Mental Health Research Paper

As Americans it becomes natural to undermine those with a mental illness. As a fact, many adults and children deal with mental illness each and everyday. There are many stories that have been told to Americans about depression, anxiety, along with bipolar disorders, with the outcome usually being a negative consequence. For the 1 in every 5 citizens that deal with a mental illness each year. Americans have neglected the fact that many adults and children deal with mental issue(s), the citizens that refrain from getting help; their well being can suffer detrimental effects, there is not a lot of awareness either taught in school, or in public perspectives, American’s stigma has perfected their

It has always been easier to define mental illnesses than to define mental health. In the United States, the American Psychiatric Association has traditionally been the organization to define mental disorders (beginning as early as in 1917 when it was known as The Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions of the Insane). More recently many have recognized that mental health is more than the absence of mental illness.

Mental illness is not shameful, but stigma is. The stigma of mental illness is driven by fear and lack of knowledge. The solution to ending this stigma is education to dispel fear and lead to a society which acts with compassion.

Self-pity and pessimistic attitudes remain a topic of discussion with a mentally ill patient, however the more valuable picture revolves around the stigma that the public holds towards those with a mental illness. Unrun Ozer, member of International Committee of National Journal Editors, acknowledges that, “Stigmatization is described as attributing someone in a way that would decrease the person’s reputation because the individual strays away from the general norms of the society” ( 225). Ozer clarifies that a stigma is an unfavorable viewpoint that society has on someone that is perceived as different. Those with a mental illness are susceptible to vulnerability because they are at a small disadvantage than the normal person. Negative connotations, such as adverse viewpoints and perplexing labels, affect the care and treatment process of those suffering because their compliance to treatment decreases. Society is too quick to judge and be ignorant if someone isn’t in perfect form, and Ozer reports, “ It has been reported that individuals with mental illnesses are seen by the society as dangerous, frightening, unstable, irresponsible, unpredictable, and having communication problems” (Ozer 225). Ozer declares that these labels are degrading to an individual with a mental illness, and cause feelings of introversion, decreased self-confidence, worthlessness, shame and despair. If we want happiness to be achievable for all, then criticizing individuals is a step in the wrong

Although about 450 million people in the world currently are suffering from a mental illness, many untreated, the topic still remains taboo in modern society (Mental Health). For years, people with mental illnesses have been shut away or institutionalized, and despite cultural progression in many areas, mental illnesses are still shamed and rarely brought to light outside of the psychiatric community. The many different forms in which mental illness can occur are incredibly prevalent in the world today, and there is a substantial debate about the way that they should be handled. Some people are of the opinion that mental illness is merely a variance in perception and that it either can be fixed through therapy or should not be treated at

Crazies, loonies, insane, disabled, idiots, nuts, and schizos are just some of the many derogatory terms used to refer to the mentally ill. Mental illness is pushed under the rug and is considered a taboo subject in today’s world. Many think that since you cannot physically see psychiatric disorders, they are not real. Some believe people claim to have a mental illness so they can act out or not take responsibilities for one’s actions. So, even though we as a society are at the height of our research of mental illnesses and now know more than before, why do we still ignore it? Why do we not take it seriously? Sadly many, many people have been affected by the lack of communication concerning mental illness, its causes, and treatment. One of

There are a wide array of mental illness one could have: Eating Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Personality Disorders, Addiction Disorders, and many more. These illnesses can obviously injure a person’s mental/ psychological state as it makes a more person more pessimistic It leads their minds to a more dark and gloomy path, pushing them towards negative thoughts/emotions. When someone experiences a mental illness, there is a usually a noticeable change within their behaviour and mindset. Depending on the person, the impact of a mental illness is visible for the rest to witness. Additionally, there are statistics which further push the existence of mental illnesses. For instance, the CMHA revealed that young with mental disorders was the second most hospital care expenditure in this nation. If not treated immediately, these mental illnesses will damage oneself and the people around

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans suffer from a mental illness every year. Schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and more are all crippling diseases that have no absolute cure. Suffering silently, these people don’t know what help is. They do not have someone reaching out to them, giving them encouragement, taking them to therapy or doctor’s appointments. Too many people have to suffer with these disorders because Americans keep their heads down, and worry more about themselves. Mental illness is something that I am very passionate about, and I would like to help alter the way other people view these individuals.

Mental illness is an important topic to me because it hits close to home. At the age of six I was diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. ADD/ADHD is a mental disorder that you don’t outgrow, but over time you find ways to cope with the disorder. There are two classifications for this disorder, one is with hyperactivity which is what my daughter was diagnosed with and one without hyperactivity

There are many issues in the world that are in need of being addressed; one problem I'd like to concentrate on are the stigmas surrounding mental illness. 1 out of every 4 people will be diagnosed with a mental disorder in their lifetime, but only 2 in 3 people will seek help. Social stigma, discrimination, and the idea of being ostracized by society stop many from reaching out for the help they need. Often times, people do not understand the obstacles people with mental disorders face; those with mental disorders or disabilities are treated with prejudice and inequity. Those with a history of mental health issues are seen as attention seeking, they face isolation, and can be generally unhappy. People with psychiatric disabilities are

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.

Most people see mental illnesses as embarrassing or unacceptable but with the proper education on each disorder, we could drastically decrease the the amount of people that go undiagnosed with a problem like my mother’s. By teaching children that it’s okay to share their problems about mental illness and that they are not seen as a disappointment or be fearful of rejection, there could be so many less cases of depression and suicide around the world today. The decrease of stigma against mental illnesses in the Unites States, and worldwide, would raise the number of reported cases and ultimately help the worlds population as a whole.

Mental health—and the stigma that comes along with it—is a very important issue, one of global importance. Shah and Beinecke explain that 450 to 500 million people suffer from mental illnesses (15). Just considering the amount of people who suffer from mental illness is enough to prove that this is a global issue. Despite the large amounts of people who are affected by mental illness, only one third of countries have some sort of program to help (15). This shows the lack of concern for those who suffer from mental illness. Stereotypes affect many people, and those with mental illness are no exception. Everyone has their own preconceived perspectives and notions of mental health, and many of them are uninformed and unjustified. It is up to us to start changing our viewpoints on mental health.

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.

People have had mental illnesses since the beginning of time. In this generation, the right look and the right actions are what everyone is looking for. Perfection is the aim, to ¨fit in.¨ Though, when we see someone with a mental or physical illness, we automatically jump to the conclusion that those people are different and we can’t be seen with them for the sake of a simple reputation. People know that others who suffer from these illnesses are different, yet they don’t question what is happening to that person because of their mental illness or how much they’re outcast. This brief article is to show what exactly these people are going through. Mental illnesses such as dissociative identity disorder, social anxiety, bipolarism, post traumatic stress disorder, or obsessive compulsive disorder make some people stand out. They make the lives of people who have them very difficult and stressful. They do understand though when people are being mean; they might not understand why, but they know you’re not being kind.