Embedded Files
Mental illnesses are conditions that affect the brain. This then affects behavioral, emotional, and social wellbeing. “Nearly 1 in 5 (19 percent) U.S. adults experience some form of mental illness.” Mental illnesses can include functionality for regular daily activities. It also affects productivity and social relationships (Parekh).
When mental illness is mentioned, most people get very uncomfortable and refuse to talk about it at all. This attitude is not met with other physical illnesses. Struggling teenagers are reprimanded or disciplined for their conditions, which is not the case for other diseases or health states. Teens with mental illnesses are often told to “get over it,” or that “it doesn’t make sense for you to have this.” Our society has a mindset that the person is at fault for their mental illness. Psychological disorders are just as deadly as physical health conditions. The only difference is the manner it's met with (Hesman).
Today, many people use the phrases “mental health” and “mental illness” interchangeably. Everyone has mental health, but all at different levels. Not everyone has a mental illness. Mental illnesses are something that cannot be cured by a self-care day or walk in the park. Mental illnesses are disorders of the brain and need to be treated just like physical diseases (Maeroff).
A common myth about mental disorders is that they are fake or made up. These arguments claim that the illnesses aren't real because they are "just inside your head". This claim doesn't make any sense, because your brain is an organ too. It's like saying that asthma isn't real because it's just inside your lungs, and why couldn't you just breathe? You see, it's not that simple. Each organ is complex in different ways, especially including the brain. These people are uninformed and uneducated about the effects of mental illness ("Mental Health").
*Results from an anonymous survey of 20 DHS students*
Page updated
Report abuse