The Effects Of Stigma Surrounding Mental Illness - 1658 Words

Mental illness is a controversial topic in recent news. From Sandy Hook to the Aurora movie theatre shooting, the effects of mental illness have sparked fierce debate and negative stigma surrounding the issue. Mental illnesses, â€Å"patterns of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that are deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional† (Myers 562), affect 1 in 4 people at some point in their lives (Stigma and Discrimination). However, only 59.6% of people with mental illness report receiving treatment, as they are often perceived as â€Å"dangerous, unpredictable, responsible for their illness, or generally incompetent† (Corrigan, Druss, and Perlick). As a result, an entire group of citizens is discriminated against for a condition beyond their control. With so much riding on the issue, a question needs to be addressed: to what extent does stigma surrounding mental illness affect the treatment of patients in healthcare and society? To explore the effects of stigma surrounding me ntal illness, it is essential to understand the issue through historical, sociocultural, economic, and scientific lenses. Before examining the stigma around mental illness, it is vital to understand the science behind mental disorders. Everything originates at the building block of the nervous system: the neuron. â€Å"Brain Basics† is a public awareness initiative by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. According to â€Å"Brain Basics†, neurons areShow MoreRelatedThe Stigma Of Mental Illness1602 Words   |  7 Pagescenturies have seeked to improve care and reduce stigma around those with mental illness. This began in 1942, when Harry Truman signed the National Mental Health Act, which requested the formation of a National Institute of Mental Health. Shortly after this, in 1949, the National Institute of Mental Health was established (â€Å"National Institute of Mental Health†). During the company’s 60 year lifespan they have focused on research about mental illness, educating the public, and improving the lives ofRead MoreMental Illness And Its Stigma1363 Words   |  6 PagesMental Illness and Its Stigma â€Å"One in five adults in America experience mental illness,† (Mental Health, n.d., para 1). Many people define mental illness as a characteristic that makes one irrational or delusional and derives a belief that those who have mental disorders are not suffering from a real disease, resulting in a negative view of those who suffer. There are three ways to defy this stigma that everyone, from media producers to the sufferers themselves, must participate in to break downRead MoreIntroduction.... â€Å"If Mental Illness Could Be Seen On A1255 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction... â€Å"If mental illness could be seen on a sufferer maybe society wouldn’t say ‘just get over it’ .† Mental illness unlike other diseases or disorders are, for the most part invisible. They are not easily recognised. These instances of being told to â€Å"just get over it† or â€Å"just calm down† or â€Å"It’s all in your head† are direct evidence of the stigma of having mental illness present in some cultures. A mental illness is in fact in your head, but your head is connected to body, they areRead MoreThe Stigma Of Mental Health Care Essay1711 Words   |  7 PagesMental health issues have been an ongoing hot topic in this country for over a century. Though many strides have been made to increase awareness and lessen the stigma, there continues to be a barrier to mental health care, especially for our nations’ youth and young adults. I will be discussing the history behind mental health care, current policies regard ing it, how the presence of stigma reduces the likelihood that youth and young adults are receiving the adequate mental health care they requireRead MoreEffects Of Stigma Toward Mental Illnesses1711 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Mental illness is one of the most stigmatized medical conditions in society. People diagnosed with mental illnesses experience a difficult social life, where most of the community members harbor prejudicial attitudes toward them. Undoubtedly, having a mental illness profoundly affects how an individual interacts with the rest of the community in various issues. More often than not, the social consequences of mental disorders are negative since persons with the illness are naturallyRead MoreThe Stigma Of Mental Illness1212 Words   |  5 Pagesexperiencing symptoms of mental illness. Patients suffering a physiological illness rarely hear these words, but they have begun to sound like a broken record to the mentally ill. Everyone sympathizes with the stomach, the liver, the eye, and many other organs in the body when they begin to malfunction, but no one sympathizes with the brain. It is unimaginable and almost abominable for the brain to get sick. Mental illness is probably the most misconstrued and trivialized illness, and this misconceptionRead MoreMental Disorders And Its Effects On The Lives Of People With Serious Mental Illness923 Words   |  4 Pagesdisease from which they suffer, but also by stigmas, treatments they received, and the conditions of the facilities they were in. Mental disorders were hard enough to deal with, but throw in the surrounding stigmas, and the situation only gets worse. According to a study carried out by a group of doctors â€Å"Stigmas associated with mental illness have malignant effects on the lives of people with serious mental illness†(Corrigon). Having a mental illness had been frowned upon for decades. Nobody fullyRead MoreTreatment And Commitment Therapy For Mental Illness Essay1382 Words   |  6 PagesA large problem in society is the stigmas currently being placed on mental illness. In the last 25 years, there have sadly been no signs of the end of stigmatization towards mental illness (Schomerus et al., 2016, p. 21). It is perplexing as to why these stigmas even exist as societal misconceptions because approximately 26.4% of the American population has been diagnosed with a mental illness (Kenny Bizumic, 2016, p. 178). However, the majority of people are either failing to acknowledge or ignorantRead MoreMen tal Illness1511 Words   |  7 Pageshave all had some subjection to mental illness, yet do we truly comprehend it or know what mental illness is? Are we able to grasp how it effects an individual, and how it arises to begin with? â€Å"A mental illness can be defined as a health condition that changes a persons thinking, feelings, or behavior (or all three) and that causes the person distress and difficulty in functioning† (Defining Mental Illness, 1970). Likewise, with numerous illnesses, mental illness is extreme at times and subduedRead MoreThe Effects Of Media On Mental Health Stigma1680 Words   |  7 Pagesregard to mental health stigma. While the media has been a major contributor to the negative attitudes surrounding mental illness, it has recently evolved to become one of the most effective means of ameliorating stigma. However, the media needs to continue to improve in order to promote a healthy environment for people with mental illness. Before narrowing our focus on the media, we must clarify the terms mental illness and stigma. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, a mental illness