Ending The Stigmatization Against Those With Mental Illness

Ending The Stigmatization Against Those With Mental Illness By: Georgia Canfield 4/25/16 Dr. Gullian Authors Goetzel, Ozminkowski, Sederer, and Mark estimated that around one in five Americans will be affected by some sort of mental illness in their lifetime (Goetzel, Ozminkowski, Sederer, Mark 2002). This study indicates that millions of Americans suffer from mental illness, which is often overlooked and still not fully understood. From a sociological perspective one could ask the following: What does society classify as a mental illness, who suffers from mental illness, how do those with mental illness interact with society, and how does society respond to those classified as having a mental illness. These questions can be answered by evaluating the stigma generally held by society about those who suffer from a mental illness and how they are in turn disadvantaged due to said stigma. Possible solutions for ending the stigma held include increasing public ads on mental illness, providing courses on college campuses about the prevalence and treatment of it, having frequent lessons in elementary and high school, widely accessible businesses and numbers that offer treatment and having those with mental illness tell someone they trust that they are suffering. Sociologist and author Ferrante provided an insight on how society interacts with those who have a mental illness when she explained,Show MoreRelatedWhen An Individual Has Lung Cancer, There Is An Immediate1411 Words   |  6 PagesIndividuals who suffer from a mental illness are often stigmatized by prejudice and discriminatory views or actions, through the stereotypical portrayals and mass media characterization of people with mental disorders. First, one must understand the reasons and origins of mental illnesses. 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