Mental Health in the USA: Values, Ideology, and Improvement

This report provides a comprehensive overview of mental health in the USA, examining the values and beliefs of society towards mental illness. It explores the prevailing ideologies within communities concerning mental health, contrasting medical advancements with socio-cultural influences and stigma. The report critically analyzes the current mental health scenario in the USA, highlighting statistics and the impact of mental health policies. It also discusses the role of social stigma, fear, and discrimination in affecting mental health status and treatment. Furthermore, the report suggests strategies to improve mental health and welfare, emphasizing equal treatment, communication, and support for individuals experiencing mental health issues. The conclusion underscores the need for societal acceptance and support, advocating for viewing mental illness as a treatable medical condition.

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tudent s etailsS ’ D

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Contents
ntrodu tionI c .....................................................................................................................................1
alues and beliefs of so iet for ental ealtV c y m h h..............................................................................1
deolog in t e o unit for ental ealtI y h c mm y m h h................................................................................2
Criti al anal sis of ental ealt s enario in t ec y m h h c h USA....................................................................3
o to i ro e t e ental ealt and elfare of eo leH w mp v h m h h w p p .............................................................4
Con lusionc ........................................................................................................................................4
Bibliography....................................................................................................................................6

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ntrodu tionI c
Health is a fundamental right of every human being under the right to life. According to
World Health Organization, right to life is an international right which entails to every human
being for health and safety. This right empowers everyone to ensure their health including
physical and mental health. Mental health is a very sensitive subject in today’s social and
healthcare environment. Mental health is a level of psychological wellbeing of people. It is a
state of someone's mind where a person is efficiently functioning at emotional and behavioral
aspects with satisfactory level (Mental Health.Gov, 2020).
This discussion covers the values, beliefs, and perceptions of the individuals and society
for the mental health and mental illness. How individuals, community, and society react and
respond to mental health issues have been covered in this discussion. There are huge gaps lies
between mental and social values and believes of people. Thus, there is an acute need of policy
formation for mental health and social welfare in the country
alues and beliefs of so iet for ental ealtV c y m h h
There are diverse perceptions, assumptions, values, and beliefs of individual and society
or culture on mental health, mental illness, and mental health services. Generally, people
perceive mental health as the absence of mental illness. Attitude, value, and belief of people for
mental health issues vary among individual societies and countries. Cultural, social and religious
teachings influence the beliefs and values of people for mental health and Mental illness. These
values and beliefs also have a direct influence on the willingness and adherence of people for
seeking medical help on Mental illness. Although, today we live in a high advance and modern
era, yet there are many various values and beliefs of the people towards the mental health which

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creates discrimination with the people who are suffering from Mental illness (Unite for sight,
2020).
Studies reveal that people, who have mental health issues also suffer a decline in social
relationships and status. A large number of people in American society believe that mental health
is dangerous and untreatable. These negative stereotypes about individuals who are suffering
from mental illness also consider that mantle health is a subject that is difficult to talk about. The
society and individuals determine to mental health issues with public stigma. Results of this
public stigma and negative beliefs and perception of people and society towards mental health
issues, people who are suffering from these issues avoid seeking medical help and consider it as
not discussable issues (Bracke, Delaruelle, & Verhaeghe, 2019 ).
deolog in t e o unit for ental ealtI y h c mm y m h h
Available literature majorly gives two contradictory attitudes related to psychiatric or
mental health phenomena. On the one hand technology and medical advancement, full of
research and discoveries based on medical science that includes genetics, psychopharmacology,
neurobiochemistry, and neurophysiology. This mode of treatment is enriched with medical
models, knowledge of psychiatric disorders and psychiatric medical practices (Pinho, Kantorski,
& Olschowsky, 2014). But on another side, people still have a certain degree of mistrust due to
psychological and socio-cultural influences. People consider that origins, evolution, and
manifestations of mental illness are based on socio-cultural factors. People believe mental health
as supernatural phenomena (Guimón, 2004).
Although, available literature discussed both ideologies related to mental health, and how
individuals and society perceive mental illness. Yet the ideology of a persona who is suffering
from mental health disorders is different from society. The mental health ideology is widely

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influenced by social Stigma which creates discrimination and social exclusion. People who are
going through mental illness go through various types of discrimination such as termination from
employment, the threat of isolation, social, family exclusion and behavioral discrimination such
as humiliation (Löve, Bertilsson, & Martinsson, 2019). Current treatment ideology in the country
is not enough to address adequately to complex challenges of mental health disorders. This is
results in a significant number of disability in people, self-harms and death, murders,
employment, decreasing the moral and life standard of people.
Criti al anal sis of ental ealt s enario in t ec y m h h c h USA
Mental illness or mental disorders are common in the US. According to a report one in
five adults is experiencing mental health issues in the US. According to a data around 46.6
million young people in the country are facing mental health issues in 2017. The report also
shows that the number is higher in women (22.3%) than to men (15.1%). The mental health
issues are more common in younger people aged 18-25 years (25.8%)) then to the people who
are under ages 26-49 years (22.2%) and the number is slightly less in older people aged above 50
(13.8%) (NIH, 2020).
'Mental Health Policy' brought revolutionary changes in mental health ideology in the
country. The MHP believes in the wants, wishes, and support of the people who need mental
health assistance. The major principle of MHP is the recovery of the people from illness state
and people can be in meaningful engagement in society in spite mental health illness (Mental
Health Policy, 2020). Mental Health America (MHA) is committed to improving mental health
conditions as a crucial part of the overall wellbeing of people in the country.
The government of the country introduced a federal policy on social welfare programs
2017-2018 to provide financial helps to people who are unable to support themselves. Under this

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policy, the Medicaid program is running by the government. This program provides medical
insurance to people who have low income below a certain limit and people having disabilities. It
is the largest healthcare program in the country which is joined by the federal and state
governments of the country. In addition, federal and state governments in the country are
securing the rights of people who are suffering from mental illness. There are various legislations
and regulations that have been amended by the federal government such as Disabilities Act
(ADA), Affordable Care Act (ACA) the Rehabilitation Act, and the Mental Health Parity and
Addiction Equity Act (MPHAEA) (MHA, 2020).
Yet the social values beliefs and values of individuals and communities affect the mental
health status of the country. Fear of social stigma, fear of isolation and hospitalization,
relationship distance, fear of economic losses and losses of social status also suppress people not
to communicate about mental condition and illness. Also, some people have fear of long
treatment process and treatment methods such as Electroconvulsive therapy (Kilbourne, Beck, &
Pincus, 2018).
o to i ro e t e ental ealt and elfare of eo leH w mp v h m h h w p p
Mental health is much more than mental illness and it diagnoses. Mental health is the
mental wellbeing of people. To address mental health issues the individual, society and mental
healthcare provider needs to consider it a medical condition which is certain methods and
processes the treatment. Social exclusion, isolation of patients and believing it as taboo are
biased practices of the society and health care providers which may worsen the condition of
patients.
Mental Health Rights under human rights movements provides equal opportunities to all
and right to report against discrimination and ensure the safety of individuals and their family

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against any discrimination. These rights fight against discrimination and abuse on the mental
health condition of individual (Mental Health Rights, 2020).
Hence, the individual and society need to behave equally and support them to recover the
illness. Having communication with the patients, listening to their needs and wants, providing
them hygiene environment and adequate medical and social help will have a crucial role to
improve the mental health of concerning people.
Con lusionc
This discussion covers mental health phenomena, individual and social values, beliefs
and assumptions regarding mental health issues. In spite of revolutionary technology and
medical advancement, mantel health issues still consider as unacceptable and taboo in the
American or world society. There is two ideology related to mental health conditions, one
associated with biosciences including genetics and neurology studies and another is influenced
by cultural and religious aspects in the society.
Social stigma, isolation, and social exclusion are some evil practices which affect mental
health conditions and treatment process. Thus, the people or society needs to accept mental
illness as like to another medial illness and support people to recover the condition.

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Bibliography
Bracke, P., Delaruelle, K., & Verhaeghe, M. (2019 ). Dominant Cultural and Personal Stigma
Beliefs and the Utilization of Mental Health Services: A Cross-National Comparison. The
Frontiers sociology, 1-12.
Guimón, J. (2004). Theories and Ideologies in Mental Health. Boston: Springer.
Kilbourne, A., Beck, K., & Pincus, A. H. (2018). Measuring and improving the quality of mental
health care: a global perspective. World psychiatry, 30-38.
Löve, J., Bertilsson, M., & Martinsson, J. (2019). Political Ideology and Stigmatizing Attitudes
Toward. International Journal of Health Policy Management, 365–374.
Mental Health Policy. (2020). Mental Health Policy. Retrieved January 31, 2020, from Mental
Health Policy: https://www.mhanational.org/policy-issues
Mental Health Rights. (2020). Mental Health Rights. Retrieved January 31, 2020, from Mental
Health Rights: https://www.mhanational.org/issues/mental-health-rights
Mental Health.Gov. (2020). What Is Mental Health? Retrieved January 31, 2020, from Mental
Health.Gov: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health
MHA. (2020). The Federal And State Role In Mental Health. Retrieved February 2, 2020, from
Mental Health America: https://www.mhanational.org/issues/federal-and-state-role-
mental-health
NIH. (2020). Mental Illness. Retrieved february 2, 2020, from National Institute of mental
health: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml
Pinho, L. d., Kantorski, P. L., & Olschowsky, A. (2014). Ideology and mental health: analysis of
the discourse of workers in the psychosocial area. Texto & Contexto - Enfermagem.

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Unite for sight. (2020). Module 7: Cultural Perspectives on Mental Health. Retrieved January
21, 2020, from Unite for sight: https://www.uniteforsight.org/mental-health/module7