Persuasive Essay On Mental Health

Mental health is currently not being taken as seriously as physical health. Why? David Cameron (former PM) says, “We have focused a lot on physical health and we haven’t as a country focused enough on mental health.” Since the NHS was founded in 1948 there has been a strong barrier of separation between the two. It seems to be that physical health is generally strongly favoured over mental health. This needs to stop - they need to be treated equally in society, workplaces and hospitals.

Statistics state that mental illness is estimated to be higher in blacks than in whites. One of the contributing factors to why blacks aren’t being cared for when they have a mental illness is because of the stigma that mental illness doesn’t exist within the community. According to Plowden (2006), “ African American men often differ in their presentation of depression and are often misdiagnosed. African American men are at greater risk for depression, but they are less likely to participate in mental health care.” This is due to the

Roughly one in every five adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. Yet, with that many people being affected, there is still a stigma surrounding mental illnesses. However common, it is not yet something people want to talk about. When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they aren’t told that they aren’t getting better because they simply “aren’t trying hard enough.” Paraplegics aren’t called lazy because they can’t walk. Yet for some reason, people have no problem telling someone with depression that they should just “try harder” to be happy, or someone with ADHD that they are simply being lazy, and could focus if they wanted to. It is undeniable that mental health is something that we as a society don't like to talk about. Perhaps it is because it is something we simply don't yet understand.

Eric Windeler lost his son Jack Windeler; a student at Queen’s University, just over five years ago to

Introduction: Providing mental health care in the black community is a great challenge and combating the stigma associated with the illness, black communities need to be more open and accepting.

The media coverage of this year's presidential election rages on. Meanwhile, meaningful mental-health reform legislation introduced in Congress has been relegated to the back burner. What was to be at the top of the 2016 House agenda, according to House Speaker Paul Ryan, has been pushed aside while Congress focuses on the politics of the election. We have a presidential election every four years. We have a mental-health crisis in this country 365 days a year, every year. We only hear about the mass shootings that make the national news; yet tragedies involving untreated mental illness occur daily throughout this country and will continue to do so until Congress passes meaningful mental-health reform legislation. Yes, this year's presidential election is important. So is mental-health reform. Seriously disturbed people struggling with mental illness need help now, not after the election, not next year. They need it now.

There is an inadequate amount of study on the mental health in the black community because of the stigmas that come along with it as well as the distrust for medical personnel and due to the role that the church plays in the community. A common notion in the black community is this idea that African Americans have already been through a lot as it is and therefore do not need to be further stigmatized through media or any other medium that could do further damage. The lack of trust between Blacks and Whites is also a very big deterrent for blacks wanting to essentially put another label on themselves. Rebecca Solnit who is the author of a essay called “A Field Guide to Getting Lost” has a quote that symbolizes in a way the complex cultural thoughts regarding mental health. The quote

Black men have never been able to fully express themselves without getting ridiculed by society. “Research on masculinity and manhood with Black men has found their ideas of manhood to be different from those “traditional” male characteristics (Chaney, 2009; Hammond & Mattis, 2005; Hunter & Davis, 1992; Mincey, Alfonso, Hackney & Luque, 2014).” There is an unwritten rule book of telling how a Black man is supposed to act and think. That is why most Black men feel the need to hide their emotions

I would like to start with this comment made by Dr. Laura, “I was going to go out and play basketball. My bodyguard and my dear friend is a black man. And I said, ‘White men can't jump; I want you on my team.’ That was racist? That was funny. ” Personally, I do not find any humor behind her statement. As we have discussed in class, benevolent racism can be as harmful as overt racism. Labeling a person can lead to prescribe stereotypes and discrimination. In this case, a Black male is likely to feel forced to fit this stereotype, otherwise he will be perceived as incapable or “not Black enough.”

As Boyd and Fales (1983) purported, reflective learning encourages and facilitates changing perspectives, as has occurred in my reflection and renewed outlook on mandatory mental health treatments.

Untreated mental health issues have many different outcomes, including homelessness, withdrawal from social activities and other people, and unfortunately suicide. Minorities are even more at risk as it is proven that they are becoming increasingly less likely to use mental health services when they are needed. Both Hispanics and African-American seek mental health treatment at half the rate of Caucasians in the United States, and Asians only seek treatment at about a third of the rate of Caucasians. African-Americans are also less likely to seek mental health care the more they are educated, while Caucasians see increased usage with higher education. Suicide rates have also climbed with minorities, with Hispanic girls in their teens having a 60 percent higher rate of suicide than their Caucasian counterparts. Culture and stigma about mental health are part of the problem. “A lot of immigrant families don’t feel comfortable turning to counseling services because there might not be someone there who will understood them and some of the unique cultural issues they face.” (PBS, Resources: Minorities and Mental Health, 2009).

During the “Change Direction” mental health event, First Lady Michelle Obama said, “At the root of this dilemma is the way we view mental health in this country. ... Whether an illness affects your heart, your leg or your brain, it’s still an illness, and there should be no distinction.” Unfortunately, there is a difference in the way society views mental illness compared to other ailments in the body. Stigma around mental illness has had immense adverse effects on the willingness of undiagnosed suffers to seek treatment when they need it. As a result of this, one in five people with a mental illness will not get the treatment they need (Abrams). This has led to significantly higher suicide rates. In an effort to reduce stigma around mental illness, so that more undiagnosed sufferers seek treatment, schools should devote more time to increasing awareness of mental illness and its effects.

Going to a place where poverty reigns supreme really makes you appreciate what you have. In past years the city of Detroit has taken on a less than admirable reputation. Crime and poverty are often associated with the former car capital of the Midwest. Most people wouldn’t want to step foot in the city, afraid of what they might experience. But if I had the chance to go back, I would take it in a heartbeat. Detroit is living proof that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

It’s very important to comprehend that you will be living life with a mental illness. It’s not going to go away; it’s not going to be unproblematic. Like diabetes and other illnesses, it’s here to stay and that’s okay. In no way will you let your mental illness live your life and control you mentally and physically on a daily basis. No more laying in bed the majority of the day, continuing to be depressed and allowing anxiety and additional mental illnesses have power over you. It’s your time to live and benefit from the life you want.

All of the training and hard work I have done all comes down to this one moment: I can either fail or succeed. Everyday I dream of being the first person to cross the finish line. I dream of my coaches faces lighting up after the race. To achieve this though, I have to be pushing myself as hard as I can: until my legs go numb and taking breaths becomes harder and harder every second. I have to wake up everyday and have motivation and know that it is possible, I could win the whole race.