Effects of Mental Illness

¶ … mental illness on the individual, family, and community, and identify mental health resources for individuals experiencing mental illness. Mental illness does not just affect the patient, it affects the entire patient's family and friends, and it can affect them throughout their life. Unfortunately, mental illness still invokes a stigma in this country, which has a negative affect on patients suffering from mental illness.

Even when people attempt to be open minded, there is still a stigma that revolves around people who suffer from mental health issues. Two authors note, "People suffering from mental illness and other mental health problems are among the most stigmatized, discriminated against, marginalized, disadvantaged and vulnerable members of our society" (Overton & Medina, 2008). This is just one of the negative affects of suffering from mental illness, and it can be as debilitating as the disease itself. In the past, (such as the middle ages, people who suffered from mental illness were often jailed, seen as weak individuals, and sometimes even put to death (Overton & Medina, 2008). Therefore, the stigma of a family member with a mental illness is a cause for concern for family members and friends, because the stigma can reach out to them, somehow, because of their close connection to the patient. In addition, mentally ill patients are often more sensitive to the views of others, and they think less of themselves and have more self-doubt because of their condition.

Since mental illness can obstruct the daily functions many people take for granted, mental illness affects the family members that may have to become caregivers for their mentally ill family member in adverse ways, as well. The two authors continue, "Societies, or large groups within societies, evaluate people to determine if they fit the social norms" (Overton & Medina, 2008). When a family member does not fit in the "social norms," society judges the family, as well, and this is a very negative affect of mental illness on the surrounding friends and family. In addition, often family members feel guilty and even depressed about their inability to cope with the mental illness of a family member, and some even abandon the patient, unable to deal with the guilt any longer.

Another direct effect of mental illness on the patient is the reality of a shorter lifespan and more health problems. Another expert notes, "People with long-term mental illness die, on average, ten years before the rest of us do. But this shouldn't be surprising, given the burdens of their lives and the increased burdens that medications bring" (Neugeboren, 2006, p. 38). Medications can cause side effects such as weight gain and diabetes, and these conditions are more common in the mentally ill, leading to many other health concerns. Most mental patients are under public care, often without any resources, and there is a definite lack of resources for these patients, there simply are not enough doctors and nurses to go around, and so, their care and sometimes even their health suffers.