Mental Health

Annotated Bibliography

Mental illness is a serious issue in the United States. Millions of people are living with mental disorders every day. Those afflicted with mental illness are often subject to ridicule and humiliation by the public. People react to the subject of mental health in a negative manner because they are misinformed and do not take the time to learn the facts about mental illness.

There are several stereotypes and misconceptions that are associated with mental illness. American society has adopted the belief system that mental illnesses are imaginary health issues; depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder are among the illnesses that are frequently under scrutiny of the public. Not only are mental illnesses viewed as imaginary, they are also deemed as illnesses for the weak-minded. There is a certain stigma associated with mental illness, especially within the black community.

Mental illness is quite real; in fact, mental illnesses are illnesses that affect a person’s actions, feelings, and the way that they think. Mental disorders are common in the United States, as well as internationally. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) there was an estimated 43.4 million adults in the United States with AMI (any mental illness) in 2015 (National Institute of Mental Health) http://nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/any-mental-illness-ami-among-us-adults.shtml.

The following references address mental illness and the stigma that is associated with it.

Santorius,N (2007). Stigma and Mental Health The Lancet, Volume 370, Issue 9590,810-811

This peer reviewed article discusses stigma and mental health and the way that stigma hinders people with mental health issues from receiving the care that is needed. This article also discusses how the stigma attached to mental illness leads to discrimination of individuals that are mentally ill. This article also states that due to the stigma associated with mental illness people that are suffering from mental illness are often treated with disdain and that the people that make the decisions regarding health care are reluctant to put resources into mental health care.

(2014, May 26). Health Central. Retrieved September 24,2017, from http://www.healthcentral.com Mental illness shortens life more than heavy smoking

This open web source discusses the lifespan of those with mental illnesses. According to the site researchers from the University of Oxford have found that those with mental illness have life expectancy that is far less than that of individuals that smoke heavily. The life expectancy of someone with mental illness is said to be reduced by ten to twenty years. The researchers believe that the life expectancy of someone with mental illness is lower than someone who smokes for several reasons, one being the stigma associated with mental illness causes people to not seek treatment. People with mental illness also engage in risky behaviors and suicide is also a major issue.

Feldman, D.B, & Crandall C. S. (2007). Dimensions of Mental Illness Stigma: What About Mental Illness Causes Social Rejection? Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology: Vol 26, (2), pp.137-154.

In this article the authors discuss what characteristics of mental illnesses lead to stigma and being rejected socially. The article states that participants of a study read case histories that showed individual with 40 different mental disorders and based off the disorders the individual were rated based on 17 dimensions to determine their willingness to reject these people on a social distance scale. There were only three dimensions needed for rejection, and they were personal responsibility for the illness, dangerousness, and then rarity of the illness.

Weir,K. (2012). The roots of mental illness How much of mental illness can the biology of the brain explain? Volume 43, (6).

This article discusses the root of mental illness. This article also discusses the difficulty in diagnosing a mental illness. In this article researchers have noted patterns of abuse during childhood in the brains of people who committed suicide. This article states that researchers as well as patients are seeking better biological descriptions for mental illnesses to help destigmatize them.

Wes Burgess, M,D., Ph.D. The Bipolar Handbook. New York: The Penguin Group, 2006. 27.

This book is from my personal library and it discusses bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder, which was previously referred to as manic depression, is a disease of the nervous system involving the brain and body. It is estimated that two