Positive And Negative Messages About Mental Illness Essay

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The positive and negative messages about mental illness
A positive message Foster, Krasnoff and Wright (2008) portrays is that people with schizophrenia can be functioning and intelligent individuals. Although Nathaniel displays mild symptoms of schizophrenia, he can function well in society, considering the fact that he is homeless. Despite Nathaniel’s disorder, he can hold stable and meaningful interpersonal relationships with others, as observed in his relationship with Steve. Studies have shown that people with schizophrenia do not always act abnormally and can appear completely normal and be perfectly responsible, even with the experiences of hallucinations or delusions (Lake, 2012). Nathaniel is an intelligent individual that tries to
Therefore, Foster, Krasnoff and Wright (2008) demonstrates that people living with schizophrenia need all the love and support that a regular person needs. Although the power of friendship changed Nathaniel 's life, without treatment, he was still suffering from the symptoms of schizophrenia. Hence, treatment is still vital to help the mentally ill to be stabilised and to function well in society (Gleitman et al., 2011). It implies that people suffering from mental health issues cannot not be merely defined as 'crazy ' individuals. The majority of patients are human beings who are sick and are need of help that must be sustained over time. According to those in mental health fields, many people do not seek professional help because of the stigmatisation of mental illness (Laroi & Linden, 2009). Stigmatisation has a number of negative consequences, such as increased symptoms and stress, but more importantly, assimilation into society becomes difficult for people diagnosed with a mental illness (Laroi and Linden 2009). To ensure that the mentally ill can receive treatment and assimilate back into their communities, the stigma and myths about mental health must be addressed to educate the general public, so they can understand the struggles that these patients go through and to offer hope, compassion and support for this

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