How Mental Illnesses Are Caused By Biological Changes

“Nearly 5 million children in the U.S. have some type of mental illness” (Goldberg). It is agreeable that there are many young children that deal with mental illness every day. Schools should be concerned for every student’s well being. Moreover, mental health is a part of a person’s overall “well being.” Therefore, schools need to make the mental health of students a stronger focus and implement plans to keep students mentally well and educated. To help create a positive, mental health aware environment where students feel open to seek help, high school students should be educated on how to be mentally healthy, be given a safe place to seek help, and be encouraged to monitor and maintain their mental health. Mental illness and mental health care need to be a more eminent priority in our society, starting with high schools.

According to NAMI, The National Alliance of Mental Illness 1 in 5 adults experience a mental health condition yearly. 1 in 20 people live with a serious mental illness like, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Not only does the person who is directly experiencing a mental illness suffer, but the family, and friends are also highly affected. NAMI states that 50% of mental health conditions begin by age 14 and 75% of mental illnesses develop by age 24. Each year, 1 in 5 children from the ages 13-18 experiences a mental illness reported by NAMI. That’s a large amount of our young generation. Three out of four people with a mental illness report that they have experienced stigma, a mark of disgrace that sets a person apart according to the

With greater education comes greater understanding. The public—and high school students, in particular, as many mental illnesses manifest around puberty—should be educated, because most stigma is caused by misinformation. People around the community can also make an effort to eliminate the stigma against bipolar disorder by refusing to discriminate against those with mental illness, getting to know those that are personally affected by mental illness, offering support—but not pity—to those that are suffering, refusing to label or judge based on false beliefs, sharing how they have been affected by mental illness, and, possibly most importantly, standing up and speaking out when they hear their peers display negative attitudes and false beliefs about mental illnesses (Mental Health Commission of Western Australia). If an effort is made to educate the public about mental illness, the stigma against mental illness and all the harm that comes with it can be

For years the nurture versus nature debate has been argued by people around the world. Mental disorders are one of the main topics discussed among these people. Mental disorders apply to many mental health conditions that can affect someone’s emotions, logic, and attitude. According to The Kim Foundation, 26.2 percent of Americans who are 18 or older suffer from

A common theme in today’s world is ensuring everyone has equality and is treated with dignity and respect. By taking the perspective of a person with a mental illness, society can create better treatment opportunities. This can come in the form of better healthcare or spreading awareness of different treatment options. In addition, society can begin to sympathize with individuals affected by mental illnesses. Rather than ostracizing them, society can help these individuals lead a normal life and be assimilated into the normal world.

Further research topics include public interactions, and treatment for mental illnesses. Some mental illnesses require accommodations in pubic interactions in order to not overwhelm them. Therefore, an important topic would be to research how the public should interact with different types of mental illnesses in order to maintain healthy relationships that are vital for recovery or coping with the illness. Furthermore, researching treatments for mental illnesses would provide insight on ways for the mentally ill to cope with their illness besides relying solely on medication. Modifying the way people interact with the mentally ill would create positive relationships and help reduce the stigma.

Psychologically, people who suffered from mental illness are more likely to have being traumatised, being neglected, too emotional and sexually abuse. There are so many things that triggers mental illness which are low self-esteem, poverty, loss of job, anger, anxiety, death of loved ones like parents, friend or someone important, loneliness, adverse childhood experience, relationships and divorce.

It is estimated that 43.5 million Americans, adults 18 or older, live with mental illness. This number represents 18.1% of all U.S. adults (National Institute of Mental Health, 2014). Stigma toward those who are seen as different have existed for as long as civilization itself, with the stigma for mental illness being one of the most prominent and long lasting that society has had to face throughout its ages (Arboleda-Florez & Stuart, 2012). Increased understanding and awareness for those individuals suffering from mental illness is necessary for us to overcome the impacts stigma has on our society.

There has been a lot of research argued whether mental illness caused by genetics or environment. For many years, there has been some amount of research on whether mental illness is caused by genetics or environment. Through all the research that has been gone through, mental illness has been known to be caused by both genetics and environment.

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

During a mental health event the First Lady, Michelle Obama said, “At the root of this dilemma is the way we view mental health in this country. [...] Whether an illness affects your heart, your leg or your brain, it’s still an illness, and there should be no distinction.” This shows that mental illness stigma in society is based on mental illness being perceived more negatively than other physical illness when it should actually be seen as the same. Stigma around mental illness has had very immense adverse effects on the willingness of undiagnosed suffers to not seek treatment when they need it. As a result of this one in five people with a mental illness will not get the treatment they need which has the effect of high suicide rates among the untreated sufferers. In an effort to reduce stigma around mental illness, so that more undiagnosed sufferers seek treatment, schools should devote more time to increasing awareness of mental illness and its effects.

One of the many challenges in the field of mental health is the stigmatisation of persons with mental illness and those associated with individuals suffering from mental illness. As a result, more awareness of stigmatization on individuals with mental illness have raised efforts to mitigate the effects of stigma through protest, education and personal contact.

In 2013, the National Institute of Health reported approximately 18.5 percent of American adults and up to 20 percent of children and the adolescence populations has had or are currently suffering from a Mental Illness. Millions are diagnosed with this kind of condition every day; many do not realize they are suffering with a disorder so they are left untreated. Mental Disorders impacts a person’s way of thinking, feeling, reasoning and mood, it adopts his/ her ability to associate and operate with others on a day to day basis, some may exhibit physical health as well. Not only does this it take a toll on themselves but the people who surrounds them such as family, friends, co-workers

A predominately reoccurring social issues is the amount of stigma individuals dealing with mental health face. Before modern advancements in science and understanding mental health, people with mental health were viewed as an outsiders and dealt with difficulties in employment, education, and friendships. These individuals constantly have to alter their lifestyle due to the negative pressures society deemed upon them. Though mental health may not be as visible as physical health it should not face negative scrutiny. The “Imagining Intergroup Contact” a research team, conducted an experiment with trying to find methods in treatment of positive social encounters with people who are considered to be an out-group members of society due to mental

Many people often have stereotypes or stigmas regarding mental illnesses. There is a general public stigma that is overall expressed by people who may not have full knowledge over the importance of mental health. When referring to the stigma, people will usually say that those with mental illnesses are irresponsible, should be cared for, or should be feared and kept out of the direct community. All of these stigmas having to do with mental illnesses are false. Many people with mental illnesses are able to hold stable jobs, graduate from high school and college, and even live as good neighbors in a community. By creating this stigma, people are adding to the everyday challenges that people with mental illnesses are going through. We should aim to educate and stop the prejudice that is brought about by those who are not fully aware of the importance of mental health.