Mental Health Argumenative Project
by Marissa Winner
Thesis
Girl Scouts Engage In The Fight Against Mental Illness Stigma With Mental House Awareness Patch........................ Mental Health Weekly Digest, September 23, 2013
Supporting Details:
- Awareness on the subject has allowed the girls to become more interested in the subject, and willing to help out.
- Those affected by mental illness could be a classmate, mother, father, or anyone that you would come into contact with.
- "Mental illness carries a stigma that causes additional suffering and often is a barrier to treatment and support."
Analysis: These facts support my statement that eliminating the stigma on mental illness can help treatment. The key to eliminating this is awareness.
IU Study: 'Backbone' Of Mental Illness Stigma Common in 16 Countries Studied..................By The IU News Room on April 11, 2013
Supporting Details:
- "An international study found that despite widespread acceptance that mental illness is a disease that can be effectively treated, a common "backbone" of prejudice exists that unfairly paints people with conditions such as depression and schizophrenia as undesirable for close personal relationships and positions of authority."
- "If the public understands that mental illnesses are medical problems but still reject individuals with mental illness, then educational campaigns directed toward ensuring inclusion become more salient."
- Stigma is considered a major obstacle to effective treatment for many Americans who experience these devastating illnesses.
Analysis: Again, these researched facts prove that mental illness stigma stunts the growth of awareness. Less awareness means less knowledge on those who are mentally ill, and that can have a huge impact on their condition.
A Solution That Now Looks Crazy
The article supports the decline of mental illness stigma, but does not believe that it would have a large impact on violence. Only the most problematic patients should be seriously cared for. However, all of the mentally ill should be properly cared for in terms of where they live.
Supporting Details:
- "By the 1950s, slightly more than a half million psychiatric patients resided in overcrowded and underfunded state mental hospitals, often under appealing conditions."
- "Because only 4 percent of violence in the US can be attributed to people with mental illness, even giving all of them and psychiatric treatment would have a very small effect on violence overall."
- "We should focus our resources on the most problematic patients-the estimated 10% who are repeatedly hospitalized, imprisoned, or made homeless."
Analysis: These facts prove that the mental ill are constantly thrown into a cycle of homelessness and hospitals, so spreading the awareness can help. Also, the worst cases of the mentally ill should be taken special care of.
Argument: The mentally ill have the capacity to carry out a normal routine, but the stigma on mental illness makes it very difficult to do so.
Opposition: Mental Stigma has no impact on the mentally ill and does not affect their treatment.
Argument: The stigma on mental illness makes it difficult for patients ts to receive treatment and get better.
Opposition: There is no need to be aware of the mentally ill , because it will not affect you and your life.
Argument: A mentally ill patient could be anyone around you-from a classmate at school to your parents, grandparents, or coworker. There are a variety of diseases that classify a person as mentally ill. This is includes being bipolar, ADD, OCD, or autistic. It is always very helpful to be knowledgeable o the subject in case you ever come into contact with someone like this.