ipl-logo

Mental Illness In America Essay

1241 Words5 Pages

Sit down for a moment and imagine yourself as someone who has no control over their thoughts. Your mind is processing ideas that you may or may not know to be wrong, and yet you can do nothing to stop it. You feel alone in your head , feelings such as fear, paranoia, and panic are overwhelming you, and yet : You have no way to stop it. That is what it feels like to have a mental illness, although in some cases it may be more mild, it can also be much worse than the situation just described. It is never someone's fault that they are mentally ill, and yet today's society makes these human beings feel like pariahs. This social stigma is just one of the many factors that contribute to America's broken mental health system. Those suffering from a mental illness in the United States are faced with few options in terms of getting diagnosed and seeking treatment. Our government has exercised the absolute minimum of their powers towards addressing this issue. Studies have shown that 1 in 6 American adults are currently living with a mental illness, and that 56% of these …show more content…

Accoriding to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, about half of people who suffer from a mental illness will also suffer from substance abuse. The institute also states that over sixty percent of adolecence in community based substance abuse centers also meet diagnostic criterea for another mental illness. These statistics are alarming as they show that the majority of mental ilness patients will suffer through addiction in their lifetime. I will once again reiterate that it is nobodys fault that they have a mental ilness and it is a gross tragedy that these unfortunate people must suffer through so much. With the help of federal funding and other government involvment it is possible for people with a mental ilness, ecspessialy adolecence, to be diagnosed and treated before they are able to dive into substance

Show More
Related

Psy 270 Week 9 Final Paper

430 Words | 2 Pages

Doctors and psychiatrists are too willing to place someone on medications for a quick fix. We are an overmedicated society looking for an easy answer for a solution to our problems. Research suggests that one in five Americans are diagnosed with a mental health disorder. I firmly believe that there is a mental health crisis in the United States and many people go undiagnosed. Mental health, does in my opinion, has stigmas attached to it.

Read More

Grey Hounding Research Paper

430 Words | 2 Pages

A few weeks ago on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver there was a piece covering mental health. It highlighted the lack of transparency in dealing with mental illness in the United States and the overall negative connotation mental diseases have. Currently, it is estimated that of the homeless population in the US, at minimum, 26% of the homeless have a serious mental illness (Homeless Mentally Ill Facts, Figures and Anecdotes- MENTAL ILLNESS POLICY ORG). Furthermore, according to the video, because of the large percentage of mentally ill on the streets, many are ending up in penal system instead of receiving treatment.

Read More

Mental Illness In The Film, Blood Brothers

1421 Words | 6 Pages

The media has programmed our minds to believe untrue “facts” of what we believe is someone who is mentally ill. When in reality, the mentally ill people cannot help that they are the way they are because it is a silent disease that they struggle with every day. Due to their struggle and resentment of wanting to believe they are ill, they won’t ask for help when in reality they need it. They will keep quiet in fear of judgement, isolation, and discrimination, so every day they put on their mask and go out into the world pretending they are just fine.

Read More

Mental Illness In Colonial America

1251 Words | 6 Pages

The year is 1615 in Colonial America. Colonists face several different problems: war with natives, rivalry with Spain, inability to adapt to the new climate...and, for Colonists suffering from a mental illness, there was the very real fear of being killed or thrown out into the wild. During this time period (and for many thousands of years before), the explanation for mental illness was simple--clearly a demon had possessed their soul(Leupo). As time progressed, stigmas around mental illness progressed as well. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not so much.

Read More

Untreated Mental Illness In Prisons

525 Words | 3 Pages

Untreated mental illness is dangerous and over time we have learned that locking people with a mental illness is not the solution but makes it worse. People with untreated mental illness face many consequences. “People with untreated psychiatric illnesses comprise 250,000 people, of the total homeless population” (mentalillnesspolicy.org). The quality of life for these individuals is extremely heart breaking, and many are victimized regularly.

Read More

Mental Health History Essay

1675 Words | 7 Pages

Mental Health has been a hot topic for many years. There have been many programs and laws put into place so that the mentally ill can get the care and treatment they need to live independently and maintain freedom in their communities. Although deinstitutionalization has occurred, the mentally ill are still being ‘institutionalized’ in our local jails, state and federal prisons. Why is this still happening if treatment and community based mental health care programs for those who suffer from mental illness are in place? Will history repeat itself; or are prisons and jails the new homes for those with mental illness in the United States?

Read More

Mental Illnesses In Australia Essay

678 Words | 3 Pages

According to ‘Huff Post’, a health and news website, almost a quarter of teens suffer serious mental illnesses all across Australia. In result of a survey the found that teenagers at the age of 16 show signs of severe physiological distress and anxiety, most commonly in females. The levels increased to 28.6% in 2016 and they predict it will continue to increase to over more than 60% in 5 years. Mission Australia’s CEO, Catherine Yeoman, states towards the federal and states government that “The effects of mental illness at such a young age can be debilitating and incredibly harmful to an individual's quality of life, academic achievement, and social participation both in the short term and long term."

Read More

Mental Illness Portrayed In Popular Culture

745 Words | 3 Pages

Mental illness is sometimes portrayed as psychotic or scary. On television, you may see a patient acting horrific in a psych ward. Over the course of time, some people have changed their views on the “crazy” aspect of mental health. This makes it a much more openly discussed topic. However, mental illness has become romanticized in popular culture, especially through the use of apps such as TikTok.

Read More

The Spread Of Stigma Surrounding Mental Illness

636 Words | 3 Pages

People with mental disorders are commonly discriminated against because of the lack of mental health education. This discrimination leads to fewer opportunities in school, work, or social settings; social isolation; harassment; and trouble finding housing (Borenstein, 2020). Stigma can also cause many to avoid receiving proper treatment because of fear and concerns about being treated differently. In fact, over half of the people with mental illnesses do not get the help they need (Borenstein, 2020). This avoidance of treatment can cause symptoms to worsen and further difficulties with daily life, including unemployment and homelessness.

Read More

Mental Illness In America Essay

619 Words | 3 Pages

Mistreatment of Mental Illness in America There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to mental health, this can make talking about mental health a daunting task. One thing we do know is that less than half of those with a mental health issue are ever treated (McGinty, 2016). According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH), mental illness is defined as: A mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder (excluding developmental and substance use disorders). As well as, diagnosable presently or within the last year and meeting diagnostic criteria as specified by the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) (National Institute on Mental Health).

Read More

Mental Illness In America Essay

1302 Words | 6 Pages

A common generalization about people with mental illness is that they may be blamed for their illness or even be viewed as irresponsible or lazy. This generalization often leads to incompetency and further leads to active discrimination as many people will exclude these people from activities (First). From a public standpoint, people with these conditions may be denied rights from employment, educational or social opportunities. In medical settings, this kind of discrimination can make doctors less likely to pay attention to the patient rather than the disease (First). The manifestation of these discriminations can later become internalized and will eventually lead to the development of

Read More

Argumentative Essay On A Mental Health Issue

947 Words | 4 Pages

Mental health issues are on the rise, especially among the youth, 6 out of 10 young people do not receive mental health treatment for major depression. Currently over 40 million Americans are currently dealing with a mental health issue and 56 percent are not receiving proper treatment. (Mental Health America). The health care reform has reduced insurance premiums for adults who have a mental health condition, however premiums and copayments are still not affordable for everyone. With the rise of mental health issues, the funding for mental illness should also increase to meet the need.

Read More

Mental Illnesses In Urban Communities

712 Words | 3 Pages

Mental illness has been a very underrated medical issue. It was long believed that people with mental illnesses were cursed by a higher being, possessed by the devil, or disgraceful. Children were kept away from their parents and adults were banished from their homes and communities. Although mental illnesses have become less stigmatised over the years, people with mental illnesses, who do not come from middle class or affluent communities, still do not have access to the proper information and care that they need.

Read More

Essay On Mental Health Stigma

857 Words | 4 Pages

Stigmatization of mental illness existed well before psychiatry became a formal discipline, but was not formally labeled and defined as a societal problem until the publication of Goffman’s book (1963). Mental illnesses are among the most stigmatizing conditions, regardless of the specific psychiatric diagnosis. Unlike other illnesses, mental illness is still considered by some to be a sign of weakness, as well as a source of shame and disgrace. Many psychiatric patients are concerned about how people will view them if knowledge of their condition becomes public Mental health stigma can be divided into two distinct types: • social stigma is characterized by prejudicial attitudes and discriminating behavior directed towards individuals with mental health problems as a result of the psychiatric label they have been given and has those types stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination Stereotypes are based on knowledge available to members of a group and provide a way to categorize information about other groups in society Prejudiced persons agree with these negative stereotypes, and these attitudes lead to discrimination through negative behaviors toward mentally ill individuals those negative perceptions create fear of and social distance from mentally ill persons. • perceived stigma or

Read More

Essay On Mental Health Issues

1019 Words | 5 Pages

Why do the people of today still associate stigma, shame and blame with mental health issues? Mental health issues are extremely and widely misunderstood. Despite the fact one in four people are likely to experience some kind of mental health problem a year in the United Kingdom. “Mental health is a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being and it affects how we feel, think and act. It also helps to determine how we handle situations such as stress, how we relate to others and how we make decisions.

Read More

More about Mental Illness In America Essay

Related Topics

Open Document