Mental Stigma, Media Misrepresentation And The False Branding Of The Lgbt Community

As defined by experts, a mental illness is a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and involves changes in thinking, emotion, behavior, interpersonal interactions, daily functioning, or a combination. The causes of mental illness are complex and vary depending on the theories associated to the different biological, psychological, and environmental factors. The etiology of mental illness is based on five broad models: biological, psychological, behavioral, cognitive, and social.

People with mental health issues have been viewed and treated in a variety of ways within western society throughout time. Historically if an individual displayed behaviours which disrupted their function in society and defied social norms they were viewed as lunatics, insane or even cursed (Cowan, 2008; Elder & Evans & Nizette, 2009). It is from these past issues that many people still have unreasonable thoughts about mental illness; their misconceptions have created unreasonable fears and negative attitudes toward those who experience it. This negativity brings for many the barriers of not only

A mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, or mood. Mental illness…

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.

A mental illness is one one of many different disorders or conditions that affect one's mood thinking and behavior. Approximately 1 in 5 U.S. adults reports suffering from some form of mental illness. ANd about 20% of us youth are affected by some type of mental illness in their life. African Americans are 20% more likely to report significant mental distress but less likely than white counterparts to seek mental health care. For black people mental illness is surrounded by a stigma of weakness and religious disconnect.

Mental Illness, that name conjures up a vast array of frightening images in the minds of the general public and media; an unfair image that is stigmatizing for the sufferer. The stigma is also pervasive in the mental health field, where patients who receive treatment are sometimes treated unfairly by the practitioners, who are supposed to help them in the first place. This is what my paper will discuss, the effects of stigma and labeling on patients and their families. I have culled many sources from scholarly papers, that back up my claim. I will describe what I thought of about the articles and how they pertain to the main points I am trying to make.

These views and treatments have changed, but not forgotten. The modern day stigma of mental illness is still portrayed as criminals, sickly, and uncontrollably violent and so the treatment is still true to being discriminatory. From diagnosing the mentally ill based on the beliefs of religion to scientific morals to modern day technology. Technology consisting of social media, fictional television, and news updates spreads the stigma of mental illness. In the history of mental illness, the views and methods of treatment have changed but the mentally ill are still stigmatized and they are still discriminated and neglected against.

Mental illnesses are some of the most misunderstand afflictions in today’s society. Too many people think of mental illness as a “weakness.” Nothing could be further from the truth. These are true illnesses and brain diseases (www.hcpc.uth.tmc). Mental illnesses are illnesses that affect the way a person thinks, acts, and feels. Like most illnesses, they

“Mental illness refers to a group of disorders that affect the way a person thinks, feels and acts”(“WHAT is mental illness?”). “Mental illnesses include depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety and personality disorders.

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 illnesses are health conditions involving changes in thinking, emotion or behavior or a combination of all three (What is Mental Illness). Mental illnesses are associated with distress or problems functioning in social, work or family activities. Mental illnesses take many forms, some are fairly mild and only interfere in limited ways with daily life, such as certain phobias and other mental health conditions are so severe that a person may need care in a hospital. Mental illnesses can affect anyone, regardless of your age, gender, income, social status, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, background or other aspect of cultural identity (What is Mental Illness).

Although about 450 million people in the world currently are suffering from a mental illness, many untreated, the topic still remains taboo in modern society (Mental Health). For years, people with mental illnesses have been shut away or institutionalized, and despite cultural progression in many areas, mental illnesses are still shamed and rarely brought to light outside of the psychiatric community. The many different forms in which mental illness can occur are incredibly prevalent in the world today, and there is a substantial debate about the way that they should be handled. Some people are of the opinion that mental illness is merely a variance in perception and that it either can be fixed through therapy or should not be treated at

When people are mentally ill, they suffer social stigma, have higher health costs, and are at an increased risk of becoming poor. Every one out of five Americans is diagnosed with a mental illness. That 20 percent of the population can negatively influence the normal stresses of life, working productively and fruitfully, and being able to make a contribution the community. When humankind as a whole cannot recognize that mental illness is a serious issue, there is more harm being done than good. Any kind of mental illness can be caused merely by society, but also can worsen due to humanity not understanding how injustice can make a serious impact. The mental health problems that people face can be limited to society learning about the injustice of these illnesses.

Mental health is an issue that dates back to as early as 5000 BCE (Foerschner, 2010). If you open up any Psychology textbook, you’re able to find Sigmund Freud’s name. He’s known as the father of Psychology, a physiologist, medical doctor, psychologist, and influential thinker of the early twentieth century (Thornton, n.d.). Unlike many other scholars of the time, he developed new theories proposing a different outlook on mental illness; which helped shape the fundamental of psychology today. Although we have further understanding of mental illness, there are just as many social issues surrounding individuals troubled by the disease. Just like back in the twenties and even earlier than that, patients suffering from mental illness is still considered “wack” or “crazy”. The most disappointing aspect of them all, use of mental illness has become a common excuse for committing crimes.

Mental health and its stigma are an important issue plaguing today’s society. Many do not understand or acknowledge the severity of mental illness. The stigma against mental