Mental Illnesses Are Not A Thing Of The Past - 1433 Words

S. Reilly Mental illnesses are not a thing of the past. They are also our present and future. John Q. Adams once said, â€Å"Who we are, is who we were.† That quote accurately describes mental illnesses and the mental health of humans everywhere. A mental illness can be defined as a health condition that changes a person s thought process, emotions, behavior, and/or their body. Mental illness causes a person distress and difficulty in functioning and can lead to atrophy. They are ingrained in the wiring of many and they override safety precautions that the brain has set in place against viruses. Mental health issues affect society in many ways, such as identification, treatment, and overall understanding; as a result of this they have been mocked and dismissed for most of history. For all of history, mankind has been has had some semblance of being aware of mental illnesses. The earliest recorded treatments of mental illnesses can be traced back to â€Å"5000 B.C.E. as evidenced by the discovery of trephined skulls in regions that were home to ancient world cultures.† Said ancient cultures widely believed the mentally ill were afflicted by supernatural causes (ex. demon possession, mystic charms, malevolent deities) which resulted with odd, yet horrific treatments employed. â€Å"Exorcisms, incantations, prayer, atonement, and other various mystical rituals were used to drive out the evil spirit. Other means attempted to appeal to the spirit with more human devices--threats, bribery,Show MoreRelatedMental Illnesses Are Not A Thing Of The Past1255 Words   |  6 PagesMental illnesses are not a thing of the past. They are also our present and future.John Q. Adams once said, â€Å"Who we are, is who we were.† That quote accurately describes ment al illnesses and the mental health of humans everywhere. A mental illness can be defined as a health condition that changes a person s thought process, emotions, behavior, and/or their body. Mental illness causes a person distress and difficulty in functioning and can lead to atrophy. They are ingrained in the wiring of manyRead MoreMental Illness Of Mental Health Disorders1590 Words   |  7 PagesIn the past couple decades, substantial and somewhat reliable evidence has been gathered on mental illnesses and their prevalence. Before around the 1980’s though, the evidence that was gathered on mental illnesses was too inconsistent to be credible. In a survey conducted by the World Health Organization’s department of World Mental Health, data was gathered on the prevalence of mental health disorders in 14 countries around the world. The results of these surveys conclude that mental health disordersRead MoreMorgan Hobbs. Mr. Bertelsen. English Iii. 22 February 2017.817 W ords   |  4 PagesBertelsen English III 22 February 2017 Stigma of Mental Illnesses â€Å"Come find me when you decide to not have a broken arm.† â€Å"You don’t look like you have a terminal disease. You’re just saying that to get attention.† â€Å"Can’t you just try to not get sick?† Nobody would actually say these horrible things to someone with a physical disease, and yet we find it okay to say it to someone with a mental disease. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) every yearRead MoreThe Effects Of Media On Mental Health Stigma1680 Words   |  7 Pagesthe past fifty years, the media has developed dual, counterintuitive roles in regard to mental health stigma. While the media has been a major contributor to the negative attitudes surrounding mental illness, it has recently evolved to become one of the most effective means of ameliorating stigma. However, the media needs to continue to improve in order to promote a healthy environment for people with mental illness. Before narrowing our focus on the media, we must clarify the terms mental illnessRead MoreMental Stigma, Media Misrepresentation And The False Branding Of The Lgbt Community1529 Words   |  7 PagesMental health issues affect society in many ways, such as identification, treatment, and overall understanding; as a result of this they have been mocked and dismissed for most of history. This paper is a thorough investigation into the long, tumultuous history of mental illnesses. The history of mental stigma, media misrepresentation and the false branding of the LGBT+ community will be explored. In addition, this paper goes into detail about the horrific past of the treatment of mental patientsRead MoreThe Impact Of Mental Illnesses . Mental Illnesses Have1557 Words   |  7 PagesImpact of Mental Illnesses Mental Illnesses have plagued our society for centuries. In fact, it is a more common disease than people realize, â€Å"Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S.—43.8 million, or 18.5%—experiences mental illness in a given year.† (Nami, org). Despite the prevalence of mental illnesses, the stigmas associated with them are still very strong to this day, this is a result of the deinstitutionalization of mental healthcare facilities. Many Americans who suffer from mental IllnessRead MoreEssay about Medicating Mental Illnesses1142 Words   |  5 Pagesabout 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 form s in which mental illness can occur are incredibly prevalent in the world today, andRead MoreChildhood Abuse And Child Abuse1003 Words   |  5 Pagesthe US. (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2017) This is only an estimate at best because many incidents are not reported or discovered. These children then grow up to be adults with a history of childhood abuse, and they often have physical and mental health issues that occur as a direct result of their experiences. Physical and sexual abuse are the types of abuse that come to light the most often, and are the types of abuse reported the most often. Psychological abuse (also referred to as emotionalRead MoreMental Health Reflection992 Words   |  4 Pagesunderstanding of mental health has changed completely. I am thankful for everything that I have learned throughout the semester, and getting to hear my peer’s perspective on mental health helped me develop my own understanding. ARTICULATING YOUR LEARNING: In the beginning of the semester my perspective on mental health was very different than what it has become now. When the semester started my view on mental health was that it was on recovery and how that is such a critical aspect in mental health, especiallyRead MoreThe Effects Of Mental Illnesses On Children s Media1371 Words   |  6 PagesMental illnesses are constantly portrayed negatively throughout today’s media. Even with recent research, media chooses to only give information about the negative events mentally ill patients are associated in. Today’s media mocks mental illnesses in children’s television shows and it has negative effects on the children who are exposed to this. Psychologists and other doctors are making an effort to change the views the media portrays to the public. These efforts are being fought against because