What Happens When Mentally Ill People Have Children By Michael Friedman Analysis

Decent Essays
1. How has the portrayal of mental health influenced how we view it and the stigma around it? How should mental illnesses be treated?
In his article "The Stigma of Mental Illness is Making Us Sicker," Michael Friedman discusses the negative attitudes that many people have of mental illnesses, which can lead to a negative stereotype and perception of those who have mental illnesses. This stigma and embarrassment may prevent people battling these illnesses to step forward and receive treatment. Friedman claims that these stigmas are fueled by the media's misrepresentation of mental illness by making the people living with them seem violent or dangerous. Friedman also addresses that medication and psychotherapy are efficient and that lifestyle
…show more content…
nurture). Fitch explains that mentally ill patients are not likely to take their needed medication and that their children are either removed from their parents or go into foster care. Fitch further supports his belief that the mentally ill, particularly women, should not have children because over "50 percent of mothers with severe mental illness lost custody of their child at some …show more content…
2017.

3. How can we measure if the mentally ill are able to function with a normal life such as having to take care of children?
In the article "How Mothers With Mental Health Issues Are Forced to Give Up Their Children," Frances Ryan explains that many mentally ill and disabled mothers are forced to give up their children to social services, and as a result are having to go to extremes, such as fleeing their home country in order to keep their child. Ryan claims that many mothers with mental health issues are constantly being judged about their ability to parent rather than being supported and encouraged in the process.

This article also carries factual information. It is from The Guardian, which is more left biased. This article deals with the same topic as the previous one (#2) did, but advocates more for the mothers who are battling mental illnesses and their right to keep the child. The media sight had it as a slight left bias, but its factual reporting is very high.

Ryan, Frances. "How Mothers With Mental Health Issues Are Forced to Give Up Their Children." The Guardian. 2 Dec.

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