). Many people are unaware of the treatments for the mentally ill and how few resources are available. Yes, if society looks from where society has come with the development of treatments, it has come a long ways. There is still more knowledge to be uncovered to ensure the United States gives the mentally ill care equal to what the United States gives the physically ill. Even though research has advanced immensely in the understanding of sanity vs. insanity, the United States needs to do more for those who are mentally ill through diagnosis and aid. “Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior” (Mayo Clinic). Mental disorders can happen many times through one’s life, but mental illness is classified as an ongoing problem with the symptoms that can affect the ability to perform normal day to day tasks (Mayo Clinic). Many people look at those afflicted with mental disorders as being crazy or clinically insane, while the reality is a problem many people live with on a daily basis with help from medications, psychologist visits, family, friends, help groups, and many other support systems. The lack of support available to mentally ill patients, the more that will refuse treatment and refuse to find help for their disorders. Many people who were born with mental disorders grow up knowing they have a problem, but people who develop them later in age don’t understand how to cope with it. In prehistory, the idea of a mental illness was challenging to comprehend. The people of these ancient times thought it was magical spirits o... ... middle of paper ... ..."10 Mind-Boggling Psychiatric Treatments." Mental Floss http://mentalfloss.com/article/31489/10-mind-boggling-psychiatric-treatments Fields, Gary. "For Mentally Ill, Finding Treatment Grows Harder." Wall Street Journal 16 January 2014. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304281004579218204163263142 Mayo Clinic. 2014. 18 March 2014 http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/basics/definition/con- 20033813 Society, British Psychology. Recent Advances in Understanding Mental Illness and Psychology Experiences. Leicester, 2000. http://www.schizophrenia.com/research/Rep03.pdf Thompson, Marie L. Mental Illness. Westport: Greenwood Press, 2007. University, Harvard. "The Prevalence and Treatment of Mental Illness Today." November 2005. http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Prevalence-and-treatment-of-mental-illness- today.htm

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