...Ken Kesey’s, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, takes place in an Oregon psychiatric institution. On the surface, the major characters in this book all seem like your average mental health patients and that their stories are all open and shut cases about people who are institutionalized because they are simply crazy. However, this is a book that deals with social issues that give a reader the opportunity to understand the complexity of who we are, how different we are from one another, and what influences each one of us. Inside the mental institution, each character could be the same as anyone else outside the walls in which they are confined. These characters represent a microcosm of what exists in everyday life in the outside world. In the “real world” as we know it, there are paranoid people like Chief Bromden; obsessive compulsives like George Sorenson; or someone like Randy McMurphy, who chose the mental institution as the lesser of two evils to pay for a crime he committed. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the most prominent social conflict emerges through the character of Randle McMurphy. McMurphy was the protagonist in this book and he was the one who showed the patients the way to rebuff the system, laugh, and defy authority through humor. The patients began to find strength in his leadership. However, McMurphy came to realize that the very people he was defying were the same people who would determine the timeframe of his release from the hospital. ...
Words: 728 - Pages: 3
...Special Offenders Vin Sharma CJA/234 4/24/2014 Keone Thomas Special Offenders Definition According to “(Prison Glossary)” Offenders whose mental and/or physical condition requires special accommodation by DOC employees, contract workers, or volunteers. Special needs offenders may include, but are not limited to, drug or alcohol addicts or abusers, the emotionally disturbed, mentally retarded, suspected mentally ill, physically handicapped, chronically ill, the disabled or infirm, those with documented custody issues and those with limited academic ability or learning disability “(Prison Glossary)”. With that being said there are many special needs prisoners, one that many people are familiar with are the mentally ill, and substance abusing. There are many other illnesses then obvious ones, some prisoners have physical problems, others have infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, while some have serious substance abuse issues. One special offender no one thinks about is the elderly offenders in 2007 over ten percent of inmates in prisons were 50 years or older and many with serious health problems. Mentally ill and substance abusing prisoners In this paper I will be discussing the two common types of special needs offenders, the mentally ill and the substance abusing offenders. Among the prison population there are mentally ill prisoners, special needs offenders, and substance-abusing offenders. These special offenders affect...
Words: 958 - Pages: 4
...illness. most mental illness are known not to improve on their own but they get worse if they go untreated over a long time and causing a lot of damage. Treatment of mental illness varies depending on the mental illness type, its severity and the form, kind or type of treatment that will work to a particular individual. Two individual having a similar mental illness condition might have to treat them differently as one treatment may not work for both the individuals. An individual with a mild mental illness conditions that is has well-controlled symptoms can be treated by a single health care provider. However, this is not the case for most mental illness treatment since they require a team approach that ensures the social, medical, and psychiatric needs are attained. This mostly...
Words: 2291 - Pages: 10
...multi-disciplinary team of mobile treatment professionals provides culturally competent treatment services such as medication management, individual and group psychotherapy and case management services to effectively decrease the prevalence of mental illness, emotional dysfunction and social disturbance in children, youth, adults and families. Substance Abuse: Substance Abuse Treatment services encompass a continuum of preventative and customized treatment regimens for adolescents and adults seeking help for alcohol and drug addictions. Clients receive treatment from their own primary care physician and counselor addressing all aspects of life including mental health, referrals for medication management and other community based support. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program: PRP services children, adolescents and adults by assigning each client a family service coordinator based upon the clients need and personality traits. The FSC provides one-on-one assistance via mobile treatment in the home, community or OMHC. The family service coordinator navigates the client through improving in areas such as social skills, coping skills, self sufficiency, academic success, anger management, family relationships and community integration, while consistently engaging the client in recreational activities. Expanded School Based Mental Health: ESMH programs augment the existing services provided by schools and help to ensure that a comprehensive range of services such as assessments, preventions...
Words: 490 - Pages: 2
...Paige Salter What is the significance of William Charles Hood in the improvement in Bedlam? From 1247 the establishment named Bedlam has existed with the aim of providing a place for the supposedly mentally ill to reside in but as one recalls it rather ‘drove a man that hath his wits rather out of them’. The buildings that made up the mental institution were often decaying and held the danger of backed up drains which could inevitably lead to overflowing which would be unpleasant for all. From 1725-34 ‘curable’ and ‘incurable’ wards were opened and patients were split into the according, however without any classification of mental illness at this time you can only begin to wonder how these decisions were made. Nathaniel Lee, a playwright recalled in 1675 ‘they called me mad, and I called them mad and damn them, they outvoted me’, from this the belief on what made someone ‘mad’ clearly differed and opinions often overruled however Lee may have been in a state of denial as mental illness was shunned upon at this time. For just a penny and for free on the second Tuesday of every month visitors were permitted to bring long sticks which were used to poke and provoke inmates at the ‘show to Bethlehem’ which often consisted of a sexual nature and violence. In 1814 there were 96,000 of these visits. The difference between visitors and the inmates is clearly in direct contrast as often instead of being treated they were surrounded by the laughter of what was deemed as the higher of society...
Words: 1303 - Pages: 6
...In the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Mr. Antolini (an English teacher) tells the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, "I have a feeling that you're riding for some kind of terrible, terrible fall" (pg. 168). This quote is terribly reflective of and true to Holden's experiences that he accounts in the novel. The entire novel is essentially Holden's account of the time between leaving Pencey Preparatory School and his institutionalization (which is revealed at the end of the novel). We can only assume that Holden has been sent to see "this one psychoanalyst guy" (pg. 192) because of his gradual mental breakdown or "fall" that is apparent throughout his narrative. This essay will recognize and trace the multiple signs, explanations and testaments of Holden's declining mental state. It is important to include Holden's past in this account and analysis of Holden's mental decline because Holden's past affects everything he does and contributes to his feelings of loneliness, depression and confusion. A supporting argument for this can be found by looking at causes for "mental breakdowns." Some common causes* of mental breakdowns that apply to Holden's particular case are: unresolved grief (as far as we know, Holden never received closure about his brother Allie's death or the suicide of a fellow student, James Castle.), academic problems (Holden failed out of three separate private schools), social stress (Holden tries and fails to connect to several characters such as...
Words: 1064 - Pages: 5
...Cosi “The Australian drama Cosi, and its themes, is a reflection of the characters’ immediate world, as well as the world at large. Explain this statement with reference to the text.” The Play Cosi, written by playwright Louis Nowra, is about members from a mental institution, who with the help of the protagonist Lewis are presenting an opera called ‘Cosi Fan Tutte.’ The opera tells the story of two officers, who pretend to leave for war to test the fidelity of their lovers. The themes of madness, attitude towards the mentally ill, transformations and growth and fidelity and love are portrayed through the conventions and techniques of symbolism, play within a play, setting and characters. Readers are positioned to respond to the immediate world and the world at large with complete madness, as it seems the world at large is a world apart from society. The play explores the theme of madness through the convention of setting. The idea of an inside world and outside world is shown through the symbolism and paranoia of society. The dark, derelict burnt out theatre is a metaphor for the world at large, and the drama that is enacted on its charred surface is a reflection of the larger dramas taking place outside. The outside world is noticed to have fear about the spread of communism, the mass casualties and the war crimes, for example the massacre of civilians, the torture of people and the rape. Readers respond to the absolute madness at times with confusion, as it’s hard...
Words: 850 - Pages: 4
...kills her self-esteem, and she's stuck at home with her mom in the soul-crushing boredom of the suburbs for the rest of the summer. Climax Esther attempts suicide, but is saved in the nick of time. As the summer wears on, Esther's behavior grows more erratic as her despair deepens. A visit to a psychiatrist and electroshock therapy only accelerate her decline. After a few hesitant attempts at suicide, Esther decides to end it all by crawling into a hollow underneath her house and swallowing a bottle of sleeping pills. She's discovered a few days later, barely alive. Suspense After her nightmarish experience in the psychiatric wards of two different hospitals, Esther ends up at a private, psychiatric institution where she finds a more supportive environment. It's touch-and-go for Esther for the first few weeks after her suicide attempt. The first two psychiatric wards do nothing to help her condition. Finally,...
Words: 1465 - Pages: 6
...Bailee Petrovsky Vonda Ford English 5-6 22 February 2015 Depression Who would have guessed that someone as loved and as funny as Robin Williams could have been depressed? The answer is simple, any person, rich or poor, can fall into this dangerous disease. Depression is becoming one of the most prevalent medical conditions in the world and its numbers are increasing rapidly. Just like the case of Robin Williams, and the sad way he ended his own life, depression leads to the death of millions of people every year. These numbers are rising at an alarming rate as years go by. As prevalent as this disease has become, it is amazing how it still gets overlooked, ignored or not given the attention and treatment it needs. As we will see in the report that follows, depression is rather easy to diagnose. However, understanding the causes and treatment becomes a bit more complicated. We will begin by describing how to recognize depression, then look into some of the possible causes, treatments and how each of these are similar and how they vary depending upon the age one is at the onset of this disease. We will also explore the different levels of severity of depression and discuss possibilities for how to bring more awareness to the dangers and need for rapid intervention once we recognize signs and symptoms of depression in oneself or another. Depression is the continuous feeling of sadness, loneliness, and emptiness for a long stretched out period of time, and it leaves...
Words: 1715 - Pages: 7
... In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Kesey’s use of mechanical imagery acts as a representation of the ruthlessness of society. Machines stop for nobody, and show no sympathy for those who get left behind. The Combine represents society weeding out the people who it deems “worthy,” and fulfill the expectations of the rest of society. The job of The Combine is to reform people into what is believed to be “acceptable” human behavior. It’s true that Kesey could’ve used any sort imagery in this book, but the reason he chose machinery can be explored from many different angles, thus contributing different meanings to the book. It is no secret that Kesey uses mechanical imagery in this book in many different shapes and forms. One reason he could have chosen machines was because they have no personality. Machines are not alive (obviously), so they can show no emotion or sympathy towards anyone they may hurt along the way. Machines can be brutal and continue to press on without skipping a beat. Take Chief’s dream, for example. Chief dreams of a world of machinery underneath the ward. “A furnace got its mouth open somewhere, licks up somebody”(88). This contributes a sense of fear to the novel. There is no telling when a machine may go rogue and never stop destroying. This relates to The Combine, or society, never stopping to show sympathy to anyone. Like we read in the story about Justine Sacco, society is brutal. Once one mistake is made, some that you cannot control, people are labeled...
Words: 773 - Pages: 4
...Albert Einstein once said, "All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual". One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, a novel written by Ken Kesey is a story told in the perspective of a man named Chief Bromden, who has been in a mental hospital for 10 years, suffering from paranoia and hallucinations. Bromden’s worldview is obscured by his fear, and never has a clear view of the world while under the wing of Nurse Ratched at the hospital. With the arrival of Randle McMurphy, Bromden senses a different attitude about him. Randle McMurphy tells the patients that the Nurse is nothing to fear, protesting against her, and bringing out her inner rage. McMurphy later shows his leadership by taking a group of patients outside, and showing them their masculine independence, trying to slowly introduce them back into society. He understands what the patients are going through, and tries to fit them in with his current society, something that can be hard to do in real life. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest remains relevant to today's readers due to its relations with society's oppressive rules and values. The relation with society's oppressive rules can be shown through unique metaphors, brain-working imagery, and significant settings. The comparison with society's oppressive rules can be seen with the usage of Kesey's unique metaphors. To begin, the process of development for these patients to be well-suited for society's oppressive rules...
Words: 1199 - Pages: 5
...The FRONTLINE film “The New Asylums” produced and directed by Miri Navasky & Karen O'Connor is a documentary on the state of mental illness into today’s prisons. The documentary shows life behind bars in a supermax prison in Ohio. The film explores the pros and cons of the mental institutions that have been created out of necessity in America’s prison systems. The goal of the documentary was to answer the question of why prisons are the new mental health providers because there are 500,000 people with mental illness in prisons, as compared to only one-fifth that number being helped in Psychiatric hospitals. According to the film, most of the prisoners end up in prison from being unable to cope with the outside world and get arrested for offenses such as violent behavior, rape and robbery to name a few....
Words: 653 - Pages: 3
...Your Name Soc 101 Memo 1 March 26, 2012 Frontline “The New Asylums” In this video, Frontline discuss the high number of the mentally ill that are incarcerated in prison. Looking at Ohio’s correctional system the video attempts to claim many of societies criminals are mentally ill. While the video does show there is a problem in the prison system with mentally ill inmates not receiving the required help that they need it doesn’t touch on the point that the majority of those inmates are trying to work the system. Alternatively, the inmate is attempting to get away with the crime based on a defense of mental illness. As a former Deputy Jailor with a Sheriff’s Department with 5 years experience I have first hand knowledge of the penal system. The jail I worked at could house any type of inmate for up to ten years. We served some inmates who did have a lifetime sentence but they would only be at our facility for ten years or less. I had a variety of responsibilities while I was there to include: dispensing medication, having one on one contact, and extractions from cells when an inmate failed to comply with directions. The majority of the inmates received medication many of which would never take these medicines when released. A great majority of these meds were for mental illness. The majority of those who received such medication were quite functional, and compliant to jail directives. These inmates were choosing to follow directives, which had nothing to do with the medication...
Words: 713 - Pages: 3
...Vulnerable Population Chronically Mentally Ill Mental illness is an illness that affects or is manifested in an individual’s brain and may impact how that individual thinks, behaves, or interacts with other individuals (Spirit and Associates, 2000). Mental illness can vary in severity from mild to moderate to server and then profound. Just because a person suffers from a mental illness does not mean that they can be pick from a crowd. They are normal everyday looking individuals. Mental illness is something that has been common in the United States as well as internationally. “An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older or about one in four adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. When applied to the 2004 U.S. Census residential population estimate for ages 18 and older, this figure translates to 57.7 million people (Health, 2006-2012).” Mental illness is known to be one of the leading causes of American disabilities in the United States and Canada. Individual can suffer from more than one disorder at the same time. There may be one mental illness that is related to another and an individual may be diagnosed with both due to traits from one illness. Individuals who suffer from mental disorders are sometimes born with them or have developed them from life time events such as institutionalization, drugs, or alcohol. Some mental illness that individuals may suffer from are suicide, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, mood disorders...
Words: 1266 - Pages: 6
...C) Thesis - The government should allocate more tax dollars towards rebuilding the mental health care system. Body: I. How did mental illness evolve into our culture? A. History 1. People with mental illness in the middle ages 2. 1840's Dorothea Dix activist and psychiatric hospitals 3. Mental health in the mid-1960's 4. Mentally ill and violence II. How did mental health care start to decline? A. Deinstitutionalization 1. Feb. 5, 1963 JFK's new proposal to fund community mental health centers (CMHCs) 2. CMHCs were not interested in helping those with more severe problems 3. President Ronald Regan ended program 1981 B. Outcasting people with mental illness 1. Judgment of mentally ill living in the streets 2. Lack family support 3. Those with mentally ill have to live with a label for life C. Different uses of tax dollars 1. Insurance for those with mental illness 2. Building psychiatric hospitals instead of jails 3. Creating new programs and support D. Lately 1. Judge rejects Gov....
Words: 503 - Pages: 3
