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Mental Health in the U.S. - Coggle Diagram
Mental Health in the U.S.
Western Approach
The Western view of mental illness is from a medical perspective as a diagnosis.
After being given a diagnosis, how much does this feed into a feeling of being disabled and internalizing societies stigmas?
Within society, the western approach may be limited in effectively addressing all cases of mental illness.
Historical trauma, childhood trauma, and cultural beliefs regarding a diagnosis are all important aspects of addressing mental illness that need to be taken into consideration.
Mental illness has been addressed with a western approach through institutions, doctors, and medications to suppress symptoms.
Removes autonomy and agency. How well does this approach encourage independence versus dependance/reliance on doctors and medications?
Alternative Actions
Alternative perspectives to explore cultural beliefs, and practices, too managing and strengthening their mental health outside of the medical setting.
Along with strengthening their mental health, alternative perspectives can heel underlying issues of trauma and instill a sense of identity and purpose.
Peer support, and support groups, allows individuals to share their stories.
Meets the needs of community and connection that are not being met within the mental health system.
Teaching of mental health in public education and bringing mental illness to the public eye prevents and battles stigma in society.
Addressing stigma is a necessity that needs to continually be addressed to provide an accurate depiction of mental illness and create a safe environment for those struggling with mental illness.
If mental illness was accurately portrayed through media, and it was no longer stigmatized, would the public's support of individuals struggling with mental illness increase? How much?
Institutions
Prisons have replaced asylums in housing those who are experiencing severe mental illness and lacking appropriate and adequate care to effectively help them.
Instead of fixing the problem, prisons are housing individuals for a period of time and stabilizing them.
This is not a long term solution to helping individuals with mental illness.
Not all housing and shelters are equipped to assist individuals with mental illness in maintaining medication regiments, wellness, and some individuals end up back on the streets and/or prison.
Some individuals are set up for criminalization when adequate support for managing mental health is not provided and their behaviors place them in prison.
Is this reinforcing stigmas surrounding mental illness?
There is a cycle of rehospitalization and reincarceration when individuals are not given the persistent care that some may need.
The cycle places an over reliance on prisons to take care of those who experience mental illness.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Perceptions
Individuals who experience mental illness may worry of speaking out due to the stigma and societies perception of mental illness.
Staying quiet in regards to mental health limits how effective a social support network is. Staying quite also makes addressing stigma more difficult.
Without adequate education, or a general understanding, of mental illness, individuals experiencing mental illness may feel or be ostracized by their family and/or society.
Not only does this reinforce stigma, but some individuals with mental illness are pushed away or ostracized by family and friends.
Managing mental illness is not something that can be done by "just trying hard enough". Some times medication and/or extra community support for the individual as a person is important.
Media’s portrayal of mental illness supports the stigma associated with this in society. Individuals who experience mental illness are seen as violent, criminals, and shameful.
This is a miss-representation and individuals who experience mental illness are more likely to be victims of violent crimes, not the perpetrator.
Lack of Resources
When alienated from families and communities, individuals who experience mental illness struggle to find social support and housing.
Isolation does not promote mental health, and community resources that promote social support for individuals experiencing mental illness are critical.
When individuals who experience mental illness are incarcerated, their financial support through Social security Disability stops and it can take a few months, after they are released, to begin again.
It is essential to develop resources within communities to support reintegrated individuals who are experiencing mental illness. They experience stigma regarding mental illness and criminal conviction.
Following deinstitutionalization, the lack of support within society leaves individuals managing their own mental health while also experiencing potential stressors, such as finding housing and work.
This lack of support has continued to persist. Physiological needs, such as food, water, and shelter, need to be met in order to focus on other areas of health, such as mental health.