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Normality Of Mental Health By The Numbers

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Normality. According to Dictionary.com, it is defined as, “conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural” (“Normality” np). Based on this constraining definition, it seems that no one could ever reach “normality” because no one individual could ever conform to every one of society's standards. However, because they are societal standards they become altered, in line with trends and differentiating stances within communities. Throughout history, these standards have shaped people's behavior, defining who can and who cannot be accepted throughout their entire lives. Those who are not accepted are deemed as slovenly, outcasts to the rest of the world, and sadly many of those are individuals with mental illnesses,…show more content…
Large medical advances have been made and presently, we, as a society, are able to better treat mental illnesses that can accurately be diagnosed. Consequently, it seems that there is a much larger prevalence and awareness of such diseases as one study reports that 1 in 5 adults in America experience a mental illness (Mental Health By The Numbers” np). Fortunately, resources are readily available for these individuals, that display the many options for treatment, such as therapies and medications, while allowing for them to preserve their anonymity (“Treatments for Mental Disorders” np). But despite having such easily accessible treatments, “nearly 60% of adults with a mental illness didn’t receive mental health services in the previous year” (“Mental Health By The Numbers” np). This refusal of potentially life changing remedies illustrates the obvious fear these individuals still face, the fear of invalidation and in the eyes of doctors, one most likely instilled in them by the widespread torture brought upon mentally ill patients in the past. These long gone practices still shape the way people interpret mental illnesses from both medical and social…show more content…
The large awareness of mental diseases is obvious, yet it is still apparent that many believe people with such illnesses are to be outcasted from the world because they are not fit for society. For this reason, they are discriminated against in all aspects of their lives. They are confined to small-minded stereotypes that define their whole existence, as if no person and no illness can be different from one another. Many are completely outcast from society as they become homeless or put into prisons. Approximately 26% of homeless adults living in shelters have serious mental illnesses and approximately 24% of state prisoners have recently had a mental health conditions (“Mental Health By The Numbers” np). Such large statistics can lead individuals to believe that all people living with mental disorders are unsuccessful and slovenly, leading them to be left on the street, or all are dangerous and intended for a criminal lifestyle, leading them to be put in correctional facilities. Such continues the cycle of more stereotypes being created, more oppression, and more statistics of how the mentally ill are incapable of leading a “normal” life. Because instead of realizing we, as a community, can help resolve these issues, we, as a judgemental society, make discriminatory
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