The Stigma of Mental Illness Undiagnosed and Untreated...

Madhouses, looney bins, insane asylums, monsters, witches, and lunatics. These are the terms that haunt both the mentally ill and the facilities that provide their treatment. The stigma of mental illness prevents persons in need of treatment from seeking help for their mental illnesses. The roots of the stigma of mental illness need to be dissected to reduce the discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping of the mentally ill. There are things that can be done to prevent this stigma including changes in federal policy, public cooperation, and individual advocacy. 1. HISTORICAL CONTEXT Civilizations have tried to cure the mentally ill since prehistoric times. Often it was believed that these people were victims of possession by†¦show more content†¦Although psychiatric hospitals are better maintained, treatments are more effective, and doctors are better qualified today, there are still many disparities in mental health care and many mentally ill people remain undiagnosed and untreated. The aforementioned treatments of mental illness influence both public and self-stigma of mental illness today. David Vogel, Nathaniel Wade, and Shawn Haake, from Iowa State University, define public stigma as â€Å"the perception held by a group or society that an individual is socially unacceptable and often leads to negative reactions toward them. The public stigma associated with seeking mental health services, therefore, is the perception that a person who seeks psychological treatment is undesirable or socially unacceptable† (325). Psychol ogist Marty Manosevitz attributes the stigma of mental illness to the immoral ways that the mentally ill were once treated. He states, â€Å"The moment a mark of something different was found in person they were shoved into institutions and kept from the outside world. There was no understanding that mental illness could be cured, it was considered permanent.† The mentally ill were removed from society, so their condition was viewed as negative and sometimes dangerous. In Erving Goffman’s book, Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity, he maintains this idea by noting, â€Å"The stigmatized individual is asked to act so as to implyShow MoreRelatedThe Inclusion Of Education On Mental Illness1461 Words   |  6 PagesArguing For the Inclusion of Education on Mental Illness Mental illness affects millions of people around the world. What is surprising, however, is the lack of public information and education about mental illness. With the amount of undiagnosed mental illnesses and disorders as well as the number of suicide attempts that occur daily, it should become a priority for the education system to introduce public classes on mental illness for not just adults or teens but for younger children as well. EducatingRead MoreBipolar Disorder, Formerly Known As Manic-Depression, Is1359 Words   |  6 PagesBipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depression, is a mental disorder. This disorder causes the individual to experience severe mood swings, from elation to depression. Individuals with bipolar disorder can experience serious changes in thinking, energy and behaviour. The different states of those with bipolar experience are referred to as ‘episodes’. These episodes can last days, weeks or months, depending on the severity of the ep isode. There are three main types of episodes, they are maniaRead MoreA Research Study On The Lgbt Community965 Words   |  4 Pagessuch as discrimination, negative stigma, rejection, violence, insurance denial, job denial, lack of money, and an absence of knowledge and acceptance. With these factors coming into play, many people within the LGBT community are at a higher risk for psychological disorders, a higher rate of suicide attempts and successes, and a higher risk of sexually transmitted diseases, which continues to makes this specific group a despaired population. Discrimination and stigma are the greatest and most prevalentRead MoreCollege Is A Time In Which People Are First Discovering1364 Words   |  6 Pagesnew found stress may begin to gradually increase over time, which then leads to many college students developing depression. The depression experienced more often than not goes untreated and undiagnosed because a vast majority of these students never sought treatment to begin with. When depression is often found undiagnosed, the outcomes become severe. The Counseling and Clinical Psychology Journal published an article on a study done by professors at Appalachian State University, about theRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Depression1500 Words   |  6 Pagesdepression are due to physician and patient factors. Patients vary in awareness of their depressive symptoms and ability to bring depression-related concerns to medical attention.† The study also suggests, â€Å"One-fourth of people with major depression are undiagnosed and fewer than half receive treatment† (Epstein). If a patient is never aware that they have cause to be a patient, receiving adequate treatment is exceptionally difficult. All too often, even if a person does recognize that something isn’t rightRead MoreThe Psychological Cost Of Children During The American Civil War Essay719 Words   |  3 Pageson the mental well being of the military service members. â€Å"Military personnel have always been put at a high risk of mental health problems.† (Vogt, 2011) Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to Xue et. al. (2014), is a debilitating disorder, formed in response to exposure to a traumatic event. Although PTSD has affected military members since the beginning of war, it was not until 1980 that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) recognized PTSD as an actual mental illness, and addedRead MoreDemi Lovato : A Well Known American Singer, Artist, And Model876 Words   |  4 Pagesthe divorce, her father moved out and remained absent from her life until he died from cancer in 2013. After his death, Demi has described her father as â€Å"abusive† and states that he had mental health issues that made maintaining a healthy relationship difficult (Bueno, 2015). Her father also suffered from untreated schizophrenia, bipolar and addictions. Demi stated that her relationship with her father was complicated†. At the age of 14, Lovato felt that her relationship with her father was toxicRead MoreEssay about Medicating Mental Illnesses1142 Words   |  5 Pages450 million people in the world currently are suffering from a mental illness, many untreated, the topic still remains taboo in modern society (Mental Health). For years, people with mental illnesses have been shut away or institutionalized, and despite cultural progression in many areas, mental illnesses are still shamed and rarely brought to light outside of the psychiatric community. The many different forms in which mental illness can occur are incredibly prevalent in the world today, and thereRead MoreTypes Of Discrimination And Stigma Around Mental Health1100 Words   |  5 Pagesdiscrimination and stigma around mental health. So damaging, it impacts 63% of individuals living with mental illness alone. Social stigma holds people for believing they can live a fulfilled existence in spite of diagnosis and symptoms of mental illnes s. The number of studies showing what it’s called â€Å"diagnostic overshadowing† that is, over attributing a patient’s symptoms of a particular condition, in many cases, it means the medical morbidity of being undiagnosed and untreated is rising. This trendRead MoreMental Illnesses Are Common Throughout The United States Essay1503 Words   |  7 PagesMental Illnesses Portrayed i ¬n the Media Although there’s a stigma associated with mental illness, there are people stepping forward and being honest about their mental health experiences. How come mental health stigma exists? This question should be important to society because mental illnesses are common throughout the United States, affecting tens of millions of people each year. This question’s important to me because I’m a crisis counselor for two organizations and I’m going to receive a master’s