Mental Health

I recently have found out that my brother is dating one of my good friends.  I think this is great, my mom however thinks this is a bit worrisome.  She told me about a relative in my friend’s family that is diagnosed with bipolar disorder.  She has already voiced her concerns to me about how if my brother and his girlfriend were to get married, then we would have the disorder in our lineage.  I told her that was a stupid reason for her to be worried about.  After going through this module, I was surprised at how society has a huge stigma on mental health.  My mom is very traditional and she’s used to having arranged marriages, where the parents go through a sort of bio-data of a person before considering them for their child.  My mom expressed that we shouldn’t have anyone who is mentally unstable or unhealthy added to our family.  I feel bad for those who are mentally unstable.  I feel like society should try to help those who have issues with their mental health versus casting judgment on them.  

According to the Mayo Clinic, such stigmas can have harmful effects to those with mental illness. Some harmful effects are:  trying to pretend nothing is wrong, refusal to seek treatment, rejection by family and friends, work or school problems or discrimination, difficulty finding housing, being subjected to physical violence or harassment, and inadequate health insurance coverage of mental illnesses (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).  Some of the suggestions they made to overcome these stigmas are to get treatment, seek support, don’t let stigma create self-doubt and shame, don’t equate yourself with your illness, use your resources, get help at school, join an advocacy group, and speak out (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).  Diagnosis and treatment can find out what is wrong and can find a way to reduce symptoms that interfere with work and personal life (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).  Coming to terms with your illness can help reduce feeling ashamed, embarrassed or humiliated. Psychological counseling may also help gain self-esteem and help cope with your own self-judgment.  If you tell people you trust, you may find compassion, support and acceptance. It’s important to stay in touch with those family members who understand (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).  You are not an illness, so don’t say that you are; instead, say that you have a disorder or a condition.  Take advantage of federal, state, and nonprofit resources available to help support people with mental health conditions (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).  Talk to teachers, professors, or administrators about the best approach and available resources for when you are in school.  Discrimination against students because of a mental health condition is against the law (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).  Some local and national groups, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) have programs that watch for and correct stereotypes, misinformation and disrespectful portrayals of people with mental illnesses (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).  Speaking at events can help instill courage in others facing similar challenges and also educate the public about mental illness. Until you gain confidence, you may want to start at small events, such as talks at a support group or church community (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).

Resources:

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2009, May 29). Mental health: Overcoming the stigma of mental illness. Retrieved November 19, 2010, from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mental-health/MH00076