A Look into Mental Disorders
May 26, 2015
Mental illnesses create some of the most challenging health problems faced by society accounting for vast numbers of hospitalizations, disabilities resulting in billions in lost productivity, and sharply elevated risks for suicide.Approximately 50% of adults experience a mental illness at a point in their lives. And despite the high prevalence of mental illness, about 20% of people who have a mental illness attempt to receive professional help.
As of now, mental illness is seen to be caused by a complex interaction of hereditary and environmental factors. Most times a mental health disorder irrupts when people whose genetic make-up makes them vulnerable to such disorders experience more stress in their family or social life. Also, experts think that malfunction of neurotransmitters in the brain may contribute to mental health disorders.
Even with life-changing advances in understanding and treating mental illnesses, the social stigma surrounding them still persist. For example, people with mental illness can be blamed for their illness or viewed as lazy or irresponsible. Mental illness may be seen as less harsh or less legitimate than physical illness, leading to reluctance on the part of policy makers and insurance companies to pay for treatment.
Students at Panther Creek were interviewed on their opinions about mental illness and questioned about certain topics pertaining to mental illness.
Senior Amie Baek says that she hasn’t personally experienced a mental illness, but knows of people who have. Her overall perception of mental disorders is that people lack the information about them. She believes that many people aren’t aware of the biological aspects of what’s going on within in their brain, which would bring ignorance. She believes that people in mental institutions aren’t being treated the way they should be treated, and workers feel like they need to help rather than wanting to help. The government has decided to stop funding mental institutions, making every mental institution across the country privately-owned. She understands that the government has other priorities, but that it’s unacceptable.
Everyone requires a social network to satisfy the human need to be cared for, accepted, and emotionally supported, particularly in times of stress. As an alternative, self-help groups and mutual aid groups have sprung up throughout the country. Mental Illnesses aren’t chosen, they occur naturally, and the only way to make it’s social stigma less hostile is through support, acceptance, and love.
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