Social Problem : Mental Illness

Soldiers of the American Civil War were overwhelmed by a time where weaponry and technological developments were thriving. This brutal war changed the soldiers, both mentally and physically, and continued to have an impact throughout their entire lives. There were not only many deaths during the war, but also prior to the war as many soldiers took their own life. They would experience disturbing thoughts and events in their mind that could not be explained until they became known as mental illnesses. The exploration of psychological disorders following the Civil War improved medical diagnostic tools and the way patients were treated which transformed the treatment of mental illness by creating new ways of discovering illnesses, treating patients, and developing the foundation for the future of psychology throughout America.

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.

As defined by experts, a mental illness is a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and involves changes in thinking, emotion, behavior, interpersonal interactions, daily functioning, or a combination. The causes of mental illness are complex and vary depending on the theories associated to the different biological, psychological, and environmental factors. The etiology of mental illness is based on five broad models: biological, psychological, behavioral, cognitive, and social.

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 America (formerly known as the National Mental Health Association) is the country’s leading nonprofit dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives. With more than 320 affiliate nationwide, we represent a growing movement of Americans who promote mental wellness for the health and well being of the nation, every day, and in a time of crisis (2007 Mental Health America). As an organization, Mental Health America has been around for nearly a century. We began work in 1909 when Clifford W. Beers, a young business man who struggled with a mental illness and shared his story with the world in his autobiography “A Mind

In the First World War soldiers on the western front went through an enormous range of experiences from extreme boredom to appalling stress. The majority of soldiers fighting saw horrific things on a daily basis which none of us would like to, this triggered mental illness in the men. Also several other factors caused this like the awful conditions of the trenches and the way people were treated, it would have been very upsetting and disturbing.

It was not until the 1980’s that PTSD was considered an illness (Coleman 88). Plenty veterans were misdiagnosed

In 1946, President Truman signed the National Mental Health Act, allowing federal funds for education and research in mental health. By the time of the Great Depression and the World War II, asylums’ were in unsustainable conditions and traumatized veterans were returning home needing psychiatric attention. Also in a federal extent, Congress passed the Mental Health Study Act in 1955, establishing a commission to check policies and propose reforms in psychiatric treatments. Around that time the deinstitutionalization movement started changing the mental health picture.

Mental illness is a condition characterized by emotions, thoughts, or behavior that are substantially abnormal for a given time and place in history (p. 514). Historically, it has been broadly been defined by self-harm, unrealistic thoughts and perceptions (delusions, hallucinations, magical thinking, etc.), inappropriate emotions, and rapid shifts in moods or beliefs. All these criteria compare the

A mental disorder, also known as a mental illness or psychiatric disorder, is a diagnosis by a mental health professional of a behavioral or mental pattern

The American Civil War (1861-1865) and the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) mark the start of formal medical attempts to address the problems of military Veterans exposed to combat. European descriptions of the psychological impact of railroad accidents also added to early understanding of trauma-related conditions. In 1952, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) produced the first Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-I), which included "gross stress reaction." This diagnosis was proposed for people who were relatively normal, but had symptoms from traumatic events such as disaster or combat. A problem was that this diagnosis assumed that reactions to trauma would resolve relatively quickly. If symptoms were still present after six months, another diagnosis had to be

World War II differed from the Great War in its use of bigger and more devastating weapons and bombs, which placed our service members more at risk. Additionally, service members were put into smaller combat groups (fire teams, squads, platoons), which reduced the social interaction which may have been a protective factor for psychological afflictions during the first war. Indeed, the war took a tremendous psychological toll on service members, despite the new and approved extensive use of psychiatric screening for selection. Medical personnel were puzzled that although over one million military applicants were screened out and disqualified for different psychological reasons, there continued to be staggering numbers of psychiatric casualties

In 1946 the National Mental Health Act was established and signed by President Truman. This means that it took nearly 30 years of healthcare progression for the next major health reform could start. It was established due to enormous

WWII helped American psychiatry develop worldwide. In present day wars this changed, because more soldiers returned home with some post-war syndrome. Before then many of the soldiers received a diagnosis of Schizophrenia, Anxiety Neurosis, or Melancholia. After WWII, in 1952, the DSM-I had a new diagnosis called Gross Stress Reaction (GSR). GSR was a reaction that soldiers developed during combat. Experts thought once the soldier left from battling, it would better the situation. Soldiers with GSR experienced symptoms long after the war was

12. What is the definition of a mental disorder? Pattern of behavior that is associated with distress or disability in an important area of functioning, or with increased risk of death, suffering, disability, or loss of freedom.