Labelling Mental Illnesses

Main Facts

• Labeling theorists examine mental illness as a form of deviance
• The label rather than the behavior shapes the fate of mentally ill persons
• The fate of people with mental illness depends primarily on the severity of their illness and their treatment rather than on extra-illness factors, such as labels
• Labeling theory: how the self-identity and behavior of individuals may be determined or influenced by the terms used to describe or classify them

Laws

Key Figures

History

• Becker and Lemert: Came up with labeling theory
• British Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg: Strongly criticized the mental health service

• Psychiatric institutions have been around for centuries
• 1800s: psychiatrists competed for developing the main “medical model”
• Main "medical model" during the time was phrenology
• 1952 first DSM

• Health benefits vary with state
• Equal Coverage Laws
• Prohibits discrimination
• Minimum Mandated Mental Health Benefit Laws
• Some level of coverage
• Mental Health "Mandated Offering Laws"
• No required benefits
• Laws also affect physically disabeled
• Americans with Disabilities Act
• Fair Housing Amendments Act
• Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
• Laura's Law
• The Rehabilitation Act

Famous People with Mental Illness

• Catherine Zeta Jones: Bipolar II disorder
• Mel Gibson: Bipolar Disorder
• Brooke shields: Postpartum depression
• John Nash: Paranoid Schizophrenia
• Herschel Walker: Dissociative Identity Disorder
• Michael Phelps: ADHD
• Paula Deen: Agoraphobia

Cons

Pro

• Diagnosis extended period of time
• If rushed, inaccurate diagnosis
• More people thought to have illness -->people equate small symptoms to illness
• ADHD/ADD = quick fix to school and parent stress
• Doctors ignore necessary procedures
• Give the ADD drug out
• Paranoia
• Examples: Hysteria, Swine Flu, Multiple Personality Disorder
• DSM
• unscientific and statistically unsound
• Previous ineffectiveness
• Homosexuality
• Illnesses over diagnosed/ incorrectly diagnosed due to inaccuracies

• False belief and uncertainty replaced by understanding about nature of illness
• Granted patient role, removed from responsibility
• Evokes a strong supportive response from close friends and families
• Insurance companies need to know EXACTLY what they are paying for
• if there are any questions, they will either deny or delay care
• Some health insurance companies won’t cover mental health treatments (from therapy to psychotropic drugs) unless the patient has a diagnosis from the DSM

Labeling Mental Illnesses

By Azin Namin, Shannon Reddy, Lauren Belkin, & Hannah Mook

Stigma

• A complex interplay of genetic, biological, personality and environmental factors causes mental illnesses.
• Stigma or discrimination attached to mental illnesses presents a serious barrier, not only to diagnosis and treatment but also to acceptance in the community.
• Mental illness is typically a neglected issue in the developing world and is generally not even spoken of or recognized as a medical condition

India

• 20 million Indians suffering from mental illnesses, the country has only 3,500 psychiatrists and 1,500 psychiatric nurses to treat them

• In the United States there are 45,615 psychiatrists.

• World Health Organization states countries like India devote less than 1% of their health budgets to mental health

Compared to 10%, 12%, 18% in other countries.

• Facilities that try to help mentally ill patients are overcrowded, underfunded, and few in number

• Many patients are misunderstood as weak or dangerous, an issue of human rights.

Sweden

• Young people are worst affected, with as many as one in four 16-18 year olds suffering from a mental disorder

• Mental Health and Work: Mental health issues cost the Swedish economy nearly EUR 8 billion per year, equivalent to 2.8% of GDP

• Through lost productivity, healthcare and social spending

• Youth unemployment over 20% in Sweden

• Working with vulnerable young people is critical in order to break the cycle of weak labor-market attachment and poor mental health

Questions

USA

• 1 in 4 adults (61.5 million) experience mental illness
• 1 in 17 (13.6 million) live with serious mental illness (such as schizophrenia)

• Considering the frequent over-diagnosis, what does it mean to be "crazy" in today's society?
• If you were diagnosed with a mental illness, would you want to be labeled? Why?
• Is labeling of mental illness necessary?

Impact

Numbers

Getting Treatment

• 20% of youth experience a severe mental disorder
• 26% homeless adults have serious illness
• 20% prisoners have mental condition
• 70% youth in juvenile justice system have one or more mental condition

• Costs Americans $193.2 billion per year
• Mood disorders are the third most common cause of hospitalization
• 50% of students with mental disorders drop out (even when served by special education)
• 90% of people who commit suicide have one or more mental illness

• 60% of adults receive no mental health services
• There are long delays (sometimes decades) between first symptoms and treatment

Labeling Mental Illnesses

Based on Jim Harvey's speech structures