Response to Ethan Watters article in the New York Times: The Americanization of Mental Illness - Essay Example

Response to Ethan Watter’s article in the New York Times "The Americanization of Mental Illness"why does America make mental illness socially unacceptable? Mental illness is an anomaly or psychological disorder which is reflected through personal behavior and is usually related to various disabilities and distresses. Mental illness is usually describes as a set of how an individual acts, perceives and thinks. This article by Ethan Watter describes the onslaught of various products through Western countries, particularly United States. They have even reached farther to impose our mental illness in other cultures too. Why America makes mental illness socially unacceptable or not is a long heated debate and is explained in detail. If we are able to globalize Big Mac burgers and Nike shoes, then it doesn’t seem very difficult to have same kind of illness influence around the world in other cultures. I do believe that if we can globalize clothing, restaurants, and products, then it’s not too far of a stretch that with the meshing of cultures we could also globalize our illnesses. This article explains anorexia and depression are forms of Western Illnesses and they are spreading around in various parts of the world where they were initially not described as common part of illness. The article explains us that it is because we see these medical disorders in other cultures, that is why we decide to treat them in the same way that they would b treated in Western world. However the article doesn’t seem to be concerned about the illnesses that were found in United States. This article further explains that helping those who are mentally disable is completely misleading as one shoe cannot fit everyone. According to United States, people who are suffering from mental disorders are being imposed with economic stress. This in turn acts as a negative impact on the most fruitful years of work. This not only affects the individual but its family and mainly the society bringing great economic loss. This is also one of the reasons why United States make mental illness socially unacceptable. Stigmatizers usually assume that an individual who is stigmatized will eventually engage in immoral behavior towards others. It further describes that patients with mental disorders place great pressure on the society and are a source of potential danger towards citizens living around and the society on a whole. This dangerousness of the mentally ill people usually occurs due to poor habits that were previously inculcated in them. Mentally ill people are not only a threat for themselves but they also lack certain human qualities that a normal human being has. It is because, mental illness is not related to ones will or within one’s control but it is a biological foundation that will remain out of control of an individual. However, Professor Bennett Leventhal of the University of Illinois Medical Center argued that this perspective is at odds with the campaign’s intent, which was to “ ‘…speak to the point that these are real diseases and if you don’t do something they can consume your child’ ” (as cited in Kaufman, 2007). This mental illness aids in social exclusion and also impedes recovery. Mental illness is an experience that is extremely isolating. This isolation can further be worsened if it gets combined with other experiences of isolation and social stigma. People get socially isolated and enter its vicious cycle after they are diagnosed with their mental disorder. This diagnosis is also disturbing as it not heals an individual back to normal but it further deteriorates the situation and leads to greater isolation from society. This mental illness damages the society as whole because it proves difficulties in maintaining relationships, maintaining daily tasks and informal and formal networks. As we move further, there are laws that also highlights the low significance of mentally ill people in the society and the laws that are specially derived for such people. For instance, there are laws that if someone is mentally ill, he/she cannot sell his/her apartment as they are mentally deprived to make right decisions. Other people’s attitude towards mentally ill people is also very crucial. Mentally ill people end up with negative outcomes which includes stigma and discrimination. Further, they also add to the longevity of disadvantage and disablement. Discrimination and Stigma are the two factors that are the main cause of hindrance in recovery as they certainly reinforce social exclusion at systematic and individual level. According to a research, it is estimated that one third of employers believed that people with mental illness or stupid and act foolish which disturbs the corporate environment and the society. Therefore they are reluctant to hire such people. Fighting such attitudes and stereotypes is the difficult act of all and one of the most crucial aspects of promoting mental health to all. However, Graffam and his partners refers to several studies that proves previous positive work related experiences make employers much satisfied and thus leading them to show positive attitude towards hiring more people even with mental disorders. Hence it proves that it is all about a myth, and once this myth is broken down by exposure with those facing mental disorder, attitude changes a lot. Moreover, it is believed that because we try to highlight our problems and take various forms of medicines to counter these problems, we think that others should do the same. I think that as the article seems to discuss, we are just trying our best to manipulate other’s cultures and their illness to what suits us and our thought. Instead, we are just making an innocent attempt to make those illnesses better by practicing our own methods. For instance, mental illness such as schizophrenia differs from culture to culture. No one yet can understand why does it happen and who gets it or not, and that the collaboration on medical treatments can prove fruitful. The article therefore explains well why United States consider mental illness as socially unacceptable as it not only affects an individual adversely but also effects the society and even the corporate environment if anyone working for. Whether other countries should adopt the same approach or not depends upon the theoretical approach adopted. Works Cited WebMD Inc .Mental Health: Types of Mental Illness (2005, July 01). Data Retrieved on 24th Nov 2012. United States Department of Health & Human Services. Overview of Mental Illness (1999). Data Retrieved on 24th Nov 2012 Read More