When the term mental illness is used, it might bring to mind someone violent and unstable, someone like Norman Bates from the film Psycho who will fit the image of insanity. Mental illness can sound scary, but it 's more common than people think and comes in many different shapes and forms. It is not something that is regularly discussed, nor is it a topic most people are properly educated on. However, if schools were to teach about mental disorders, it could help a lot. Offering education about mental health in schools could help erase stigma and enable more people to reach out for help.
The stigma surrounding mental illness can have harmful effects. Stereotypes and prejudices can cause mentally ill people to face discrimination, with the possibility of even losing their jobs. A solution to this dilemma is to teach about mental disorders in school. If people are more educated, they will have a better understanding of what mentally ill people experience. A lack of understanding is the root of the problem. For example, mentally ill people can have a very difficult time finding jobs, or even after they are hired. In 2014, 80% of people with a mental illness were unemployed, largely due to the stigma surrounding mental illness in our society (Szabo, par 1). Employers can feel reluctant to hire someone if they are aware of their disorder, and could also let them go if they feel the illness could be a threat to the person themselves or those around them. The negative ideas surrounding mental illness can hold those with disorders back in their day to day lives and careers. However, if people were more educated on the topic, they would be able to understand what the employee is going through and what their limitations might be, and they could work with them instead of against them. If mental illness was taught about in schools, it could also help young people recognize an illness they might have. Symptoms of mental illnesses are often misunderstood. For example, schizophrenia is a disease many people …show more content…
Depression, for example, is a very misunderstood illness. A survey of Tarrant County by Mental Health Connection in 2004 found that 60% of adults believe depression can be cured by “pulling yourself together”(“Mental illness and stigma”). This kind of attitude can be harmful to depressed individuals. It can make them blame themselves or feel too ashamed to get help. But if there were more awareness on exactly what depression is, people would be more sympathetic to those afflicted with it. Depression isn 't the fault of someone who has it. It is a brain disorder that they can 't control and it, along with many other mental illnesses, can be fatal if left untreated. This is why education on mental health is so important. Along with helping young people recognize symptoms in themselves, it can also help prevent suicide. The third leading cause of death for young people from ages 10 to 24 is suicide, and it doesn’t have to be that way. Suicide is a very difficult topic, one that doesn’t receive much attention or conversation. People can feel bad about having suicidal thoughts or they might not even know how to tell someone. However, if it were easier to talk about mental illness, it would also be easier for people to seek help if they start thinking of suicide. The place to start for this is educating young
The stigma surrounding mental illness can have harmful effects. Stereotypes and prejudices can cause mentally ill people to face discrimination, with the possibility of even losing their jobs. A solution to this dilemma is to teach about mental disorders in school. If people are more educated, they will have a better understanding of what mentally ill people experience. A lack of understanding is the root of the problem. For example, mentally ill people can have a very difficult time finding jobs, or even after they are hired. In 2014, 80% of people with a mental illness were unemployed, largely due to the stigma surrounding mental illness in our society (Szabo, par 1). Employers can feel reluctant to hire someone if they are aware of their disorder, and could also let them go if they feel the illness could be a threat to the person themselves or those around them. The negative ideas surrounding mental illness can hold those with disorders back in their day to day lives and careers. However, if people were more educated on the topic, they would be able to understand what the employee is going through and what their limitations might be, and they could work with them instead of against them. If mental illness was taught about in schools, it could also help young people recognize an illness they might have. Symptoms of mental illnesses are often misunderstood. For example, schizophrenia is a disease many people …show more content…
Depression, for example, is a very misunderstood illness. A survey of Tarrant County by Mental Health Connection in 2004 found that 60% of adults believe depression can be cured by “pulling yourself together”(“Mental illness and stigma”). This kind of attitude can be harmful to depressed individuals. It can make them blame themselves or feel too ashamed to get help. But if there were more awareness on exactly what depression is, people would be more sympathetic to those afflicted with it. Depression isn 't the fault of someone who has it. It is a brain disorder that they can 't control and it, along with many other mental illnesses, can be fatal if left untreated. This is why education on mental health is so important. Along with helping young people recognize symptoms in themselves, it can also help prevent suicide. The third leading cause of death for young people from ages 10 to 24 is suicide, and it doesn’t have to be that way. Suicide is a very difficult topic, one that doesn’t receive much attention or conversation. People can feel bad about having suicidal thoughts or they might not even know how to tell someone. However, if it were easier to talk about mental illness, it would also be easier for people to seek help if they start thinking of suicide. The place to start for this is educating young