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IDS 402 Wellness
Southern New Hampshire University IDS 402-Wellness Final Project Part One: Critical Analysis There are many people all over the world, who suffer from mental illness, yet it is almost always not taken seriously or those who have mental illnesses are looked down upon. When it comes to literature and art, there are many movies that discuss mental illness and how little people really view those who have mental illnesses. Even though this is something that has been looked down upon over the years, the psychological aspect has improved by leaps and bounds to care for those who suffer from mental illness. The healthcare field is also taking notes and improving their care for those who have a mental illness. Education is key when it comes to caring for someone who is bipolar, schizophrenic, etc. In ancient Greece “stigma” was used to brand slaves or criminals. For millennia those who suffer from any mental illness are still treated as that; they imprison them, kill them, some even torture them. During the Middle Ages, mental illness was thought of as “punishment from God” (Rossler, 2016). Mental illness has been the only illness that has received negative judgment and stigma. According to Rossler (2016) this stigmatization reached an all time high during the Nazi reign in Germany. Two hundred years ago, those who suffered from mental illness in Britain, France, etc were isolated from society. Society is still very much ignorant when it comes to mental illness. There’s also a fear that society has against those who have mental illnesses because they are seen
as violent and homicidal. Early beliefs about mental illness were based on those being possessed by evil spirits if they have a mental illness. During those times, the victims were treated for the mental illness by wearing charms and amulets because they possess magical powers (MHC, 2014). As Christians gained institutional power, they relied on old wives remedies that were unorthodox and at one point considered witchcraft. For those two hundred years, individuals with mental illnesses were considered “wild beasts that needed to be confined shaped how healthcare professionals treat and care for them today. Mental illness has been very prevalent in both film and literature, some confronting mental illness and others are centered around the mentally handicapped being viewed as monsters. There have been many films that depict those diagnosed with mental illness as murderers, weak, etc. However, I was able to find a piece of literature by Kia Jones that confronts the stigma of mental illness. Her piece features ways on how to break stereotypes, teaching those that are mentally diagnosed to show empathy, and also confronting those who bully them. I have found that when mental illness is portrayed on television, whether it is in a film or a show that it has helped shape society on how those with mental illness are viewed. According to Pirkis, Warwick Blood, Francis, and McCallum (2005), television draws more attention to mental illness, but more so in a negative manner. Movies like Psycho (1960) and The Exorcist (1973) portray those with mental illness as someone who is a homicidal maniac. Psycho is a psychological thriller that shows the character who is mentally ill, Norman Bates, as the perfect example of someone who would be classified as a homicidal maniac. It seems he loses touch
improvement when it comes to diagnosing and giving the proper care to those with a mental disorder (APS, 2017). Technology has since become a frontier in mental health. It has especially become a trend to receive help, monitor any progress, and get a better understanding of mental health via mobile devices. This is very simple, but yet effective. Because mental illness is viewed as something negative by society, I think that this method will be very beneficial for those who have a mental health disorder. This will be beneficial because it is convenient, those seeking help can be anonymous, it is cost effective, and you can receive 24 hour support, these are just a few advantages of receiving mobile mental health. Mental health problems have become very prominent in the psychiatric and psychological world. It has been argued that there are biological ties to mental illness, however there hasn't been any studies done to prove this. According to Loughman (2018), because mental illness has had such a large, but negative, response researchers have emerged to the forefront in cognitive psychology. However, even with the stigma of mental illness increasing, science and technology works every day to confront any negative judgment that is received with mental illnesses. By educating both patients and caregivers, it is easier to understand those diagnosed with mental illness. After reading an article from Sukhera, an example of confronting mental illness is the work of Dr. Christine Chambers. Dr. Chambers led #itdoesnthavetohurt, which presents evidence based information about children living with mental illness (Sukhera, 2020). Society definitely impacts mental illness and, in my opinion, in more of a negative manner. Social science and mental illness go hand in hand. For years those who have a mental disorder have been viewed as violent and dangerous. Those who are mentally disabled suffer the bullying and judgment received from society. However, if you really get to know them, most of them are incredibly smart, shy, and kind. The care received has both a negative and positive
impact. The positive impact is that there are several forms of therapy provided for those mentally disabled and also alternative methods that are beneficial. After analyzing this issue it hasn’t changed my personal perception on this issue. I am, however, more informed on how society views mental illness. I am also more informed on how care is provided to those who are mentally disabled. I would say that it has altered how I perceive the world. Analyzing this issue has opened my eyes to realize that society as a whole is pretty judgmental towards mentally disabled. I have even observed this behavior when out and about. Since researching this topic I have also taken a step back and allowed myself to view how society treats and sees those who are mentally disabled. Whenever I am out and about I run into people who tend to stare at someone who has ANY disability, not just mental, and I make sure that I make that person to feel comfortable. What society fails to realize is they are still people with emotions. They are just emotions that they do not know how to handle and need that extra push. I believe it is pretty simple when it comes to the benefits of addressing wellness, both in personal and professional life. Before anyone is able to take care of someone, you must first take care of self and I mean that in every sense of the word. Are you fatigued? Do you have the energy to take care of anything or anyone? Are you stressed? How is your emotional state? Have you been eating healthy? Eating healthy always gives me mental clarity, as well as energy. All of these things are so important, but very beneficial when you are taking care of your wellness. However some challenges of not addressing issues in wellness are pretty much the opposite. After researching this topic, it has added value in my interactions both professionally and personally because it allows me to approach subjects differently. It allows me to really think
Museum of Healthcare. (2014, July 15). Mental Health: Tracing the History of Stigma. Retrieved from https://museumofhealthcare.wordpress.com/2014/07/15/mental-health-tracing- the-history-of-stigma/ Corrigan, P., Druss, B., Perlick, D. (2014, August). The Impact of Mental Illness Stigma on Seeking and Participating in Mental Health Care. Retrieved from https://www.psychologicalscience.org/publications/mental-illness-stigma.html#:~:text=These %20displays%20of%20discrimination%20can,or%20responsible%20for%20their%20illnesses. Sukhera, J. (2020, January) How digital technology can reduce mental illness stigma. Retrieved from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-01-digital-technology-mental-illness- stigma.html Loughman, A., Haslam, N. (2018, November). Neuroscientific Explanations and the Stigma of Mental Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6234201/ Pirkis, J., Warwick Blood, R., Francis, C., McCallum, K. (2005, April). A review of the literature regarding fictional film and television portrayals of mental illness. Retrieved from https://www.suicideinfo.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/A-review-of-the-literature-regarding- film-and-television-drama-portrayals-of-mental-illness_oa.pdf Association for Psychological Science. (2017, December). Understanding Mental Illness Through the Scientific Lens. Retrieved from https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/understanding-mental-disorder-through-a- scientific-lens.html
