Mental Health Issues Around the World

This assignment delves into the significant stigma associated with mental health across various countries, particularly highlighting cases in Africa, Syria, and India. It examines how cultural beliefs and societal norms contribute to the marginalization of individuals experiencing mental illness. The paper further explores initiatives taken in Ontario, Canada, to combat stigma through education, positive portrayals in media, and accessible healthcare services. Finally, it proposes practical solutions for tackling mental health stigma at individual, community, and governmental levels, emphasizing the importance of awareness, empathy, and support.

Running head: ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH
Table of Contents
Answer 1..........................................................................................................................................3
Answer 2..........................................................................................................................................4
Answer 3..........................................................................................................................................4

2ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH
Answer 1
Mental health is highly stigmatized in various countries particularly in poor and war torn
countries like Africa, Syria and India. In West Africa mental disorders are considered a form of
witchcraft or black magic. People with mental illnesses are abandoned by their families. They
consider mental illness to be a form of bewitchment. The families abandon the person with
mental illness in the prayer centers, which are abundant in the country. The individuals are
chained to trees or rocks and they are forced to fast. According to them, God can heal them and
prayer is the only form of treatment. They have no food and shelter and suffer from
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, among others. Syria is a war torn country, where people see their
families get killed as a result of bombings. This affects their mental health, particularly the
children. They suffer from depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The children
have aggressive behavior, take up drugs, join gangs, drifts towards crime and violence and inflict
self-harm upon them. In India, people with mental illness are abandoned by families and they
end up in streets, where they suffer various forms of abuses. People remain chained in hospitals
and this had caused the death of a number of patients when the hospital caught fire. The patients
died in the fire as there were no one to unchain them. Mental illness is considered as witchcraft
and possessed by spirits.
Answer 2
In Ontario, Canada, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), reports
newsletters dealing with busting of social stigmas associated with mental health. Mental illnesses
are depicted in a positive light and positive portrayals are highlighted. Magazines focus on
depressions and reports the the personal struggles of individuals who have successfully battled

3ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH
various mental illnesses like depression. They also encourage the public to end discrimination
and stigma associated with mental illness. Various films and television shows are created, where
the characters deal with mental illness but they overcome their problems with the help of
medication and therapy. Medical health providers carry out counseling sessions and educational
system helps the students in coping with their illness and encourages them to achieve their
educational goals.
Answer 3
Education and awareness are the most important tools to fight against stigma centered on
mental health.
Individuals can take initiatives to develop medical centers, where medication and
counseling is provided. Moreover, children suffering from depression are subjected to various
healing programs like art therapy and visualizations, which helps them to visualize a comforting
and safe place.
Communities can carry out education programs and awareness campaigns to educate the
common people about mental illness. Healthcare providers can collaborate with non-Government
Organizations (NGOs) to carry out free counseling for poor people on the streets. Moreover,
volunteers can go to each and every house and provide intervention strategies like art and music
therapies and exercises for individuals suffering from mental illness. Communities can be
encouraged to provide safety, food and shelter for people who have been abandoned by families
as a result of their mental condition. Doctors can collaborate with traditional healers to provide
the best possible care to the patients. Lastly, employment can secure the lives of people coping
with mental disorders.

4ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH