Perceptions of Mental Health - Modern Views
On top of coping with the symptoms of mental illness and the side effects of treatment, sufferers of mental illness have to function in a world where there is great stigma regarding mental illness. This makes a hard road to health even harder. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mental illness it can be very helpful to be aware of what sufferers encounter out in the world.
Family:
As the people closest to you, your family can be a wonderful source of love and support on the road to recovery. Unfortunately mental illness is rarely welcomed with open arms into a family and there is often a period of adjustment. Especially as heredity effects the development of mental illnesses, many families have a history of mental illness and will be understanding and supportive. The responses will always depend on the person. In the cases of adolescents, many go undiagnosed as their parents dismiss symptoms as "teen angst", others are unwilling to tell their parents for fear of rejection and never get the help they need. As a parent of a teenager with a mental illness it is important to be open and supportive. When a child or adolescent has parents who are in denial of their condition many difficulties arise varying from perscriptions that are "forgotten" to be filled to heightened feelings of shame and rejection which inhibit recovery. A supportive family is always helpful during the treatment and recovery process.
Friends:
Just as it helps to have a supportive family it helps to have supportive friends. When diagnosed with mental illness a person may fear rejection from their friends and peers. When someone is being treated for mental illness, more than ever, they need to be surrounded by people who genuinly care about them. Feelings of loneliness and isolation are only worsened by hearing those around you laughing about "crazy people" and endorsing stereotypes of "emo depressed people" and "that schizo guy on tv who killed people". Chances are you know someone who is suffering from mental illness, even if they haven't told you; make your environment one in which people can feel free to make known their mental illness without fear of being labeled or shunned. If you have a mental illenss and choose to share that information be prepared for a wide range of responses, some people will give you wide eyes and silence, some will react very emotionally. Some people will dwell on it while others quickly change the subject. Chances are you might even get one or two "Me too."s
Perceptions and Gender:
Mental illnesses vary in who they effect by gender and how illnesses are percieved also varies. Far fewer men seek treatment for depression than women; men are taught from a young age to "suck it up" and deal with it and being over emotional is seen as a weekness. This has led to a higher suicide rate in men than women. A depressed woman is far more likely to get sympathy from her peers than a man is. Differences are highly cultural and depend on many factors including region of the world, religion, socio-economic status, and age.
Mental Illness and the GLBT community:
Until the late 20th century, homosexuality itself was considered a mental illness. Now, even with increased tolerance and protective legislature members of the GLBT community still find themselves isolated and ridiculed. This increased stigma in daily life has been proposed as a cause of higher rates of mental illness in these groups though research to prove such is still in early stages.
Politics and Economics:
One large issue regarding living with mental illness is that of paying for treatment. Therapy and medication as treatments for mental illness are not uniformly supported by health insurance companies, depending on the economic standing of a patient treating mental ilness can be economically crippling. Mental illness can effect one's ability to find work and also one's ability to effectively maintain a job and do quality work. It is also an issue in court, whether as a component of custody battles or a defense of crime. The insanity plea raises many issues about the way mental illness is viewed in society and the responsibilities of society to those who suffer from it as well as their responsibilities for their own actions.
The Links page contains links to several different groups working to create awareness of mental illness and reduce the stigma associated with it. Great progress has already been made with the help of such organizations and there is great potential in the continuance of the movement. Notable resources include the US Department of Health and Human Services' Mental Illenss Awareness Week Page and the Mental Illness Awareness Coalition.