Mental Illness : A World Full Of Confusion And Misunderstandings

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 effects of self-stigma can lead to a lack of self esteem, lack of confidence, isolation and the increased likelihood of avoiding professional help for their illness. This then has an over all affect on quality of life and where one sees themselves fitting within society (Barney, Griffiths, Jorm & Christensen, 2005; Griffiths & Christensen, 2004; Newell & Gournay, 2000).

People suffering from mental illnesses are isolated and viewed as strangers in society. They are viewed as dangerous or aggressive, which increases the likelihood of being discriminated against. These two factors will lead to social distancing, which is the greatest contributor of the stigmatization of mental illness. Without creating awareness of mental illnesses, the stigmatization is likely to remain the same and there will always be a separation between those with a mental illness and those

Forget all the stereotypes of mental illness. It has no face. It has no particular victim. Mental illness can affect an individual from any background and the black community is no exception. African Americans sometimes experience even more severe forms of mental health conditions because of unmet needs and barriers to treatment. According to the Office of Minority Health, African Americans are 20 percent more likely to experience serious mental health problems than the general population. That’s why UGA third year Majenneh Sengbe is taking action as the co-founder of her upcoming organization Black Minds Daily.

The stigma label could increase his perception of hopelessness, which, in turn, perpetuates or magnifies the cycle of the illness. His family may feel the effects of the stigma since many people mistakenly consider all mental disorders to be either genetic or the result of an unfavorable upbringing. This, in turn, can erroneously create the family’s feelings of unfounded guilt or embarrassment. His friends and others in his support system can also be negatively impacted by the stigma simply from an association standpoint, possibly resulting in them distancing themselves from an already somewhat isolated patient. So the stigma exasperates the patient’s internal negative perceptions and can externally create conflict between him and those closest to him.

While the treatment methodology for mental illness has improved over the last few decades, the negative stigma surrounding those who seek care is still a major roadblock. (Corrigan, 2004) To better understand the term stigma, the definition must first be examined. According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary Stigma is defined as “a set of negative often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something; a mark of shame or discredit.” (Stigma, 2015). These views are often

Within the past two decades there’s been a revival in efforts to reduce stigmatization attached to mental illnesses. It was concluded that if mental illnesses were perceived better as ‘real’ diseases by the public that stigma would go down greatly. Reports proposed the idea that better scientific understanding of mental illnesses by the general public could greatly reduce stigma. Stigma is intensely rooted in social and cultural norms it’s patterns devalue and dehumanize groups of individuals within society (in this case mentally ill people). Stigma constructs barriers for individuals, barriers that limit a person’s abilities to have equal opportunities for employment, safe housing, health care and social relationships.Efforts to reduce stigma in recent years have

We all know that mental illnesses are a serious and important health problem that impacts thousands of people every day. Nowadays, we have technology to better the lives of the mentally ill, but back then it was very different. People thought that the mentally ill had no feelings and they didn't try to help them. It wasn't until a woman named Dorothea Dix made a discovery that would stop the mistreatment and make sufferers lives better.

A stigma can simply be defined as a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality or person. In the world of mental health the presence of a stigma is astronomical. As Bill Clinton once said, “Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of but stigma and bias shame us all.” (Clinton) False beliefs about mental illness can cause significant dilemma. People may face discrimination at work or school and endure bullying or harassment. Such discrimination and harassment can have a profound effect on individuals. “It can cause embarrassment and shame, leading those with illnesses to try to conceal their problems and avoid help.” (Toyoshiba) But what exactly is mental illness?

Mental illness dates back to the 1800’s. Most who were determined to have a mental illness were placed in prisons, or chambers to protect society as they were seen as wild and dangerous. There was no real change to the treatment of mentally ill individuals until Dorothea Dix, a schoolteacher and American activist, began a movement to change the way the mentally ill were seen and treated in society. Centers, or institutions were built to reside mentally ill individuals to fully care and provide treatment for them. Unfortunately, many of these institutions were closed down due to improper care of the patients by the staff, an uneven staff to client ratio, and the institutions were underfunded. Society began to realize that this particular population was unable to fully care for themselves as many of those who were deinstitutionalized from the institutions were left homeless, broke and untreated. An individual, Clifford Beers, who experienced first hand the abuse and maltreatment of those who were institutionalized, sparked a mental health reform movement with an autobiography, A Mind That Found Itself, which tells about the time he spent within the institution. His autobiography began the movement towards many historic Acts that would help

In 1961 Thomas Szasz penned a book by the title The Myth of Mental Illness that would go on to cause quite the stir in the world of psychiatry. In the book, Szasz stated his belief that what most psychiatrists would label as mental illnesses are in fact not illnesses at all, but instead what he would go on to call “problems in living.” This article will take a critical approach at Szasz reasons for his belief in these “problems in living” including an objective outline of his argument, a discussion on the validity of the argument and its’ premises, and finally the strongest objections to the argument. Szasz is an important figure in modern psychiatry and his opinions are very divisive but certainly worth discussing.

Stigma is a negative attribute imposed by society on people that can cause discrimination. Stigmatized people lacks social acceptance because they possess traits that damage their identity and prevent them from being part of society. According to Goffman, they are three types of stigma: 1) defects of the body, such as physical abnormalities, 2) defects of character, such as mental illness, 3) tribal stigma of race, nation and religion that can be transmitted through lineage. All these are undesirable differences that set stigmatized people apart from what society considered normal. For instance Alcohol dependence is a form of addiction and a disease like any substance drug addiction. What is addiction you may ask? Well the national institute on drug Abuse defines addiction as a “chronic, relapsing brain disease” that changes the structure and functionality of the brain (The Fix, p. 1).

Stigma has been said to be “a feeling of being negatively differentiated owing to a particular condition, group membership or state in life”(Arboleda-Florez & Stuart, 2012, p. 458). There are typically two types of mental illness stigma that are discussed. Public stigma, also known as societal stigma, is the stigma associated with the prejudicial attitudes the public holds towards those people who suffer from mental illness (Arboleda-Florez & Stuart, 2012; Corrigan, Markowitz, Watson, Rowan & Kubiak, 2003). Self-stigma, also known as internalized stigma, is the loss of self-esteem, withdrawal, and personal shame that some with mental illness will experience. Self-stigma is usually developed when those who suffer from mental illness associate the negative stereotypes the public holds with themselves (Chronister, Chou, & Lieo, 2013; Corrigan et al., 2003).

There are many stigmas, or misconceptions and misperceptions in our society which need to be shattered. I believe that one of the worse possible effects of stigma is that it causes those affected by psychological disorders, or mental illness, to crawl more deeply into themselves because it provokes a sense of shame. Stigma thrusts those suffering with mental illness into a sense of isolation, social exclusion, and discrimination. “Stigma can lead to discrimination … It may be obvious or direct … Or it may be unintentional or subtle…” (Staff). Stigma is often as big as the illness itself and I confess to having been a perpetuator of this dreaded thing, although not consciously aware and without the intent of furthering the harm of someone.

Individuals with serious mental illness are doubly affected by their disease; not only do they experience the often debilitating symptoms of their condition, but they must also endure mundane mental health stigmas and prejudices. Stigmatized attitudes are perceived to be one of the greatest impediments to living a complete and fulfilling life. Stigma has been defined as a combination of three related problems: ignorance, prejudice and discrimination (Rose, Thornicroft, Pinfold, & Kassam, 2007). Ignorance implies a lack of knowledge, prejudice entails negative attitudes, and discrimination involves exclusionary actions against people deemed to be different. Two forms of stigma are commonly distinguished in literature. Public stigma describes the attitudes of society towards people with mental illness, while self-stigma results from the internalization of prejudice by people who suffer from mental health conditions (Corrigan, Powell, & Rüsch, 2012). The World Health Organization announced that stigma was the most crucial obstacle to overcome for a community to functioning effectively and efficiently (Ontario Hospital Association, 2013).