The light inside mental hospitals

Thelight inside mental hospitals

JULIA RoSEboRoUGH

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when people think of the words “Mental Hospital?” For many, the term “mental” may stand out. Although it is just a common word, it can hold enormous amounts of power and cause entirely wrong interpretations when used in different scenarios.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, mental means “of or relating to the mind.” These words are simple yet so vastly misunderstood. When placed next to the word hospital, many people’s thoughts may create a stigma, leading them to think of mental hospitals in a negative light.

One can arguably state that mental health is at higher risk than ever before. With this knowledge, one may wonder why so many people suggest that the places that strive to help those in need are something to be concerned about?

Society has dramatically stigmatized mental hospitals and made them a topic of questioning and concern, rather than what they are truly intended to be: care institutions. Despite the false notions that surround these institutions, this significant stigma can also refer to general mental health topics.

As suggested in the Netflix film, “The Social Dilemma,” one of the reasons for the increase in mental struggles is an evergrowing social media presence in society. This growth in social media usage displays a direct correlation to mental health issues.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. hospital admission for non-fatal self-harm has increased 62% for girls aged 15-19 and 189% for girls aged 10-14. A similar pattern can be seen in U.S. suicide rates, with a 70% increase in girls aged 15-19 and a 151% increase in girls 10-14.

“A whole generation is more anxious, more fragile, more depressed,” said Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist and author featured in The Social Dilemma. “For every hospital admission, there is a family that is traumatized and horrified, ‘my god, what is happening to our kids.’”

People may begin to understand the true significance of these care facilities by educating themselves on the considerable concern of mental health in recent years.

“Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, as well as inpatient physicians and nurses, are on staff to consult with patients, educate them on and provide them with a variety of medication and treatment options, and provide a range of medical care,” Harmony Healthcare said.

Not only are mental health facilities beneficial to patients’ well-being, but they can also be financially beneficial if used in a timely manner. According to PhysicianOne Urgent Care, studies prove that these medical services are used 90% less by people after receiving mental health care appropriate to their case.

Along with decreasing potentially overwhelming financial aspects, mental health care can help prevent mental health from intruding on more significant aspects of people’s lives. The National Alliance of Mental Illnesses (NAMI) states that one in five Americans experience a mental illness each year, and 10% experience interference with one or more significant activities.

While depression and anxiety are becoming more common and talked about, another growing concern is substance abuse. NAMI states that 20 million Americas have a substance abuse disorder, and over half of these people are also struggling with another mental illness.

Specifically, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an uprising in substance abuse hospitalizations and struggles. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13% of Americans in 2020 reported having a start or increase in substance use as a way of coping with the pandemic.

Another essential statistic to look at is life years decreasing. As the world has evolved, people have been able to live for longer and longer as time goes on. The effects of this evolution may, however, be reversed. According to the NAMI, American adults, many of which had treatable conditions, are estimated to die 25 years sooner with a mental illness.

According to societal reaction theory, if a person has been labeled as mentally ill, their ability to function in normal societal roles will be dramatically flawed due to the reactions of others, and they will be channeled into a deviant role. This description, however, is exceptionally abrupt and prejudiced and cannot be held as truth in today’s society.

With so many Americans struggling with mental illnesses, society’s definition of mental health facilities must be rewritten and corrected to recognize the importance of addressing these illnesses. If they are properly addressed, hope can be regained that people can restructure our society away from the mental illness epidemic society is headed for. The first step is to remove the stigma surrounding mental hospitals so more people will receive the help they need before heading down a potentially destructive path.

ARt by RAINA LAHIRI