Mental illness—the one thing that no one prefers to have. However, one in five adults, or 43.8 million people, in the United States experience some form of it in a given year (NIMH, 2015). Many close friends and family members have dealt with mental disorders; because of this, my perception and, in turn, how I act around these people has greatly been affected just by hanging around them. Additionally, I believe my personal faith has also shaped how I view those suffering from mental disorders. I hope to share my views on mental illness by demonstrating my experiences with family and friends, as well as with the Church.
“I’ve tried like five times…” my friend told one day as we were walking to class. “Five time?!” I exclaimed in disbelief.
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However, I have always perceived it to be some sort of demon possession or a way for people to gain attention, which are ideas I know are held by many Christians, including my own parents. In many ways, I believe this attitude towards mental illness have driven them away from church. Rather than treating them as a “normal person,” many Christians avoid them altogether; most tense up when in the same proximity. Additionally, the lack of teaching on mental health has caused many, including me, to form unhealthy opinions towards the matter. Prejudice and stigma labels these people “unclean” or “unholy.”
Ever since coming to college, however, those opinion have started to change. I have learned that the devil does not cause most cases of mental illness, but are rather due to varying factors in one’s life. Consequently, exorcising would not, in most cases, cure a person with schizophrenia, for example. Yet, I can see how many church communities can use this as an excuse to not deal with the underlying issues present with a person suffering from a mental disorder (I am talking mainly about anxiety, unipolar, and bipolar
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Many times we sympathize with those with mental illnesses; rather than reaching down to their level, we look down and simply say, “Aw, that’s too bad. I’m glad I’m not like you.” Yet, Christ calls us to help carry one another’s burdens, “to rejoice with those who rejoice, to weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15, ESV). How can we represent the body of Christ if we do not love well? How can we love well if we ostracize those that are suffering differently than we? I believe my personal experiences in Church, as well as in school have definitely changed my perspective on mental health. Through my journeys, I have come to the realization that everyone, not just those that are considered “normal,” deserves compassion and love, and I hope everyone else comes this realization as
Ever since the concept of mental illness became more mainstream, it has become a widely controversial topic. Based on what has been seen in society, people who are involved with mental disorders are often dehumanized in some way.
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
The book Loving a Beautiful Mind: Schizophrenia and an Amazing God (Xulon Press, 2017) by Carolyn Linn should get Christians talk about the challenges of mental health, especially when it could impact a marriage and family life.
For many centuries there has been multiple arguments about what causes mental illness. Hebrews believed that mental illness was a punishment from god for those who sinned. The way they cured one another was spiritually and through health. They believed that if you had a healthy diet that it would prevent you from any diseases. The physicians were also priests who had “special ways” to heal with higher powers. The biggest theory was that whoever had a mental illness was caused from supernatural forces. There had been many different treatments to help cure ones suffering. Dating back to 5000 BCE was the first treatment preformed on record, showing that one would chip a hole into the human skull to release evil spirits. Later on, the Ancient Egyptians
Both psychology and religion try to explain what it means to be human. Some Christians and some psychologists do view themselves as 'enemies.' These extremes are represented in Christian 'combatants' who view all of secular culture as suspicious and militant atheists who see all religions as superstation. But even the American Psychological Association demands that therapists honor and respect their patient's religious beliefs (Entwistle 2010: 137).Moreover, Christianity was at the forefront of even the earliest movements to provide care for mentally ill people (Entwistle 2010: 37).
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
The fourth common misconception is “If you loved Jesus more you would be happier.” The author compares this untruth as the Christian version of the common phrase “just try harder”. Loving Jesus would not stop a Christian from breaking their arm, the same as it would not stop someone from attaining depression. Jesus loves all people, even those who are ill. While the last mistruth is most likely the most debated saying, “You can’t be a Christian if you have a mental illness.” Saints in the church have fought with this for centuries. The article discusses the doubts and fears that people who suffer from mental illness go through. They believe God does not love them, because they are not perfect or their brain has a defect. The reality is Christians are humans who are broken, sick, and they need God’s healing just like everyone else. A lot of people dealing with mental health issues come to Christ to find support, love, and faith and conformation that it will get better. Both articles have excellent points, however, there is an opposite side of the
For many centuries, religious, spiritual and cultural beliefs preponderated societal actions and beliefs for those with mental illnesses. In ancient Greece, those with severe mental illnesses were abused because of the perpetuating belief that angry gods influenced them. Those suffering from mild mental illness faced disdain and humiliation. Prince (2003) even asserts “the cultural values of ancient Greece were precursors to the modern stigma that is associated with mental illness” (Kirby & Keon, 2004). In the middle ages, it was the belief that mental illness was routed to supernatural causes. It was believed that these individuals should be burned at the stake, hanged or decapitated to release their soul from being possessed by demons. The beliefs changed in the 17th and early 18th centuries to one that the physical state was impaired by those with mental illnesses because they had excessive passion they inflicted on themselves. These individuals were often physically restrained
Those with mental illness, and their families, have long been stigmatized in our society. Historically, patients were suspected of being demonic or possessed; their families were blamed for contributing to their derangement. Stereotypes of mental illness can lead to prejudice, and prejudice can lead to discrimination (Rosenberg & Rosenberg, 2013). This disposition is counterproductive to recovery. The introduction of the medical model of treatment helped reduce that stigma by shifting the blame away from individuals and families, and instead, referring to scientific rationalizations.
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
While there have been significant shifts in the understanding of mental health over the past 50 years, many of the responses to people with mental illness have changed very little. A shift
St. Peter's has established a health ministry. One of the charges of the health ministry was to establish a mental health subcommittee. One of its responsibilities is to continually bring to the congregation, through the Sunday bulletins, items about mental illness. We also put books in the library and a poster about support groups on the bulletin board. We let people know that others are up front about this. So, maybe they will come out of the closet and ask for the help they need from those of us who deal with this every day.
If people were to learn about the misconceptions in society about mental illness, they would have a better understanding that many ideas are not true. One misconception is that a mental illness is a sign of weakness (Morin 2). For example, depression is an illness where symptoms perceive as lazy or uneducated. Having a good job and wonderful relationship, but still managing not to get out of bed in the morning and get over yourself will be seen as weak to society. The fact is, mentally ill people are not weak, but strong. The fact that people with these mental health problems are pushing through the worst makes them strong, brave, and a
Common stigmas with mental illness include feeling as though you will somehow be threatened by the individual whose mind is not well. It is also thought that someone with mental illness may be obviously identifiable, such as someone who is unkempt, or does not exercise good hygiene. The media does its fair share of perpetuating and instilling these images that many of us have of someone who is mentally ill. Another stigma is that the person on the corner who may be talking or mumbling to himself and is wearing torn, tattered, and dirty clothing must be a drug addict and couldn’t possibly be very intelligent. We do not stop to think that his mind may be in the process of being tortured by voices and magnified sounds.
Mental health has been a topic of discussion and has held a stigma around it for numerous years. Society at times has viewed it in a closed minded view due to generational aspects and lack of understanding. With the lack of education on mental health, the society, cultures, and communities often times more than not stereotype and discriminate against those with mental health disabilities. The population, of which I have discussed previously, is a population with one of the most negative attitudes against them. Media and society views these individuals as psychopaths, sociopaths, and being insane with some people even go as far as indicating these individuals should not be living. With Antisocial Personality Disorder, media has portrayed these