Essay Sample on Mental Illness in Hamlet

The stigma wrapped around mental health is a very large topic that occurs a lot especially within males and theirs.  Since the beginning of time there has always been forms of stress, and anxiety.  It slowly moves into other disorders and illnesses such as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and or depression.  It was not until recently when treatments for mental health became liable sources to help and not hurt you.  Even though medications, therapy, and other forms of support are more available then they have been there still needs to be more attention brought to it especially the diagnosed.  This idea is also shown in Shakspeares ‘Hamlet’.  There needs to be a greater awareness made to mental health because of, toxic masculinity, accsess to counseling service, and to lower the suicide rate worldwide. 

One of the least talked about forms or mental health is ‘toxic masculinity’.  Toxic masculinity is defined as “adherence to traditional male gender roles that consequently stigmatize and limit the emotions of boys and men'' (according to Gender Issues vol. 38).  The definition can vary between people  but the underlay of a definition is all the same.  Men seem to have a thought process of not being able to demonstrate their feelings such as feeling as if they cannot be in  a depressive state, or even a state of weakness.  They may feel the need to hide emotions and not show how they really begin to feel.  According to Hamlet's Battle with Patriarchal Gender Identity volume 1 by Sarah Rigg “Because of Hamlet’s difference in tactics, he feels insecure and ashamed of his passivity.” (Rigg).   Hamlet has seemed to show signs of not being able to show any kind of vulnerability towards anyone and although it seemed rather strange that he barely felt remorse of his late father, keeping something like that all to yourself will eventually take a toll on you and seemingly others as well. 

Supporting this, While Hamlet visits the ghost it had appeared that he was almost nervous others wouldn't understand what he was talking about and or mentioning for example when Gertrude said, “Come, come, you answer with an idle (foolish)  tongue.”   (Shakespere 3.4.12) Based on the thought of this text it shows that Hamlet's mother seems to find him as a silly child and not a respected man who is next in the bloodline to ascend the throne.

In addition to bringing this one form of mental health into the light we also need to address the need to bring in more services and how to get the best treatment plan and recourse to still fulfill an incredible life.  As demonstrated in the play “Hamlet” there were several references of feeling lonely, and depressed.  For example when Ophila went to drown herself in the floods while mourning her father's death.  If services would have been available to her to gain help that she needed to fulfill the rest of her life, and to even get out of the adolescent phase to meet the prime of her life she may have chosen a different path.  Especially since it was very obvious that Ophila was beginning to slip into a state of madness after losing the possible love of her life and her very own father. “He is dead and gone, lady, He is dead and gone.  At his head a grass-green turf, At his heels a stone.” (Shakespeare 4.5.29-32). As the king and queen watch Ophila wonder she caught the sound of a tune Ophila is singing about her dead father.  It may have been possible that Ophelia's untimely death could have been prevented in this scene before she had “Taken herself to the floods' ' by having a service or a support system she could talk to about the way she was feeling in that moment. 

In addition, To show how the process of gaining access to a community and support to help level your mindset and outlook, there is something that strikes a very large nerve in mental health history. “The last insane asylum in America was closed in 2008” Psychologically Today said.  When you realize that the last closing building contained an electric chair, certain medications not being proved to work, and not monitoring after each patient carefully.  The last American Asylum closed no more than 15 years ago. Since then mental health services have become much more accessible to all, placing them in schools, churches, and work facilities providing care to those who need it most.

However although we had lost Ophelia to her untimely death, there is still hope for the rest of America and mankind as a whole. “Suicide is the 10th most leading cause of death” according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control).  About 1.4 million people every year have a suicide attempt and that number is still increasing.  To try to help lower these statistics counseling services and medications have been adapted into our culture and it is presumed that more will be released soon.  The fact that resources are also more available throughout schools, businesses, and outside sources is much more convenient to individuals who may be missing someone to connect and talk with.  “Having resources won't always fix every problem with every person but it could decrease the number by as we hope half” CDC states.

Although we have a better outlook and resources in the 21st century then back in the 1500s when the play Hamlet was written there were still people who tried to warn Hamlet, and possibly trying to save Ophelia.  As  Hamlet discovers that there may be a ghost of his father, he begins to speak interest in meeting said the ghost. One of the guards of the castle had warned sir Hamlet to not speak to the ghost by giving him a warning of “What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles o'er  his base into the sea,And there assume some other horrible form Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason And draw you into madness? Think of it.” Horatio had said.  Hamlet heard Horatio's words but decided to not listen, and went onwards and forward to meet the ghost who ended up sending Hamlet into a state of believing psychosis.

After reviewing all of this from a logical standpoint, it is believed that seems of toxic masculinity, counsling services, and lowering the suicide rate across the world, gives totally proof that mental health needs to be addressed more then they are already.  Millions of people lose their lives to mental illnesses and in the day in age, it is possible to lower the rate of citizens with mental health issues. For those who struggle there is a way to find help and to know that you are not alone and the community stands behind you.