The Truth of Mental Illness
One of the key issues that propagates mental illness stigma is the misperception that it is not an illness--at least, not one in the sense that other physical diseases are. In reality, mental illness is just that: an illness. Although it's causes are more obscure and complicated, especially considering our limited knowledge of the brain and the nervous system, it should be treated as such. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) bases the classification of mental illness on the idea that it will disrupt the patient's life in a negative or harmful way, the criteria for any medical disease. Each mental disorder in the DSM, which is now in its fifth edition, has a list symptoms that serves as common language for psychologists, just as knowledge about the symptoms of sicknesses allows any standard physician to diagnose a patient. It is time for more than just the professionals to become aware of the truthful nature of mental illness.
In The Invisible Plague, Torrey and Miller urgently stress the effects of ignorance on widespread mental illness. They deem mental illness, or insanity, an epidemic,
"Living amid an ongoing epidemic that nobody notices is surreal. It is like viewing a mighty river that has risen slowly over two centuries, imperceptibly claiming the surrounding land, millimeter by millimeter. The people who once lived on the land have either died or moved away, and few of their relatives are aware that the river was once much smaller. Humans adapt remarkably well to a disaster as long as the disaster occurs over a long period of time.
Since the middle of the twentieth century there has been virtually no discussion of epidemic insanity. Like the mighty river, the high prevalence of insanity is accepted as a given and assumed to be similar to the prevalence of insanity of one hundred, five hundred, even one thousand years ago. The possibility of its having been otherwise is not considered and, when raised for discussion, is met with incredulity. Haven't you seen the river? How could you think that it was ever otherwise?" (Torrey and Miller 300-301).
Since the middle of the twentieth century there has been virtually no discussion of epidemic insanity. Like the mighty river, the high prevalence of insanity is accepted as a given and assumed to be similar to the prevalence of insanity of one hundred, five hundred, even one thousand years ago. The possibility of its having been otherwise is not considered and, when raised for discussion, is met with incredulity. Haven't you seen the river? How could you think that it was ever otherwise?" (Torrey and Miller 300-301).
The writers do not exaggerate. Mental illness has and will continue to rise, and instead of helping those affected most determinately ignore existence or deny its effects. Most people are not aware of the relevance of mental illness, but it affects individuals, communities, and societies in important ways.
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