There are many aspects of mental health that should be considered when working in the field of social work. One major aspect of mental illness the personal definition of mental illness, because it impacts any biases that may be held. Personal biases shape reactions and may impact the success of treatment if a client falls within the biases. There is also the impact of how society views mental illness also can stop those who have mental illness from receiving the support they need. When thinking about mental health what comes to mind is that it is such a vague term. My idea of what mental health is working on issues that have roots in the mind. It could be anything from eating disorders, hoarding, emotional issues that cause behavioral …show more content…
While my biases are personal they may impact me in the practice setting. There is possibility that during practice I may run into a client that has an mental illness and does not receive treatment. The best thing to do would be work through my biases because no matter how professional I am they will impact my thinking. If that is not successful, I would have to refer that client to anther who can provide unbiased services. While I have personal biases there are also biases that society in general have that be seen how people react. Society looks at those with mental illness different ways; the most common are fear and scorn. Many people fear what they do not understand and mental illness fall under that. Because of lack of understanding of what mental illness is there is often fear and even scorn for those who have any sort of mental illness. Most of those who I know look down on those with mental illness and blame them for the symptoms they have. They feel like they are not working hard enough or just are crazy and should be sent away somewhere. That attitude can be seen commonly in media and those who are shown to have an mental illness loose respect because they have an mental illness. There are many ways that people can react to mental illness and it all goes back to how people see mental health. The way that people see mental health shapes their personal biases and how they will be able to treat those who have a mental illness. One
People with mental health issues have been viewed and treated in a variety of ways within western society throughout time. Historically if an individual displayed behaviours which disrupted their function in society and defied social norms they were viewed as lunatics, insane or even cursed (Cowan, 2008; Elder & Evans & Nizette, 2009). It is from these past issues that many people still have unreasonable thoughts about mental illness; their misconceptions have created unreasonable fears and negative attitudes toward those who experience it. This negativity brings for many the barriers of not only
Mental health stigma can be divided into two distinct types: Social stigma – Social stigma is extreme disapproval of (or discontent with) a person or group based on socially characteristic grounds that are perceived, and serve to distinguish them, from other members of a society. Stigma may then be affixed to such a person, by the greater society, which differs from their cultural norms. Self-stigma – Is the internalizing by the mental health sufferer of their perceptions of discrimination. Those with mental health needs have shame of reporting as they may think that no one believes them.
In my future social work career, it is imperative to be cognizant of my personal experiences and preconceptions regarding mental illness. As I participant in evaluation and diagnosis of mental illness, I will utilize a blank slate mentality. I will strive to prevent previous clients’ behavior, the individual’s current diagnoses, and personal judgments to cloud my diagnosis or interactions.
Although stigmatizing attitudes are not only relatable to mental illness, the public attitudes towards mental illness tend to be more disapproving than towards people with physical illnesses (Piner and Kahle, 1984; Socall and Holtgraves, 1992; Weiner, Perry and Magnusson, 1988). Those with mental illnesses are viewed as being more likely to be responsible for their mental illness (Corrigan et al., 2000; 105). This assumptions is more towards those who suffer from substance additions and eating disorders rather than those who suffer from conditions such as schizophrenia (Angermeyer and Matschinger, 2004). Such attitudes as these therefore lead to discrimination. People in society are less likely to employ (Bordieri and Drehmer, 1986) and rent apartments (Page, 1977) to those suffering from mental illness, citizens are also more likely to direct false accusations of violence to the mentally ill. (Explaining the increased arrest rate among mental patients: a cautionary note, 1980; Steadman, 1981)
Throughout history people who have a mental health illness are not accepted in society. The attitudes of people in society, for example the workplace, is an important measure of the success of that society. Segregating people with mental illnesses from society, by putting someone in a institute, contributed to the attitude that an individual with mental illness are not capable of participating or contributing in society. These negative stereotypes are often portrayed in media, and influence the stigma of mental health illness being dangerous. This controversial concept of dangerousness states that individuals with a mental illness are more dangerous than those without a mental illness. Various forms of discrimination and exclusion in society is still present today. If society begins to understand mental illness, then they will judge a lot less. Success in that society will come when society accepts other people who are different
They feel like it's better to leave them alone as an outsider. People around the world have trouble understanding mental illnesses. “Stigma arises from a lack of understanding of mental illness, and also because some people have negative attitudes or beliefs towards it”. NP: This statement highlights that stigma has two main factors.
Mental health patients are often shunned and experience discrimination by mental health professionals due to the social stigma attached to them. Though, healthcare system is a place where mental health patients should be dealt with kindness and compassion so that their disorder or disease is well treated. Shunning and neglecting attitude by mental health professionals is not very uncommon because they are not very optimistic about the results of the mentally ill patients (McDaid, 2008).
When my mom was first diagnosed with a mental illness, rumours and gossip spread quicker than wildfire. No one, not even my family and I, understood what was going on. All we saw was my mom acting like somebody else. “Crazy” became a word attached to her like a tail is attached to a dog. No matter who explained it or how many times it was explained many people could not see past their narrow views. It is common that people do not like what they do not understand. How can something be understood if it is not physical, not seen? There are many negative attitudes towards mental illness. It is misunderstood and is given less sympathy than a physical illness such as cancer. Often times when people are diagnosed with a mental illness they are automatically deemed crazy. We live in a time were normal is
The stigma of mental illness can sometimes make people feel embarrassed to be around, or to just stay as far away from people who suffer with such illness. In two studies in the UK with a ten year gap there was little change recorded in the statistics, ”over 80% endorsing the statement that “most people are embarrassed by mentally ill people”, and about 30% agreeing “I am embarrassed by mentally ill persons”’ (Huxley 1993). One such label to label such people is maniaphobia which means the fear of being mentally ill and the mentally ill which in some extreme cases could explain their situation and their possible fear. Which makes the peoples who are mentally ill or have mental illness are less likely to tell close family and friends which could help them understand their situation better. As well as help them get treatments or a diagnosis to help with peace of mind. Sometimes they are told but refuse to believe that such things exist or that they are weaker than others or selfish. The mentally ill sometimes stigmatize themselves, “there are numerous personal accounts of psychiatric illness, where shame overrides even the most extreme of symptoms,” (Peter Byrne). They feel like people won’t accept them or that they are somehow different so they lock it away and sometimes don’t
Mental illness involves mental health disorders that affect people's mood, thinking, as well as behavior. Mental illness varies from depression, anxiety disorders, addictions, and schizophrenia. Everyone has a mental concern at one point in his life, but it becomes a concern when there are continuous signs or symptoms that cause stress affecting the functioning ability of a person. Mental illness makes people miserable and inhibits their ability to operate effectively either at work or in school. Medical practitioners describe mental illness in different ways, including conditions characterized by the impairment of a person's normal cognitive nature, psychological, emotional or behavioral functioning. A
Or they see them as violent and aggressive, but the truth is a person with mental health problems is more likely to be harmed or to harm themselves than someone else. The only reason a mentally ill person is violent or aggressive is from the lack of treatment and care. According to Mental Health Foundation, “People with mental health problems say that the social stigma attached to mental ill health and the discrimination they experience makes their difficulties worse and make it harder to recover.” People with a mental health problem have to battle their condition everyday on two ends. Frist they have to deal with their mental illness itself. Then they have to learn how to live with it in a world filled with stigma and discrimination. Society doesn’t understand that the mentally ill are not their mental illness. They are human beings first, they have likes, dislikes, hobbies, skills, fears, dreams and passions just like we do. As I mentioned before Liza Long, the author of the article “I am Adam Lanza’s Mother”, has a son with a mental health problem, but he is also a “13-year old genius who loves Harry Potter and his snuggle animal collection.” Many people with mental health problems have jobs, family, school, friends, pets, businesses and responsibilities like we do. A number of people with a mental health condition learn how to cope with
Mental health, one in four Americans each year develop mental health conditions and half will develop mental disorders in their life time (Boerner, H. 2014). Mental health is considered an illness one that effects your daily life and causes you to be unstable, mental illness effects all age groups, races, social groups, religions, and targeting them all equally (Batnitzky, A., Hayes, D., & Vinall, P.E. 2014). There are several types of professionals that work to treat and aid those suffering from mental conditions and disorders such as; counselors/ therapist, social workers, psychiatric technicians and aids, and many others.
Stereotypes are made about groups of people in every class, country and race. The mentally ill are no exception to this fact. Mental illness has no bounds and can affect anyone, whether rich or poor, American or Canadian, black or white, it does not matter. People with a mental illness or disorder are looked at as dysfunctional, violent, unsuccessful, and even foul-smelling individuals. People with extreme cases of mental illness, such as schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder, are often called crazy, insane, and mad when in actuality they are acting in a radical way because of something that these individuals cannot control or express in ways that is understandable to people without these disorders. Throughout history people with mental illness have been misunderstood. Insane asylums were used to imprison people with a mental illness when all they really needed was medical attention. In order to combat this stigma an understanding of symptoms and treatments for the mentally ill is necessary. Once their problems are understood people will find it easier to walk in their shoes and will probably be kinder to those with a mental illness. When this happens the stigma will dissolve and eventually disappear entirely and people with mental illness will finally be treated the way they deserve, with respect. Understanding mental illness is the first step to defeating an ignorant society and ending a terrible stigma.
I like to simplify it this way we all go through hardships and hard times there isn’t anything abnormal about that. Well mental illness is just one of those injuries you get from your hardships. Like if you fall and bruise your knee, that’s completely normal. You also automatically know what to do, get your first aid kit and care for your injury as you were educated. Also if it was a more serious injury or sickness, you’d go to a doctor who is a professional to help you and educate you about what to do. But let us reverse the tables now what if it was a mental illness, would you know what to do or even be able to identify it. If we think about the current times the answer would most likely be no, which would cause you not to care for your injury and it will worsen as time passes because it didn’t receive the proper treatment. That will cause you to notice it after it's too late and it has become this thing that has been eating your life away without your awareness. At times people won't admit it or know of its existence, even after it became so huge; which again proves how uneducated we are about mental health, and how we blindly follow the stigma without seeking the needed
There lies a hidden anxiety in every part of society towards those with a mental illness. A panic that consists of the individual becoming a threat to those around them or a threat to their own physical well-being. For instance, as stated by Stephen Rice, Jessica Richardson, and Keegan Kraemer in “Emotion Mediates Distrust of Persons with Mental Illnesses”, A very popular belief relating to this is “that individuals with a mental illness are either very dangerous, violent, or both (3).” In addition, Rice, et al. further state “ that due to the unfortunate portrayal of individuals with mental illnesses in media as those who cause harm with no remorse, consequently this belief is just strengthened even more in society (5).” Though mental illnesses