Brittany Tindal

Mrs. Hensel
English IV Honors
13 November 2014
Psychiatric Patient Care
In todays society, the opinions of others can affect someones decision, no matter what
the case may be. When we think about societys opinions, we think about music taste, fashion, or
whatever controversies happen to be in the news. Some individuals do not realize that their
opinion can affect someones treatment. Most people with a psychiatric disorder will not seek the
treatment they need and deserve because of the negative views society has on the subject.
In a society growing in intellects, one may be surprised at how many people do not know
what defines a mental illness. Mental Illness and the Family defines it as a disease that causes
mild to severe disturbances in thoughts and/or behavior, resulting in an inability to cope with
lifes ordinary demands and routines. Goldberg states, Mental illness is any disease or
condition that influences the way a person thinks, feels, behaves, and/or relates to others and to
his or her surroundings. Both of these definitions paint a pretty clear depiction of what a mental
illness really is. When uneducated on a subject assumptions are made. Because of this ignorance,
people with a mental disorder may be blamed for their illness or viewed as lazy (Doebbeling).
Some even give false information about a certain disorder simply because of lack of knowledge.
An example of this would be schizophrenia. A lot of individuals believe schizophrenia means
that the person with that particular disorder has a split personality. Although, the word
schizophrenia means Split mind, it refers to a disruption of the usual balance of emotions
and thinking (Schizophrenia). What some people fail to realize is that

many mental health disorders appear to have a biological component, much like disorders that
are considered neurologic (Doebbeling).
It is not just the individual with a psychiatric disorder that is affected, it is their family as
well. In Mental Illness and the Family, it states You may find yourself denying the warning
signs, worrying about what other people will think because of the stigma, or wondering what
caused your loved one to become ill. A family member may not know how to approach the
situation, but they need to remember to [a]ccept that these feelings are normal and common
among families going through similar situations (Mental Illness and the Family). No one is
completely alone in these types of instances. There are others fighting to get through this difficult
time and struggling to understand what they can do to help their loved one. Some families do
not know how to react to their loved one having a mental illness. One of the best things you can
do for you loved one is find out all you can about your loved ones illness by reading and
talking with mental health professionals (Mental Illness and the Family) and to share what you
have learned with others (Mental Illness and the Family). Also supporting them through these
troublesome times is another great way to help your loved one.
Mental illness is more common than one might think. Most people believe that mental
disorders are rare and happen to someone else (Mental Illness and the Family). According to
Mental Illness and the Family, An Estimated 54 million Americans suffer from some form of
mental disorder in a given year. Some just refuse to realize that mental illness is a growing
epidemic. Even though a large number of people have a mental illness, few actually receive
treatment. Nearly 50% of adults experience a mental illness at some point in their lives
(Doebbeling). Half of the population will suffer at one point or another and people still thinks it
is out of the ordinary to be diagnosed with a mental disorder. Despite this high prevalence of

mental illness, only about 20% of people who have a mental illness receive professional help
(Doebbeling). It is because they are being stigmatized due to the fact that they have a mental
illness. All of the negative attention psychiatric disorders get makes it hard for people with a
psychiatric disorder to get treatment. Most of these individuals will not seek the treatment they
need due to the judgementation they may receive.
Mental illness may be seen as less real or less legitimate than physical illness
(Doebbeling) which makes insurance companies and policy makers reluctant to pay for treatment
(Doebbeling). This makes it hard for those who have sought treatment to pay for all the
necessary doctors visits, therapies and/or medications that may be required.
Despite all the stigma, not everyone has a negative view on mental illness. According to
Meikle, Negative public attitudes towards people who have poor mental health could take a
generation shift He also states that more people now viewed mental illness as an illness like
any other Although some are recognizing this, a large number of the population still have a
negative perspective on the issue. It will take time for people to see mental illness as a legit
illness. One in six people believe a main cause of mental illness is lack of self-discipline and
willpower (Meikle). This goes back to people being uneducated about mental illness. If we
aspire to end the stigma surrounding mental illness, we must not rely simply on educational
campaigns (Meikle).
Society should understand that individuals can be deeply affected by the way a large
group of people perceive something. Too many people misunderstand mental illness, and as a
result, the mentally ill suffer. For the well-being of those affected with a psychiatric disorder, we
need to eliminate all the negative outlooks on the issue by educating society on the subject. We
need to come together as a community to get a better understanding of what a mental illness

really is. By doing so, people with a mental illness will seek out the treatment they deserve
without the fear of being judged for something they have no control over.

Works Cited
Doebbeling, Caroline Carney, MD, MSc. "Mental Illness in Society." : Overview of Mental
Health Care: Merck Manual Home Edition. Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Dec. 2012.
Web. 23 Sept. 2014.
Goldberg, Joseph, MD. "Mental Illness Basics." MedicineNet.com. MedicineNet, Inc., 14 Jan.
2012. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.
Meikle, James. "Attitudes Improving towards Mental Illness, Survey Shows." The Guardian.
Guardian News and Media, 8 June 2011. Web. 9 Sept. 2014.
"Mental Illness and the Family: Recognizing Warning Signs and How to Cope." Mental Health
America. Mental Health America, n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2014.
"Schizophrenia." Definition. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 24 Jan.
2014. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.