Essay on Mental Disorder and Society

To a larger extent, the statement of “the existence of any given mental disorder says more about society than it does about individuals diagnosed with it” is true. Yes, the given statement in question is true to a larger extent. Our environmental factors significantly sway our societal position. Individuals in our encompassing foster specific kinds of mentalities in our individual character. 

Firstly, people who are diagnosed with a mental disorder will always be perceived as “bad” due to stigmatization in mental health. In society, people automatically have societal roles and they are forced into following those roles.  Stigma influences people with a psychological sickness as well as the friends and family who support them, regularly including their relatives. For instance, Goffman's hypothesis of social stigma, a stigma is a characteristic, conduct, or notoriety which is socially ruining with a certain goal in mind: it is anything but a person to be intellectually arranged by others in a bothersome, dismissed generalization instead of in an acknowledged, ordinary one. Goffman described psychiatric hospitals as “total institutions,” where individual identity was “scrubbed clean.” Instead of being a whole person, people were reduced to a singular identity, the “psychiatric patient” (Week Five Slides). The stigma around psychological sickness is particularly an issue in some different racial and ethnic networks and it tends to be a significant hindrance to individuals from those societies getting to emotional well-being administrations. For instance, in some Asian societies, looking for proficient assistance for dysfunctional behaviour might be counter to social upsides of a solid family, passionate limitation and keeping away from disgrace. Stigma on mental disorders strains the relationship between self and society. Therefore, many individuals feel as though they should be silenced when talking about the matter because it can lead to a negative view of their own character. 

Secondly, social norms can affect the way mental disorders are perceived. At the point when people are constrained to adjust to society and follow a "customary way," it can prompt expanded pressure, discouragement, tension, and other antagonistic responses. This pressing factor from society can negatively affect one's emotional well-being. Norms are the informal rules for how one should act and behave. They are unwritten principles that help guide practices for individuals in the general public.  For instance, culture is a wonder that is affected by the gathering of individuals living in a specific region and addresses the contemplations, standards, and nature of that gathering of individuals and can be communicated. Consequently, the two standards and culture can be extraordinary and frequently are inconceivably unique in light of where you circumvent the world. The way of life in one geographic area will not be equivalent to the way of life in another space. The equivalent is valid for standards. The standards in a single local area may be totally unique in relation to standards in another.  This is valid at the full scale just as the miniature level. This means the standards in a single-family may be unique in relation to standards in another family directly nearby. The way of life and standards that we are encircled with affect our choices and can likewise affect our psychological wellness differently. According to David Cooper,  he argued that psychiatry’s notion of “mental health” was simply conformity to societal norms. To enjoy good mental health essentially means to follow the norms of society. In this regard, many of those called “mentally ill” are simply those trying to live more authentic lives. (Savelli 2020) (Topic 5A). While taking guidance from those in one's life can be useful, and paying attention to one's older folks can be helpful, it very well may be hazardous in the event that one doesn't get a say (or feels like they don't have a say) in settling on choices for their own life.  The "customary way" isn't for everybody. All individuals are unique and what is useful for one individual, may not be useful for another. Driving individuals to adjust, or in any event, constraining individuals into adjusting can be unfavourable to one's prosperity. This can influence one's psychological wellness in an assortment of ways including prompting wretchedness, anxiety, and expanded pressure. Plainly, it tends to be distressing to have society constraining one to accomplish something and continue in a way that they would prefer not to do. It tends to be discouraging and tension inciting, in the event that somebody decides to follow a "customary way" that they don't feel is ideal for them.

Thirdly,  stereotypes of people with mental disorders in society. What many people think when someone has been diagnosed with a mental disorder is “they are sick” “they are different”, which in turn would put those with mental disorders in their own category and people regard them as different or avoid them because they are “sick”. There are huge results to the public misperceptions and fears. Society has played a role in mental illnesses as they portray bad views on those who are diagnosed. An example of stereotype through the media is Batman’s fictional world of Gotham City is strongly grounded in many of the stereotypes that characterize portrayals of mental illness and its treatment. (Chapter 4). The villain in the show is the one who potentially has a mental illness and due to the generalizations of what mental dysfunction looks like, mental disorders are seen as “bad”, which many will avoid getting treatment in fear of the perception and impact it will have on their self-identity.  Mental healthcare practitioners themselves are subject to negative and potentially harmful depictions in media and entertainment. In the same way that people diagnosed with schizophrenia are frequently portrayed as violent, “evil psychiatrists”—Hannibal Lecter, Dr. Jonathan Crane, and others—disproportionately appear in films, comic books, and television series (Leistedt & Linkowski, 2014). Such depictions not only cast mental healthcare professionals in a negative light but also may further stigmatize mental illness more generally. (Chapter 4, p 89).  Generalizations about emotional wellness conditions have been utilized to legitimize harassment. A few people have been denied sufficient lodging, health care coverage and occupations because of their set of experiences of dysfunctional behaviour. Because of the shame related to the ailment, numerous individuals have discovered that they lose their confidence and experience issues making companions. From time to time, disgrace attached to emotional wellness conditions is inescapable to such an extent that individuals who presume that they may have a psychological well-being condition are reluctant to look for help inspired by a paranoid fear of others' opinion. Encounters of disgrace and separation are perhaps the greatest boundary to delightful life. 

In conclusion,  the existence of any given mental disorder says more about society than it does about individuals diagnosed with it. Those who are diagnosed have trouble adapting to the new way of life because life as they once knew is changed forever. Society has always seen mental illnesses as a stigma as there are many stereotypes on mental illness and many people avoid looking for help due to the social norms that follow a “normal” way of life.