9781422274118

outsider looking in. 5 Problems like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders are more “serious” than anxiety and depression in some ways, and they are certain- ly not as well understood by society. They generally involve a much higher level of stigma and judgment, often because people who have them can seem “crazy” in the way they act if they don’t have the proper treatment plan. No matter what kind of mental health issue a person has, though, talking about it can be difficult. People with mental illness fear judgment, and many of them assume they will either be blamed for their illness or they will not be taken seriously. Often, people with depression and anxiety are told to “get over it” by people who don’t under- stand that mental illness isn’t something that can just be turned on and off like a switch. Just because a person has a safe, secure, “good” life by society’s standards doesn’t mean they don’t have depression or they aren’t anxious. Mental health doesn’t work that way. WHAT DOES TREATMENT INVOLVE? There are several different approaches for treating mental health issues, including counseling, medication, or some combination of the two. Not everyone who has mental health concerns needs one of these treatment approaches. Others choose one of the options but don’t need or want the other one. But which option is the right one? That de- pends on the person, the type and degree of mental illness they have, their overall health, and other factors.

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Contemporary Issues: Mental Health