Public Attitudes towards Mental Illness - Literature review Example

Mental illness and public attitudes towards mental illness Name Institution Course Tutor Date Psychiatric labeling on people with mental health problems negatively affects their lives in many different ways. It reduces their self-esteem and denies them social opportunities, as well as reduces their ability to cope (Walker 2006). The attitudes of the public towards people having mental problems may be manipulated by factor such as race, medical services conditions, religious conviction, and culture. Mental illness is a health condition whose features include significance disturbance of mood, thought, memory, or perception (Parle 2012). Because of these conditions, mentally ill persons are discriminated against, which increase isolation from society making them develop feelings of exclusion and withdrawal from social relationships (Parle 2012). Additionally, they are often are subject to ridicule and the media has been known to portray them as being impulsive, violent and incompetent (Queensland Alliance for Mental Health 2010). In light of this, the ABC introduced a program known as ABC “Mental As” which focuses on reducing the discrimination people with mental problems face, as well as taboos and stigmas surrounding mental health and illness. Therefore, this essay analyses the discourse around mental illness and by looking at the ABC’s project dabbed “Mental As”, discusses cultural elements that influence public opinion on mental illness and cultural influences that may change these attitudes. Literature on mental illness indicates that the way the public perceive mentally ill persons depends on how they are diagnosed. People diagnosed with schizophrenia are considered to be very dangerous and unpredictable (Parle 2012). Individuals addicted to alcohol and drug, for instance are not seen by the general public just as dangerous, but they are also blamed for the addition. There appears to be a general agreement from the public that any person with mental health problems is unreliable, more so in regards to looking after children (Walker 2006). Many people believe that mental illness make individuals to be less intelligent and can not make right decisions. This makes them not to want to socialize with people with mental health problems. In deed, stigma and discrimination among mentally ill persons have been associated with ignorance. According to Parle (2012) studies reveal that the biggest proportion of the public lack adequate knowledge on issues of mental illness, and the little knowledge they have is in many cases factually incorrect. Many still think that people with schizophrenia have a split personality. Additionally, the majority can not differentiate between learning disabilities and mental illness and there exists a general misunderstanding that people with depression break out of it (Thornicroft 2006). Although anxiety and depression disorders do not crucial as psychotic illness, they are equally stigmatized. Individuals who are depressed are often considered to be lazy and difficult to talk to. Public opinions about mental illness appear to be held across the board, having not big differences in regard to education level, gender and income. Nevertheless, Alonso et al (2009) cited in Parle (2012) asserts that people in their teens and those with 50 years and above are known to have the most negative attitudes towards mental illness. This leads us to asking ourselves whether or not depression is still a taboo. The term depression involves many meanings which makes it ambiguous. First, there is hidden and masked depression (Louch 2009). Many individuals gain courage to function and encounter their obligations as possible as they can, despite immense suffering. They are actually depressed even through they are not aware. Their family and other relations do not even admit the condition of depressed people. They first refer to their conditions as fatigue, the talk of laziness, before telling them to remain strong and give up (Cichocki-Goss 2014). In deed, depression is still a taboo. It is a disease which individuals do not speak and which to be ashamed. The TED Talk concerning depression and entitled “Confessions of a depressed comic” that was recorded by Breel (2013) attracted high public attention. In response, there was increased talk concern mental illness and the stigma that originates after an individual declares to have depression. According to Cichocki-Goss (2014) standing on a national stage confessing to be suffering from depression and telling the world that the topic of depression should not be undermined surprised many people. He did something many people who are suffering from depression can not dare to do. While on is tour to college campuses in the U.S. he chat with people concerning the stigma associated with depression (Breel 2013), something that actually prevents depressed people from getting help. Generally, people who are diagnosed with depression are often seen as lazy and weak and therefore unthought-of. Some people think that individuals suffering from depression are experiencing so because probably they wish so but it is not necessary the case. It is simply what individuals believe depression looks like. Unlike other people, Kevin Breel is very much involved and lives a positive and active lifestyle, distancing himself from the perception people have regarding depression (Breel 2013). The distorted viewpoint about depression (being viewed as a taboo) causes depressed people not to speak up, seek treatment, and even get the help they require. But how do the media treat mental wellbeing? According to Parle (2012) the media have always been criticized of sensationalism by inaccurately presenting mental illness in order to achieve higher ratings. Nevertheless, the media may help increase awareness about mental health and illness by reaching out to many people. Celebrities like Stephen Fry who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder have tried to educate people about mental illness and helped reduce stigma by speaking publicly in the media about their illness (Blenkiron 2009). Lived experiences of users of mental health services have different stories to tell about public attitudes. Service users are often concerned about the stigmatizing behaviours and attitudes they experience in their lives. Many people suffering from mental illness feel stigmatized the moment they are diagnosed with the condition (Queensland Alliance for Mental Health 2010). This is partly attributed to the manner in which mental illness has been represented in the media. Talking of how mental health and wellbeing is portrayed in the media, the ABC initiated the biggest cross-platform project known as “Mental As” that was meant to engage all Australians in the conversation about mental health so as to increase public awareness (ABC 2014). The ABC recognizes the fact that every Australian is affected by mental illness in one way or another. Many Australians experience mental health problems directly while others including families, carers, friends and colleagues often experience its impact making it an issue for all Australians (ABC 2014). In support of the ABC Mental As program, the managing director of ABC, Mark Scott commended that the role of ABC is not only about reporting issues of the nation but extends to leading debates, discussion, and community awareness of challenges and issues affecting Australians (ABC 2014). In deed, the ABC’s Mental As program has helped increase awareness of mental illness in Australians through the support of many high profile Australians, who have stimulated positive attitudes and conversations about mental illness. The sentiments of high profile Australians who support the ABC’s Mental As program are changing the way Australians view mental health and illness. Todd Sampson, an advertising guru and one of the supporters of Mental As program postulated that mental illness need to be respected just as the brain is respected due to its immeasurable capability. He equated this to the other side of the coin that is also wondrous, scary and important (ABC 2014). On the other hand, Missy Higgins, a musician also opened his heart in the issue of mental illness in support of the ABC’s Mental As program. She indicated that mental illness is something her family and friend have struggled for long time and therefore people should not be ashamed about it and instead show compassion to those affected (ABC 2014). The impact of ABC’s Mental As program on mental health issues was evident when it received a leading award in suicide prevention in Australia by increasing awareness of mental illness. Despite the effort of the media such as ABC to try and increase public awareness about mental heath and illness, culture still affects the pubic attitudes towards mental illness in different ways. Cultural factors determine the shared representations that individuals bring to understand any situation, hence influencing their opinions on it, so is mental illness (Gorman & Cross 2010). Culturally, the body and mind are considered as a single entity. Thus, physical and mental illness often intermingle with each other and mental illness is thereby expressed in physical terms or somatization. In turn, somatization may be attributed to influence of traditional medicine, denial, suppression, or a lack of differentiation between mind and body (Gorman & Cross 2010). People tend to approach mental illness in a supernatural, magical and moralistic way which makes them develop negative attitudes towards mentally ill persons in the society. This happens so because they believe that mental illness is caused by external causes such as sorcery and not biological or psychological factors. Additionally, depression and stigma are sometimes attached to irreversible and relapsing chronic conditions and spiritual punishment across cultures (Gorman & Cross 2010). These negative attributions to mental illness are obviously stigmatizing and influence public opinions on mental illness. The attitudes towards mental illness may be changed by enhancing cultural resilience among people. Cultural resilience is used to refer to the role culture is likely to play in promoting individual resilience. It also applies to entire cultural systems or whole communities (Dudgeon & Walker 2015). According to Dudgeon & Walker (2015) cultural resilience enhances improved health and wellbeing for people and communities. Through cultural resilience communities can develop the capacity to adjust to social changes in the lives of people while keeping essential dimensions that makes them different from others. Protective factors that enhance resilience include religious leadership, symbols and proverbs, Elders’ wisdom and knowledge, and counselors (Dudgeon & Walker 2015). Communities should provide their young people a measure of cultural resilience or cultural continuity to protect from developing negative attitudes towards mental illness and suicide. Conclusively, the public has negative opinions about people with mental health problems despite national campaigns, such as the ABC’s Mental As program, that aim to increase public awareness and mental health literacy. The general public views mentally ill persons as dangerous, unpredictable, unreliable, less intelligent and can not make right decisions. Equally, depression is still seen as a taboo. Many people who are suffering fro depression fear to talk over it in public and in stead choose to remain silent about it due to fear of stigmatization. Culturally, mental illness is attributed to supernatural factors and external causes such as sorcery, something that influences the perception of the public towards people suffering from mental health problems within the society. Therefore, there is need to change the negative attitudes towards mental illness among the public by promoting cultural resilience. Reference List ABC 2014, About ABC’s Mental As Program: 5-12 October 2014. Blenkiron P. 2009, Psychiatry in the Media. London: Royal College of Psychiatrists. Breel, K 2013, ‘Confessions of a depressed comic’, Retrieved September 18, 2015 from https://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_breel_confessions_of_a_depressed_comic Cichocki-Goss, K 2014, ‘Taboo Topics: Depression, Anxiety, Sexual Assault, and PTSD; the Influence of Stigma on Help Seeking’. Dudgeon, P., & Walker, R. (2015). Decolonising Australian Psychology: Discourses, Strategies, and Practice. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 3(1), 276-297. Gorman, D & Cross, W 2010, Cultural Issues in Mental Health”. Louch, P 2009, ‘Diagnosing and treating depression’, Practice Nurse, vol. 37, no. 10, pp. 42-48. Parle, S 2011, ‘How does stigma affect people with mental illness?.’ Nursing times, vol. 108, no. 28, pp. 12-14. Queensland Alliance for Mental Health 2010, From Discrimination to Social Inclusion. A Review of the Literature on Anti Stigma Initiatives in Mental Health. tinyurl.com/Queensland stigma. Walker, M.T 2006, ‘The Social Construction of Mental Illness and its Implications for the Recovery Model’, International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 71-87. Read More