Throughout the duration of Psychology 1010, I have learned much about mental health
and its impacts on our lives. In the course I have enjoyed the discussions and readings on
different techniques of handling and diagnosing mental illness, and the issues that are often
associated with mental illness. Specifically, chapters 13 and 14 in Wayne Weiten’s book
“Psychology, Themes and Variations,” give a very direct picture of the implications and
treatments associated with mental illness. I have also seen how the seven unifying themes tie
directly into everyday life, as witnessed in the KUED video on mental health in Utah.
Through watching the video of “On the Edge, Mental Illness in Utah,” one can see the
specific nature of mental illness directly applied to our lives. It is not something that can be as
easily explained away when it directly relates to our world, and the place in which we live. For
example, the book discusses different Anxiety Disorders, Somatoform Disorders, Mood
Disorders, and even Schizophrenic Disorders. When these disorders do not directly affect us, or
a family member, they can seem unimportant. Yet, when the KUED video starts to dive into
specific examples of people that are affected by these disorders, one can’t help but be connected
and tie in the book with everyday life.
Within the video, the overarching theme covers mental illness and its impact on
individuals and society. A mother in the video expressed, “How do you get people to understand
what you are going through, what your child is going through?” This is a key question, and is
also emphasized within our textbook. Many people that suffer from mental illness are not
understood within society, and are not understood by their family. There is so much to deal with
and to walk through when dealing with mental illness, and this is most definitely expressed in the
video.
Additionally, mental health services are not uniform across all states, and cultures. The
narrator expressed that, “Families can get lost trying to navigate mental health services.” These
services are different for each state, and even county. This is witnessed through the specific
program offered only in Salt Lake County called JDOT, which is drawn upon in the KUED
video. Within the book, the specific variations of services are also expressed, and the lack of
treatment and understanding across cultures is a large issue.
One of the key themes that was discussed in Psychology 1010 was that, “Behavior is
shaped by Cultural Heritage.” Cultural expectations and the specific differences can impact the
understanding of individual’s actions, and the way that treatment is looked at by mental health
professionals. Mental health treatment is incredibly diverse and unique for individuals, and can
be hard to understand. Within the video, voices and spirits are discussed in relation to Native
American heritage. These beliefs can contribute to ones actions, and are often hard to
understand when one does not come from the same background.
Consistently there are large barriers associated with being mentally ill and the treatment
and success of an individual. Many of those that are homeless are mentally ill, and according to
Pete Earley from the KUED video, “The largest public mental facility is not a hospital, it is the
Los Angeles County Jail.” Within the book by Wayne Weiten, he writes, “…the evidence
suggests that roughly one-third of homeless people suffer from severe mental illness…” (510).
Consistently people are put into the hospital, treated, released, and then relapse. Next they will
often commit a crime that winds them up in jail, and unable to fully receive the appropriate care
that is needed. With this form of treatment of the mentally ill, taxpayers are paying more to keep
people in jail, and people become weary and frustrated at the current situation. As expressed in
the video by the narrator, “The puzzle begins and ends with what one can afford.” Funding has a
dramatic effect on the treatment of those that are diagnosed with a mental illness, and often
leaves people out that are considered to be in the middle class.
As I stated in my discussion post, it is important to realize that the people in poverty and
those that are homeless, whether they have a mental illness or not, are still people. They are
people that need love and support, and also need food and shelter. These are just basic needs that
can drastically impact an individual and their functioning. As I have learned through Psychology
1010, that “Behavior is Determined by Multiple Causes.” There are many reasons that someone
can act the way that they do, and many causes that can relate to poverty, homelessness, and
mental illness. I also believe it is important to realize the many different treatments and types of
therapy that can be available, and this is imperative as every individual functions and responds to
treatment differently. There are types like behavioral therapy, and cognitive therapy, as well as
group therapy. With these types of therapy there comes a lack of understanding and access in the
community, especially by those that are considered homeless or live without specific healthcare
resources.
While viewing this video, it was also made apparent that the children of today are
suffering because of a lack of funding and support to train and equip them. This lack of support
is creating a burden, according to the video, on the school system. I completely agree with this
statement as I have worked in a Title 1 school, and directly helped students suffering from
poverty and specific illnesses at the age of just 7 years old. The lack of funding and support by
the government is having an impact on our children and how they are being taught and learning
to handle stressful and difficult situations. Many children are not learning tools and behaviors
that can support them when dealing with these illnesses. There are many ways that we could
increase this support, by starting with them when they are younger. This can also happen by
educating the parents.
Overall, I agree with the videos stance on mental illness. The views expressed showed
how important it is to be aware of mental illness and its affects on our society. I think it is
important to realize that too much of a burden is being placed on the police and those that work
in jails. I also agree that there needs to be more support and initiative to help people when they
are young, and to train them well. I completely agree that early intervention saves lives, and has
a huge impact on generations to come. With more training and support of children, I think that
we can change a lot of the direction that our society has been heading towards in regards to
mental illness. There is much that can be done, but more support and lack of drawn party lines
in government would definitely help.