In recent events, the mistreatment of individuals with mental health issues has led to detrimental outcomes. In today’s society, there is a large negative stigma behind mental illnesses due to the lack of public knowledge and general stereotyping. When someone reveals some mental health issue like depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), they are treated differently. When an individual is suffering from food poisoning, they are not told they have to “at least make an effort,” or it is like they are “not even trying.” A victim of a physical wound is not told that they should change their frame of mind and that will make them feel better. A individual who suffers
…show more content…
There is a need for change regarding the stigma behind mental illnesses, disorders, and diseases, which includes how to prevent certain issues and rehabilitate victims, how they should be perceived by society and covered by health care in the same way physical injuries are, and how those who are not given aid could pose a threat to themselves and others around them as consequences. Since the mid-eighteenth century, citizens have been attempting to change the stigma and social awareness around mental illnesses and how to go about accepting them. French and American physicists Philippe Pinel and Benjamin Rush attempted to “introduce humane ‘moral treatment’ to replace the often cruel treatment that once prevailed” (Mental Health). Although they posed many reasonable alternatives, the need for change was not met. This was due to the mentality of the general public during that time. Mental health issues were not taken seriously and were often thought to be fake or were generally alarming. Few people attempted to change the stigma and attempt to provide help …show more content…
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is referred to as the “psychiatrist’s bible.” This book is used by doctors, therapists, and health insurers as a reference for mental illnesses. The 1994 fourth edition of this manual includes over 350 mental disorders, which shows growth from the first edition which included 60 (Current Controversies 18). The extensiveness of the manual allows for the necessity of complete clarification. Under a specific disorder, like depression, the broadhead term can be specified to things like reactive depression, endogenous depression, psychotic depression, manic depression, or chronic depression. Each of which include many different definitions and specifications (Ayer 11). Depression can be diagnosed by a doctor through long periods of sadness, major change in weight, insomnia, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness, and thoughts of suicide. This disorder can be caused by many different things, depending on the specific depression. Reactive depression is a result of some significant and stressful event in an individual’s life. On the other hand, endogeneous depression is caused by an imbalance of chemicals within the body. Psychotic depression is caused when the individual is disorganized or
There is a need for change regarding the stigma behind mental illnesses, disorders, and diseases, which includes how to prevent certain issues and rehabilitate victims, how they should be perceived by society and covered by health care in the same way physical injuries are, and how those who are not given aid could pose a threat to themselves and others around them as consequences. Since the mid-eighteenth century, citizens have been attempting to change the stigma and social awareness around mental illnesses and how to go about accepting them. French and American physicists Philippe Pinel and Benjamin Rush attempted to “introduce humane ‘moral treatment’ to replace the often cruel treatment that once prevailed” (Mental Health). Although they posed many reasonable alternatives, the need for change was not met. This was due to the mentality of the general public during that time. Mental health issues were not taken seriously and were often thought to be fake or were generally alarming. Few people attempted to change the stigma and attempt to provide help …show more content…
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is referred to as the “psychiatrist’s bible.” This book is used by doctors, therapists, and health insurers as a reference for mental illnesses. The 1994 fourth edition of this manual includes over 350 mental disorders, which shows growth from the first edition which included 60 (Current Controversies 18). The extensiveness of the manual allows for the necessity of complete clarification. Under a specific disorder, like depression, the broadhead term can be specified to things like reactive depression, endogenous depression, psychotic depression, manic depression, or chronic depression. Each of which include many different definitions and specifications (Ayer 11). Depression can be diagnosed by a doctor through long periods of sadness, major change in weight, insomnia, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness, and thoughts of suicide. This disorder can be caused by many different things, depending on the specific depression. Reactive depression is a result of some significant and stressful event in an individual’s life. On the other hand, endogeneous depression is caused by an imbalance of chemicals within the body. Psychotic depression is caused when the individual is disorganized or