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Societal Views on Mental Illness

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Submitted By angelafaecramer
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Societal Views of Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Children and Adults with
Psychiatric Disability
Angela Cramer
Southern New Hampshire University
PCMH600
Portfolio Assignment #1
1/28/2014

Societal Views of Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Children and Adults with Psychiatric Disability In trying to gain a better understanding of societal views on people who experience emotional and behavioral problems because of psychiatric disabilities, I spoke with family, friends, acquaintances and past co-workers. In addition, I read peer reviewed articles to add to both my personal experiences and the conversations. I also read newspaper articles and more closely paid attention to the comments being made by those around me. Using this information, along with my own personal assumptions, I will examine how society views mental illness, the people who have to suffer with them, their families and the process of treatment.

Societal Views on the Definitions, Causes and Beliefs about Recovery from Mental Illness/Psychiatric Disability and Severe Emotional and Behavioral Problems Although quality and effectiveness have improved in the mental health field over the last half a century many people who would benefit still do not participate or stay engaged in services. Stigma is one of several reasons why people who suffer from mental illness do not actively participate in services. (Corrigan, P., 2014). Many of the people I spoke with could not give an appropriate definition of mental illness. They made offensive comments suggesting that people who suffer from mental illness were "crazy" or "looney". Others blamed mental illness on substance abuse or said that it must just "run in the family". Some of the teachers that I spoke with surprised me because they weren't even sure of the diagnosis of some of the children in their

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