Argument Against a President Having a Mental illness - Essay Example

Argument Against a President Having a Mental illness Mental health problems constitute a serious concern today. They consist of a great variety of conditions that considerably affect or totally subdue one’s life and social functioning. In general, they remain widespread and affect people of different socioeconomic statuses and communities. Today, it is recognized that one of the issues that people with mental health problems can face is stigma and discrimination that can find its manifestation in prejudices, negative attitudes, and unequal access to job opportunities.

Such attitudes are viewed as immoral and the ones that undermine basics of a democratic society. However, there are cases in which restraining individuals with mental illness from a post is necessary for protecting the wellbeing of citizens. Therefore, I argue that a person with mental illness, such as bipolar disorder should be prohibited from doing the job of the President of the United States. To start with, it is essential to make a brief insight into the features of the bipolar disorder to realize why allowing a person with such condition to take responsibility of the country is irrelevant.

The following illness was chosen as an example because a person can live with it for years without suffering from any symptoms, but then, they can unexpectedly appear and create numerous problems. Bipolar disorder belongs to depressive disorders that result in extreme and deep feelings of sadness, irritability, emptiness, loss of interest in life, inability to feel pleasure, concentrate, and other many other debilitating symptoms. (Coryell, 2013) Yet, a distinctive peculiarity of the bipolar disorder is that the prolonged depression alternates with episodes of mania, characterized by high levels of activity, extreme recklessness, and feeling of power.

However, both depressive and manic episodes lead to the decreased ability to make sound and well-though judgments which has a profound influence on all aspects of life. It seems obvious that bipolar disorder is not compatible with the post of the President of the United States since it can pose danger for the well-being of citizens, international relationships, and the country as a whole. A crucial problem in this regard is that person’s actions become unpredictable and cannot be trusted. A president with bipolar disorder would be inclined to risky endeavors and impulsive behaviors and ideas that could touch upon healthcare and economic politics as well as upon military campaigns and all possible contracts with other countries.

This can lead to monetary losses, disorder in a country and, eventually, to the decreased trust of the world. Importantly, the course of mental disorders cannot be fully predicted as well as there are no guarantees that a person is cured forever. It is recognized that although the symptoms of bipolar disorder can be taken under control by antidepressants and mood stabilizers, such as lithium, and psychotherapy, it is not curable today. (Coryell, 2013)Therefore, episodes of mania and depression can occur at any time and be even hidden from the public eye when their intensity is low.

Subsequently, it would be logical for people to constantly question the relevance of president’s policies and suggestions, assuming that they might be dictated not by a sound mind but by a mental condition. It is doubtful that such president will be at all successful at gaining votes of citizens. Although destigmatization of people with mental illnesses is important today as a condition of their increased wellbeing and social functionality, it is important to make sure that other people are protected from the affected population.

Thereof, a person with mental illness such as bipolar disorder can be regarded as inappropriate for the post of the President of the United States. Such illnesses are not curable and continue throughout the whole life of individuals. Consequently, such president will have impaired judgments and bring considerable harm to citizens and other countries by making risky decisions or abstaining from responsibilities in critical for the country situations due to being depressed. References Coryell, W. (2013). Depressive disorders.

Merck Manual, Retrieved from http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/mood-disorders/depressive-disorders Grison, S., Heatherton, T., & Gazzaniga, M. (2015). Psychology in your life. (1 ed.). Norton & Company, Inc.