Symptoms And Treatment Of Ill And Weak Individuals

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

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)

Individuals with a mental health illness tend to experience discrimination due to misinformation, assumptions and stereotyping. Many people in our society are not educated on the subject of mental illnesses and often have misconceptions about the conditions and what affects these pre conceived ideas can have on the individual suffering from the

"Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all."

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).

With this new understanding, the question again is raised as to how equality is achieved and how the stigma is stopped. In order to delve deeper into the question, it becomes necessary to examine how mental illnesses perceptions came about.

In a society where movies, television shows, social media, and even news articles are such a large part of the learning process for a person of any age, our world has helped display people that are “othered” or misrepresented for anything and/or everything; one group has suffered the effect of misrepresentation with movies from Forrest Gump to movies like Silver Linings Playbook. Throughout the years, there have been numerous forms of media that have helped show the struggles people with disabilities or mental illnesses face. People have depicted certain mental illness with a strong misrepresentation that everyone with that certain disability or illness must act and be the same. After doing some research on the topic

What does mental illness look like? Is it the “weird” kid at school that everyone bullies? Or maybe the latest hair-raising movie about a psycho killer? Mental illness is constantly construed and made to seem dangerous, unnatural, and sickening. Mental illness, as defined by Mayo Clinic, is simply a “disorder that affects your mood, thinking, and behavior”(Hall-Flavin). These people, who live with mental health issues, including one out of ten teens and one out of five adults, are often treated as if they are outcasts or different("Mental Health Myths and Facts."). From uncharged jailing to not being able to choose what is best for them to plain everyday interaction, persons with mental illness are ostracized and treated unfairly. As a

In the past, victims of mental illness have continued to be exploited, abused, and stigmatized. Often misunderstood, individuals suffering from behavioral, personality, mood, and other disabling psychiatric disorders have been the target of infamous horror films, needless imprisonment, and despicable medical and psychiatric institutions. For those of us with mental illnesses, this has created an environment catering to a series of hopeless, paranoid, lonely, and disparaging emotions; stunting their voice and ability to succeed in western culture. The ladder has formulated and promoted dangerous stereotypes that continue to poorly affect the way in which communities treats the mentally ill. In pursuance of a different reality, citizens must take responsibility and put efforts forth to redefine the societal perception of alternative thinking processes.

The growing population extends in diversity by the second around the world, for there is not a single human being identical to another. In terms of personality, looks, and interests, each individual creates a unique addition to our own developed society. Tolerance towards indifferences to the percent of population containing a mental illness needs to be expanded. Society needs to expose the reality of the multiplicity of individuals. Undeniably, different characteristics about a person should be identified. However, people should not be labeled with a diagnosis or a disorder due to their actions.The members of the world today have most likely experienced a form of mental instability at one point in their life. The education provided to the public concerning mental illnesses is limited, and perhaps not taken seriously. Addressing the problem and educating society 's people is the only way to reach a solution to a broad conflict. To expose the amount of people that struggle with an illness that disables them to act differently in situations would create a wider understanding of different reactions. Society has isolated these actions of mental illnesses as something to be ashamed of over time, and have discriminated these acts making them prohibited. To reach a solution of tolerance towards mental disorders, the combination of actions for addressing the problem, educating the public of the intolerance, and

If we take mental health and illnesses seriously and not as a joke, others would be willing to go out and seek help. A lot of people call others retard or stupid just because they are slower than people without a disability. People with mental diseases may be a bit slower, but being called a retard puts those people down and makes them not want to seek help. After all, who would want to seek help if they will then be called a retard. According to professionals.reachout.com in Breaking down barriers to help seeking, “Stigma and embarrassment… [are] The most frequently reported of all the barriers”. People care what others think about them. Why should those without mental barriers prohibit those with barriers from seeking proper treatment because

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).

The definition of health describes the way we feel physically, mentally and socially and being free from any illness or injury. Health is not an easy term to define as for some people it includes mental health and for others it just involves physical health and these two are very different.

Many people often have stereotypes or stigmas regarding mental illnesses. There is a general public stigma that is overall expressed by people who may not have full knowledge over the importance of mental health. When referring to the stigma, people will usually say that those with mental illnesses are irresponsible, should be cared for, or should be feared and kept out of the direct community. All of these stigmas having to do with mental illnesses are false. Many people with mental illnesses are able to hold stable jobs, graduate from high school and college, and even live as good neighbors in a community. By creating this stigma, people are adding to the everyday challenges that people with mental illnesses are going through. We should aim to educate and stop the prejudice that is brought about by those who are not fully aware of the importance of mental health.