Mental Illness And Mental Health Stigma

The disparity in treatment has been attempted to be remedied over the eras. Bills and Acts put into place in the 20th and 21st centuries have seeked to improve care and reduce stigma around those with mental illness. This began in 1942, when Harry Truman signed the National Mental Health Act, which requested the formation of a National Institute of Mental Health. Shortly after this, in 1949, the National Institute of Mental Health was established (“National Institute of Mental Health”). During the company’s 60 year lifespan they have focused on research about mental illness, educating the public, and improving the lives of the mentally ill by working to pass laws. One law that seeks to reduce the stigma of mental illness is the Mental Healths Service Act of California. "California 's Historic Effort To Reduce The Stigma Of Mental Illness: The Mental Health Services Act" from the American Journal Of Public Health illustrates how the Act will make improvements. Families and individuals who have experienced stigma had a big role in the process, specifically with developing a 10 year plan, the California Strategic Plan on Reducing Mental Health Stigma and Discrimination. One component of the Act discussed is the work plan developed by California Mental Health Services Authority, which has three components: stigma and discrimination reduction, student mental health, and suicide prevention. Organizations such as the NIMH have made efforts resulting in the evolution of mental

“There is a particular kind of pain, elation, loneliness, and terror involved in this kind of madness” (67). Kay Jamison describes her experiences with manic depression, more commonly known today as bipolar disorder, in her book “An Unquiet Mind.” Having never really thought much about mental illnesses, the toll that manic depression takes on one’s personal and professional life is extraordinary to read about. Learning about a firsthand experience with manic depression gives an appreciation for the illness and a broader understanding of depression, mental illness, and what it means to be normal. Kay Jamison details her difficulties and accomplishments in dealing with manic depression in her personal and professional life; as well as bringing

In this book, we are presented with the mental illness named ‘Manic Depression’ in which Mark was faced with as a freshman in college. Manic Depression is most commonly known as ‘Bipolar Illness’ and is usually confused with schizophrenia and unipolar depression. It causes huge shifts in mood, energy, thinking, and behavior. The manic depressive may have multiple mania behaviors at a time and depression the next second. For example, in the book, Mark showed one of the biggest signs of the bipolar disorder, uncontrolled sleepiness. This usually marks the beginning of a manic depressive episode which causes the person to become a total stranger to others. Manic depression can cause huge sex drives in the person that might even exhaust his/her partner. It can cause moods, such as fatigue, delusions,

In pop culture Bipolar Disorder is described as someone quickly switching emotions. The term gets flown around easily without evidence of the alleged diagnosis. This publication changed my perspective on mental illness due to always hearing society's opinion on the phrase. Kay’s experience shows an individual who suffered tremendously behind doors that no one else could relate to, having episodes last days to months not switching every minute like society's stereotypes. It is obvious that there is not control and while medication helps, there is a significant consequence when missing treatment. Additionally, material learned within this book can help fundamentally determine someone suffering this illness. For example, if someone has manic highs and lows that force them to change their daily lifestyle for a period of time and developes changing impulsive decisions there could be an underlying illness. Even though there are few details that can fall into the category of Bipolar, it is still rare and unless diagnosed by a doctor one should never jump to conclusions about another

Another reason why people might not take medication is because it takes away not only the highs and lows but the essence of peoples’ personalities, it leaves them enigmatic and slow. “The moods you are so used to having on a daily basis fade away until you are left feeling dull”(p.79) This is especially hard for people with manic depressive illness because there moods are very much part of their lives. Many of the world’s most creative people suffer from mental illness and they find that it is very hard to go from being brilliant to average. “When I was depressed, nothing came to me, and nothing came out of me. When manic, or mildly so I would write a paper in a day, my ideas would flow.”(p.114). when you’re forgetting the unbearable pain of depression the memories of seductive highs can easily lure you back off your medication and into another costly episode.

7. Lt Col Chris Karns, "Eliminating Stigma: A Leadership Responsibility," U.S. Air Force, 02 September 2014,

Ever felt extremely happy one day and terribly depressed the next, as if you were on an emotional roller coaster? How about spontaneously spending $5,000 on a shopping spree that you have no use for? Imagine being so depressed that you want to commit suicide because dinner was not the meal you had in mind. Each of these actions may seem completely farfetched to the average person; however, actions similar to these are a reality for nearly 5.8 million adults in the United States that suffer from an illness called bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder, historically referred to as manic depressive illness, is an

I believe this book is meant to help those still struggling with manic depression illness. Jamison’s story is not what normal people can bear. It is even harder for her since she is a psychiatrist who specializes in treating mood disorder. Often her disorder has caused her much of her life. Often she questions and feels unhealed inside.

The terms ‘manic–depressive illness’ and ‘bipolar disorder’ are comparatively recent, and date back from the 1950s and 1980s respectively. The term ‘bipolar disorder’ (or ‘bipolar affective disorder’) is thought to be less stigmatizing than the older term ‘manic–depressive illness’, and so the former has largely superseded the latter. However, some psychiatrists and some people with bipolar disorder still prefer the term ‘manic–depressive illness’ because they feel that it reflects thenature of the disorder more accurately.

K.R. Jamison battles with Manic-Depressive Disorder, also known as Bipolar disorder, and challenges herself with managing her academics, romantic relationships, and social life. Her take on the disorder and treatment gives an interesting outlook on one who has the disorder. Two interesting themes is the challenges in having to take lithium to help keep the disorder under control or suffer from the mania and depression and having the strength and overcoming the obstacles of being able to have a stable, loving relationship with a mental illness. Those who have mental disorders are and absolute help in the mental health field.

One of the biggest contributors for poor healthcare is the stigma against mental health. This stigma allows healthcare providers to view those with a mental illness as having low relevance, thus creating disinclination towards providing adequate resources and/or care. This negative stance, based on misinformation and prejudice creates those that have a mental illness to lose their self confidence. Because of this loss, people with mental illness decide not to contribute to their health or livelihood. In the past fifty years, many advances have been made in mental healthcare. However, with the attached stigma, many people choose to not seek out treatment.

To many a stigma is a disgraceful flaw, that of a negative presence. In mental health this stigma is overwhelming. Approximately 57.7 million Americans experience a mental health disorder in any given year. (National Alliance on Mental Illness) People in dire need of help are not seeking it. Mental illnesses are going undiagnosed. The mental health stigma is having a negative impact on the proper diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses.

Stigma can be expressed in various term, it can be a brand, labelling or identification. It is a differentiation of a person resulting to a boundary between “us” and “them” (Link and Phelan 2001). These affect consumers in a way they are discriminated and treated differently because they have mental illness. The effect of stigma can take away the rights of consumers who are suffering from mental illness causing social dilemmas (SANE Australia 2013). A survey shows 74% of consumers experience stigma from school, work, and social activities. Consumers had only one feedback, to reduce stigma so they can go with their life peacefully and engage in normal social activities without discrimination (SANE Australia 2006). It is

Before I truly understood Bipolar disorder, it was still a fairly common word in my vocabulary. Anytime I thought someone was being moody or fluctuating between emotions, I joked by claiming that person to be bipolar. Several incidents of this involved one of my roommates who seemed to be happy one day, and quite the polar opposite the next. However, it was not until my clinical experience on the psychiatric unit that I realized what true bipolar disorder was, and that she did not fit the criteria. Even though I always thought my roommate was bipolar, I quickly found after being exposed to a diagnosed bipolar patient that my roommate was instead just moody. I decided to write this paper on bipolar disorder, not because I have struggle with it or know a friend or family member with this disease, but because I had several misconceptions about what it entailed.