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Awareness in mental health problems essay
Importance of mental health awareness
The importance of mental health awareness essay
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This paper will examine three websites that advocate for and support individuals dealing with mental illness. What their organization is and how it came about will be examined. It will also look at their view of mental illness and physiatrics medications. Finally what and how they advocate for will be looked at. NAMI Basics of the Organization NAMI describes themselves “as the most formidable grassroots mental healthy advocacy organization”. This organization was formed in 1979. The basis of their believe and drive is that mental health effects everyone. The mission of NAMI is to eradicate mental health illness and to improve the quality of life for those suffering with a mental health illness. NAMI offers support, education, awareness, advocacy, and research. NAMI appears to have been created by family and those dealing with mental health illnesses. Members are those who are dedicated to improving the lives; anyone who wants to join can. This can consist of individuals who know someone who is affected by a mental health illness, someone struggling with one on, a family member, or anyone that wants to be supportive. NAMI’s encourages all to be involved to help and volunteer to create awareness, support, educate, and advocate. Views on “Mental Illness” and Medications NAMI beliefs “mental illness” is a medical condition just like diabetes or a heart problem. Instead of affecting bodily functions a mental illness “disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functions.” Mental illness is not due to a weakness, a bad upbringing or caused by the individual. Both a mental illness and another medical diagnoses can make it harder for an individual to deal with daily life and by seeking treatm... ... middle of paper ... ... options and therapist should have full discloser regarding medications (pros and cons) with clients. When working with individuals with a mental illness, safety should always be foremost in the therapist mind. If not being on medications or stopping using medications put someone at a greater risk for hurting themselves or others medications should more than likely be part of the treatment plan. With this definition in mind the issue of collaborating between those struggling with a mental illness and professionals I feel is the most important issue brought up in these websites. If therapist do not view themselves as the “expert” and instead listen to their clients and their individual experiences, the client’s treatment plan will be the one best suited for them. Clients are the expert of the illness they are dealing with and therapist inform their understanding.
The fight for improved health care for those with mental illness has been an ongoing and important struggle for advocates in the United States who are aware of the difficulties faced by the mentally ill and those who take care of them. People unfortunate enough to be inflicted with the burden of having a severe mental illness experience dramatic changes in their behavior and go through psychotic episodes severe enough to the point where they are a burden to not only themselves but also to people in their society. Mental institutions are equipped to provide specialized treatment and rehabilitative services to severely mentally ill patients, with the help of these institutions the mentally ill are able to get the care needed for them to control their illness and be rehabilitated to the point where they can become a functional part of our society. Deinstitutionalization has led to the closing down and reduction of mental institutions, which means the thousands of patients who relied on these mental institutions have now been thrown out into society on their own without any support system to help them treat their mental illness. Years after the beginning of deinstitutionalization and after observing the numerous effects of deinstitutionalization it has become very obvious as to why our nation needs to be re-institutionalized.
Continuing budget cuts on mental health care create negative and detrimental impacts on society due to increased improper care for mentally ill, public violence, and overcrowding in jails and emergency rooms. Origins, of mental health as people know it today, began in 1908. The movement initiated was known as “mental hygiene”, which was defined as referring to all things preserving mental health, including maintaining harmonious relation with others, and to participate in constructive changes in one’s social and physical environment (Bertolote 1). As a result of the current spending cuts approaching mental health care, proper treatment has declined drastically. The expanse of improper care to mentally ill peoples has elevated harmful threats of heightened public violence to society.
...a and Mental Illness • Social Justice Solutions." Socialjusticesolutions.org, 2012. Web. 13 Jan 2014. .
To understand what mental illness is you have to know what it means. Mental health is the state of our well-being. Mental health has to do with the mind. According to thefreedictionary.com mental health is “a state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an individual is able to use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities, function in society, and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life”. Mental illness are behavioral, psychological, and emotional disorders that effect the mind. Mental illness is not something that should be avoided. There many different types of mental illnesses. There are also mental healthcare services that can help people with their mental illnesses.
Mental illness is an increasing problem in America. Currently about 26.2% of Americans suffer from a mental disorder. A mental illness/disorder is a medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, and ability to relate to others and daily functions. Mental illness can affect humans of any age, race, gender and socioeconomic status. However the care that is needed to effectively cure and help the people affected by the illness is not equal for everyone here in American, especially for African Americans.
"NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness | Mental Illnesses." NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness - Mental Health Support, Education and Advocacy. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.
In the United States alone, 57.7 million individuals suffer from mental illness. These illnesses range anywhere from mood disorders to anxiety disorders or to personality disorders and so on (The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America). 18 to 25 year olds make up about 30% of these individuals alone (Survey Finds Many Living with Mental Illness Go Without Treatment). These individuals require care from medication to psychiatry or even to confinement. However, of these 57.7 million individuals with mental illness, studies have found that less than one in three of these individuals receive proper treatment (Studies Say Mental Illness Too Often Goes Untreated).
Due to the endless efforts and research of certain foundations and individuals, the ideas and functions of mental health have improved significantly. The advancements made in the field are impressive and without them, humankind would not be the same. Yet then why do only fewer than eight million people who are in need of help seek treatment? National Mental Health Association, 2001. The history, stigmatization, and perception of mental illness are some of the many reasons behind that alarming statistic.... ...
The discussion of mental health is slowly being brought to the social surface to create a more inclusive society for those dealing with a mental illness. However, those with a mental illness are continuously being affected by stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination by those who simply don’t comprehend the complexity of the human brain (Glaser, G.2017). As more people become mental health activist, they are exposing the plethora of issues surrounding the overall mental and physical stability of those who are negatively affected by the social construct of what it means to be normal.
There is a stigma surrounding seeking help for mental illness that needs to be broken. Mental illness is not to be taken lightly, it is a serious matter. These people need genuine help; help that they should be able to seek without having to worry about repercussions.
An estimated 61.5 million American Lives, or one in four, suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year, and it takes a decade, on average for them to make contact with a health care professional (Pending). One in 17 Americans currently live with chronic mental illness disorders such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder (pending). Despite the new discoveries and advances in science and technology, the social stigma of mental illness prevails. Why is mental illness an issue? Why should healthy people be concerned if their neighbor suffers from acute depression? Those are the questions that the average American faces. Yet, our society remains naïve when it comes to mental health. The roots of this issue are found in the lack of information and lack of mental health accessibility.
According to Nami.org mental illness is a “condition that impacts a person’s thinking, feelings or mood and may affect his or her ability to relate to others and function on a daily basis.” A person may have many influences that development into a mental health condition such as “genetics, environment and lifestyle” (Nami.org). For instance if a person has a very stressful job or a home life that makes them more susceptible, as well as traumatic life events such as being a victim of a crime (Nami.org). Nami.org comments that a way to help with the mental health conditions is “engagement and support to improve outcomes and increase the promise of
Particularly beliefs and experiences of the barriers and facilitators of access to health services from the people with lived experience with mental disorders. People with lived experience will include ex-mental disorders patients, family members or carer and health providers (health professional of any cadre, traditional healers such as herbalist, religious leaders and other spiritual healers). Given the WHO action plan recommendation.
The purpose of this would be to help raise awareness for mental health, education on how to deal with mental illnesses both interpersonally and intrapersonally, and to remove the stigmatization around mental illnesses. Throughout history mental illnesses has received a negative connotation closely tied to violence and currently this stigma is still relevant.
...se of mental health services through health reform (2006). Many mental disorders can be treated effectively and people do recover (2010, 09 06). Many times mental disorders go untreated and it is very important that family and friends don’t let this go ignored and seek help for their loved ones.