Running head: Analysis of Mental Health Issues

Analysis of Mental Health Issues

Tiera T. Couch
Wayne State University
SW 3110
Professor Harrison
March 27, 2014

Running head: Analysis of Mental Health Issues

Discussing mental illness is considered taboo in some circles. Some people with mental
illnesses are socialized to feel ashamed of their conditions due to these beliefs. According to Fink
and Tasman (1992) persons with mental illnesses are subjected to being stigmatized (para. 1).
This practice comes from the ideas that are held by society about this population. Unite for Sight
(2013b) reported, Many cultures have viewed mental illness as a form of religious punishment
or demonic possession (para. 2). In the past, little was known about the origin of mental illness
so it was attributed to spiritual intervention. Fisk and Tasman (1992) account, In more recent
times, while such concepts are no longer prevalent, patients with mental illness continue to be
viewed as constitutionally weak, dangerous, and responsible for their own plight (para. 1).
Thoughts surrounding the mentally ill are not as dramatic as they were in the past, but the nature
of mental illness is still misunderstood by many.
Mental Illness and Stigma
On the website, Unite for Sight (2013c) the authors said, Mental illness stigma is
defined as the devaluing, disgracing, and disfavoring by the general public of individuals with
mental illnesses(para. 1). These individuals feel ostracized. They went on to state Stigma
often leads to discrimination, or the inequitable treatment of individuals and the denial of the
rights and responsibilities that accompany full citizenship("Unite for sight," 2013c, para. 1).
These social stigmas have caused mistreatment to trickle down into other systems. As reported
by Fink and Tasman (1992) Stigma against mentally ill persons is so pervasive that it affects
every aspect of their lives (para.1). They continue with It brings with it a multitude of
problems, from insurance, to housing, to jobs; stigma stops patients from getting the best
treatment, or at times from getting any treatment at all (Fink and Tasman, 1992, para.1).

Running head: Analysis of Mental Health Issues

Due to the stigmas placed on the mentally ill they were subjected to confinement ("Unite
for sight", 2013b, para. 2). Unite for Sight (2013b) explained how Although institutionalized
care increased patient access to mental health services, the state hospitals were often
underfunded and understaffed, and the institutional care system drew harsh criticism following a
number of high-profile reports of poor living conditions and human rights violations (para. 4).
In effort to reverse those conditions the mental healthcare moved from institutionalization
to community based care ("Unite for Sight", 2013b, para. 4). The idea was that community based
care would improve the standards of living for mentally ill individuals ("Unite for Sight", 2013b,
para. 4). As a result of this shift, mental health services in hospitals experienced cutbacks,
lessening access and availability to care which may be the cause for a strong correlation between
mental illness and homelessness ("Unite for Sight", 2013a, para. 10).
Work has been done to improve institutional environments for mentally ill patients, but
issues continue to exist. According to Fink and Tasman (1992) In hospital settings, psychiatrists
and mental health workers perpetuate the concepts of stigma (p. 2). When persons with mental
illnesses begin treatment the assumption is that they will have behavior difficulties. Because of
this stereotype, psychiatric unit professionals adopted a guilty until proven innocent approach
(Fink and Tasman, 1992, p. 2). Patients are required to follow strict rules and regulations in order
to earn privileges and they are also subjected to routines that are not conducive to giving them a
sense of normalcy (Fink and Tasman, 1992, p. 2).
According to Culhane, Draine, Hadley and Salzer (2002) the inability to cope with the
stresses of work, poor social skills, and diminished cognitive abilities have a diminishing effect
on the employability of the mentally ill (para. 22). Culhane, Draine, Hadley and Salzer, 2002,
stated One result of these perceived deficits is that persons with serious mental illness may not

Running head: Analysis of Mental Health Issues

know how to apply for jobs and may do poorly in job interviews (para. 22). Culhane, Draine,
Hadley and Salzer (2002) went on to state There is a strong link between educational level and
mental illness, and educational level is also an important factor in employment (para 26). They
assert that is also important to understand that symptoms over the course of a person's life may
have an impact on educational attainment, which also affects employment (Culhane, Draine,
Hadley and Salzer, 2002, para 27). Lack of education and goes hand in hand with the low
employment rates of the mentally ill.
The authors of Unite for Sight (2013c) stated, Attitudes toward mental illness vary
among individuals, families, ethnicities, cultures, and countries (para. 2). The text concludes
that Cultural and religious teachings often influence beliefs about the origins and nature of
mental illness, and shape attitudes towards the mentally ill and that these beliefs discourage
patients from receiving help ("Unite for sight", 2013c, para. 2). For example, studies show that
some African Americans are skeptical of the mental healthcare profession most likely due to
stigma, religious beliefs, distrust of the medical profession, and communication barriers (as
cited in "Unite for sight", 2013c, para. 5). In one study African Americans saw depression as an
individual deficiency. One third of those polled stated that it was an issue that should be solved
without outside help, and only a third revealed that they would accept medication as treatment
(as cited in "Unite for sight", 2013c, para. 5). These issues should be considered when seeking
help for this population (as cited in "Unite for sight", 2013c, para. 5).
Mental Illness a Real Life Perspective
For this paper, two individuals who wish to remain anonymous, due to the stigma
surrounding individuals with mental illnesses and their families were interviewed. To protect
their privacy, they will be referred to in this paper as s Nancy and Cher. Nancy is a twenty-seven

Running head: Analysis of Mental Health Issues

year old African American woman; she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of sixteen.
Cher is her grandmother. She raised Nancy since she was an infant. Nancys mother suffered
from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and she tried to drown Nancy when she was a baby and
she has not seen or heard from her mother since the incident (N. Murphy, personal
communication, March 21, 2014). Nancys paternal grandparents raised her.
Nancy has been arrested, and hospitalized and has trouble maintaining romantic
relationships and jobs (personal communication, March 21, 2014). Relationships with people
with mental illnesses are usually one sided, they require more support so, in turn, they receive
more than they give (Appleby, Colon and Hamilton, 2011, p. 215). The few friends she has are
sensitive to her disorder and in my opinion this sometimes enables her to seek professional help.
In the past Nancy was prescribed medications and received therapy, but she ended those
treatments because she felt they were not helping (personal communication, March 21, 2014).
Currently, she is trying to work through her disorder. This belief is in keeping with the earlier
statements of some African Americans ideas about mental health care.
Cher, Nancys grandmother, described the struggles of raising her as a frustrating and
confusing time (personal communication, March 21, 2014). She stated that during the times
Nancy spent hospitalized she would lie and say she was visiting relatives because she felt
ashamed (personal communication, March 21, 2014). She went on to say that she often blamed
herself for not being able to help her granddaughter and she also feels guilty for perpetuating
Nancys self hate by making her hide her condition (personal communication, March 21, 2014).
She remembers not allowing Nancy to go to sleepovers for fear of Nancy having a bad day, she
did no want to have to explain her behavior or look like a weak parent (personal communication,

Running head: Analysis of Mental Health Issues

March 21, 2014). Cher said that her fear of being judged led her to treat Nancy unfairly (personal
communication, March 21, 2014).
Mental Health in Social Work
It is important for social workers at the micro and mezzo level to be aware of the effect
that failures of mental healthcare system have had on the well being of people suffering from
mental illnesses. As reported by Unite for Sight (2013b) In many low- and middle-income
countries, the high cost of psychiatric treatment, often due to high medication prices, poses
significant financial barriers to patient care (para. 3). Psychological disorders are not covered
by insurance policies in many countries, making mental health care unaffordable for many
people ("Unite for sight", 2013b, para. 3). There is a disproportionate amount of people who can
afford the proper care.
It is common knowledge that a large proportion of the mentally ill is also living in
poverty ("Unite for sight", 2013b, para. 3). Culhane, Draine, Hadley and Salzer (2002) stated
Acknowledging this reality should help keep these social problems among persons with mental
illness in perspective (para. 48). This is important to remember when servicing mentally ill
clients in social work. Unite for Sight (2013c) stated Understanding individual and cultural
beliefs about mental illness is essential for the implementation of effective approaches to mental
health care ("Unite for sight", 2013c, para. 2) having this information increases a social
workers competency in seeking appropriate care for their clients.

Running head: Analysis of Mental Health Issues

References
Appleby, G., Colon, E., & Hamilton, J. (2011). Diversity, oppression, and social
functioning.

(3rd ed., p. 215). Boston: PEARSON.

Culhane, D., Draine, J., Hadley, T., & Salzer, M. (2002). Role of social disadvantage in crime,
joblessness, and homelessness among persons with serious mental illness. Psychiatric
Services , 53(5), Retrieved from

http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?

articleid=180245
Fink, P., & Tasman, A. (1992). Stigma and mental illness. (1st ed.). Washington DC:
American

Psychiatric Press.

Unite for sight: Module 1. (2013a). Retrieved from http://www.uniteforsight.org/mentalhealth/module1

Unite for sight: Module 2. (2013b). Retrieved from http://www.uniteforsight.org/mentalhealth/module2
Unite for sight: Module 7. (2013c). Retrieved from http://www.uniteforsight.org/mentalhealth/module7

Running head: Analysis of Mental Health Issues