Mental Health plays a very important role in everyday life and the way that we go about our life. However, there are problems that concern themselves with mental health as well. What we choose was to not focus on a specific point in mental health, but rather to provide you with the information that will give you knowledge about mental health and its complications. However, the problem that our group is focusing on is the fact that too many people are ignorant or have assumptions/stereotypes about mental health and mental health problems. There are also others who discourage talking about the subject of mental health because they believe mental health problems are too private and can almost be considered taboo to talk about. Discussing mental
The social problem I have chosen to write about is mental illness. This problem is important to talk about “because of the number of people it affects, the difficulty of defining and identifying mental disorders, and the ways in which mental illness is treated” (Kendall, 2013, p. 227). “About 57.7 million people, or one in four adults, in the United States suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder” (Kendall, 2013, p. 229). “Many of these illnesses begin in childhood or adolescence, with the most common problems being anxiety disorder, mood disorders, impulse-control disorders, and substance abuse disorders” (Kendall, 2013, p. 229). I chose this topic because I wanted to learn more about how mental illness is a social problem and I have been interested in learning more about mental illnesses and how to help people with mental disorders.
The purpose of this survey was to assess people’s awareness and attitudes towards mental illness and to identify assumptions of professional people who are not in the healthcare field. With limited time constraints this was to serve as my “community at large”. The survey included these four questions: First, “Do you believe that the needs of mental health patients are as important as the needs of patients with physical health problems?” Next, “Do you believe that mental health issues should be kept private and should be off limits to outsiders?” Thirdly, “Do you currently know anyone suffering from mental health issues and if so, have they been able to access the health care system to receive the care they need?” Lastly, I asked people to comment on how well informed they thought they were about mental illness. For answers to the first question, six respondents felt that mental health concerns were equally as important as physical health problems and five people did not. Responses to the second question referring to keeping health issues private, nine people disagreed and two people agreed that this subject was off limits to outsiders. The third question asking if they knew anyone suffering from mental health issues, four respondents replied positively and if they received the care they needed two said “yes,” one said no and the fourth did not know. My last
We don’t talk about mental illness very much in church or society, but we should. We need to break the silence on mental illness, because it impacts our lives and the lives of people we love. In the United States, 1 in 5 adults experience a mental illness in a given year, and 1 in 20 lives with a serious mental illness, such as Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia. Over 7% of adults in the United States are currently experiencing depression. We need to speak up about mental illness because the stigma and shame that surround mental illness has gone on far too long, when it is a daily reality for so many.
Although society has made small steps towards the stigma of mental health there still needs to be significant changes that need to be made. It has taken several years and our journey to work through my own negative thoughts about mental health, but I believe that our journey is a small part in changing the views of society on mental health. If everyone took the time to consider their own attitudes and behavior towards mental health it would provide a better understanding of how negative view affects those who are suffering. This would be another small step to eliminating the stigma and discriminations of mental health.
The psychology of mental health in humans is something that researchers will never stop investigating. In the United States, mood disorders and anxiety are the most prominent mental illnesses found in adults, with nearly 9.6% being diagnosed with a type of mood disorder and 18% with anxiety. Children and adolescents can also struggle with mental health problems at a young age. The social stigma surrounding mental health is a problem because people are not properly informed on the actual effects that come with being diagnosed with a mental disorder. People with disorders are viewed as being a threat to others or thought to be crazy. This stigma can cause people to not seek help because they are embarrassed
When selecting my topic I tried to think of something i’m good at, a sport, a certain subject in school, or even my place of employment. Only one thing came to my mind that has affected me over the past few years and that has been mental illness. I’m very dedicated to removing the negative connotation on mental illness, by talking openly about it. In order to remove the stigma on mental illness it is very important to view it like you would if someone had a physical injury, don’t view it as an embarrassment or a weakness, and that patience is the key when talking to someone suffering from a mental illness.
The scope of research for the following literature review is an overall theme of stigmas placed on mental health. The identified problem addressed is the lack of education and exposure many have regarding mental health triggers, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. It is valuable for therapist to work as clinicians and educators to inform others about the true manifestation of mental health and the implications it has on individual’s lives. Working diligently to educate others can ultimately reduce stigmas associated with mental health. Consequently, increasing the willingness of those faced with mental health diagnosis to seek treatment. Also, it will help education friends, family members, and society about ways to support individuals
Mental illness is one of the primary causes of disability; thousands of people are affected by a mental illness each year and the numbers are only rising. Some people think that having a mental illness is bad and will not want to tell anyone, “We need to take away that shame, that embarrassment, let people know that they are not alone, that when the clouds descend, they do not have to suffer silently” (Riley-Smith par 8). Not enough states or people are caring about the seriousness of a mental illness. Mental illness is a huge concern because it can lead to PTSD, eating disorders, or depression in any part of the world.
In society mental illnesses are seen as more of a "suck it up" type thing rather than a "take as much time as you need" thing. If someone were to say they had cancer you'd feel sympathy for them, when someone says they have depression you feel uncomfortable and unsure how to respond. Talking about mental illness is a very uncomfortable topic in general, and instead of confronting the stigma we push it off and brush off the severity of this stigma. This stigma has caused a lot of harmful things to happen to the people with mental illnesses in everyday life and even in the medical field. In this essay we will go over the stigma that mental illness in our society and current culture.
Approaching mental health as public health issue is a highly controversial matter, especially when the public is not educated or already have there own bias towards mental health. I feel that mental health is a public health issue and a major concern that should be addressed by local and state officials along with health care professionals and the community in general. Due to the limitations of mental health facilities and providers, most of these patients require hospitalization due to their illness, or end up in correctional facilities due to the behaviors related to there mental illness. Improving access to impatient and outpatient clinics is a concern for most patients who suffer from mental health issues. Most patients with mental health concerns are unable to keep up with job demands and tend to have no form of insurance, which leaves them with very limited resources for help or therapy. I have had the privilege of working with students within an inpatient facility for adults and children with mental health related disorders and one major concern for these patients was the stigma that came along with there condition.
Throughout history, those with mental disorders have been revered as deities for their unusual mindset, or have been viewed with revulsion and fear. Since the founding of the United Nations in October of 1945, the concept of mental health and hygiene have gained international acceptance. (“Mental Hygiene”) Acceptance is the key word. Though mental disorders have become a more observed and better treated medical condition, the public has yet to span the final gap of treating these patients as what they are, human beings. We need to increase our understanding and alter our perception of mental disorders so we can move towards a supportive society in which we are not afraid, but open and accepting.
How do mental illnesses impact people’s lives and what are the best forms of treatment? There is a great number of people dealing with mental health across the world. The common issues that several people deal with include anxiety and major depression disorder. This can affect one’s way to think positively and live happily. As people, we all have emotions and we get stressed but, anxiety and major depression disorders take a different toll on some people that can become life-threatening and jeopardous to others around.
I was born into a family of medical professionals ranging from doctors, nurses and medical professors; hence my undeniable passion and interest in healthcare but most emphatically in Psychiatric Mental Health. I believe that mental health is a socially constructed and defined concept, implying that different societies, groups, cultures, institutions and professions have diverse ways of conceptualizing its nature and causes, determining what is mentally healthy and unhealthy, and deciding what interventions, if any, are appropriate.
In the United States, there are many people who suffer from a mental illness. Mental illness is described as causing disruptions in one’s emotional state, thought processes, and behaviors. When analyzing this this concept, one can see that mental illness is a blanket term that encompasses a wide array of mental disorders that range from mild or to severe. No one completely understands the direct cause of mental illness. Some believe that it is attributed to a biological component which argues that it is a bodily process or chemical imbalance in the brain. On the other hand, others argue that mental illness has more to do with the psychological aspect which states that one’s environment and upbringing has a huge influence. Whatever the case may be, mental illness is definitely occurring within our society, and this is a very important issue that needs to constantly be addressed. Too many times within our society, mental illness goes unaddressed because it is not discussed as much as it should be, people stay in denial so they do not admit they have an issue; thus foregoing, treatment due to taboo; some may not know they have an issue; or some may know they have an issue but do not have the appropriate resources to get the assistance needed for treatment. In this paper, I am going to address a case study of a client who is actually aware of
In today’s society we often do not take into consideration the severities of people with different conditions, especially mental illnesses. We also forget to recognize how privileged we are in terms of physical health, mental health, and the environments we live in. The lack of regard for mental health issues is not new in society, this has been a recurrent problem for decades. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest brings to light mental illness in the early sixties where psychological medicine was improving and the practice of psychology was becoming more prominent and referred to by doctors.