*I have not been good about the blog, due to my hectic school schedule. I just finished my advanced math course and moved. Then, I started my photography course, which began with several projects. Sorry about that.*
Mental health is also a major component of mass shootings. Mentally ill people are not inherently violent. They are actually more likely to be victims of violence. In North Carolina, there is a special provision in the rape and sexual assault statutes that state that mentally ill individuals, by the legal definition of mentally ill, cannot legally give consent. Laws protect the mentally ill, yet society keeps blaming them. Why is that?
One problem is that a large percentage of the prison population is classified as having antisocial personality disorder, or psychopathy. This particular disorder is only one of the many listed in the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (it is currently in its fifth addition). Unfortunately, society seems to equate all mentally ill people to psychopaths or intellectually slow. With society's perception of mental illness, there is no middle ground. This attitude creates a stigma surrounding mental health. One cannot simply talk to a therapist to get feedback from a neutral, outside party on a situation; no, s/he is automatically crazy if s/he sees a therapist. If one has depression or anxiety, it is automatically assumed that the person is on medication when this is not always the case. Just because people on the autism scale can be socially awkward does not mean that they will pull a gun on classmates at school. The stigma surrounding mental health normalizes bullying toward the mentally ill. These bullies, people who are not labeled as mentally ill, can truly behave as sadistic psychopaths. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being in therapy or not being in therapy, taking medication or not taking medication, participating in studies or not participating in studies.
Another problem is that the mental health system in the U.S. sucks butt. It is outrageously expensive and typically not covered by health insurance companies. Even with the changes to the health care system that Obamacare has made, the extent of mental health coverage is decided by the states. Too minimize the amount of money the insurance companies have to pay, they do not usually cover mental health expenses other than typical prescription coverage. It is expensive because there are not enough therapists in all the different fields in which people need help, and each practice can only take so many patients. People who need these services cannot access the help they need due to money or lack of availability for the type of psychological help they need. The mental health system needs serious help in this country.
One problem is that a large percentage of the prison population is classified as having antisocial personality disorder, or psychopathy. This particular disorder is only one of the many listed in the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (it is currently in its fifth addition). Unfortunately, society seems to equate all mentally ill people to psychopaths or intellectually slow. With society's perception of mental illness, there is no middle ground. This attitude creates a stigma surrounding mental health. One cannot simply talk to a therapist to get feedback from a neutral, outside party on a situation; no, s/he is automatically crazy if s/he sees a therapist. If one has depression or anxiety, it is automatically assumed that the person is on medication when this is not always the case. Just because people on the autism scale can be socially awkward does not mean that they will pull a gun on classmates at school. The stigma surrounding mental health normalizes bullying toward the mentally ill. These bullies, people who are not labeled as mentally ill, can truly behave as sadistic psychopaths. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being in therapy or not being in therapy, taking medication or not taking medication, participating in studies or not participating in studies.
Another problem is that the mental health system in the U.S. sucks butt. It is outrageously expensive and typically not covered by health insurance companies. Even with the changes to the health care system that Obamacare has made, the extent of mental health coverage is decided by the states. Too minimize the amount of money the insurance companies have to pay, they do not usually cover mental health expenses other than typical prescription coverage. It is expensive because there are not enough therapists in all the different fields in which people need help, and each practice can only take so many patients. People who need these services cannot access the help they need due to money or lack of availability for the type of psychological help they need. The mental health system needs serious help in this country.
