Thoughts on Mental Health

At a very young age, my aunt developed schizoaffective disorder, a condition that resulted in episodes of auditory and visual hallucinations. She in particular was unique in that almost all cases of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder begin in early adulthood, not childhood. Consequently, she spent most of her childhood without the proper treatment. After years of denying her condition, one doctor with the support of our family was able to give her proper treatment. Today you would not be able to even recognize that anything had been wrong, which is why it was such a shock to me to learn her story. I discovered that much of my family and friends had suffered some sort of mental illness during their lives. They were all very lucky to receive the right care, but most Americans with these conditions are not as fortunate.

In this day and age healthcare has become more accessible than ever. For the first time in centuries science has led to major advances in the treatment of mental illnesses. Yet with all the major landmarks made in managing these conditions, many people are forgoing treatment. Across the globe, many cultures are conditioned to ostracize the mentally ill, and even reject them. Even in the United States, negative perceptions of these disorders influences the relationships the ill have with family, friends, and peers. The solution to getting help for these people is to educate. Misconceptions, rumors, and failures to communicate are major contributors to the negative perceptions of the mentally ill. Teaching others how these disorders really work is key to ending the stigma surrounding these people. Being more comfortable talking about these problems will not only improve one's relationship to someone with a disorder, but also their health.