In the future, corrections can face a range of problems the most important of which are mental health issues and cost of prisons’ budgeting.
The problem of mental health illness becomes more and more alarming within the last decades. All over the world, the cases of mental disorders grow. At this point, prisons affect negatively on people that makes the problem more complicated. In particular, the following aspects can significantly decrease one’s mental well-being: overcrowding, isolation from society, the shortage of sensible activity, and the lack of adequate and timely health care delivery. The mentioned factors tend to cumulate that, in turn, can lead to a suicide attempt or some other behavioral disorders. Furthermore, there is a tendency of the creation of so-called “dumping grounds” where prisoners can be sent on the basis of their mental disorders, thus being locked and losing any chance to receive appropriate psychological help. It should also be emphasized that sometimes people and, in particular, prisoners having behavioral disorders encounter discrimination and stigma. This tendency is likely to develop, creating even more negative environment for prisoners due to misconceptions about these people.
Considering that the challenge that was described above is complicated by the fact that mental disorders tend to manifest themselves at high rates in conditions of prison, it is necessary to suggest appropriate decisions, addressing the problem. First, there is a need to respond to every mental health disorder case to ensure timely treatment. Second, corrections administrations are to promote the policy of awareness and understanding among prisoners, so that to make it possible to reduce the rates of discrimination. The implementation of new technology seems to be another useful solution to this problem. For example, behavior monitoring would help to predict potential mental disorders by detecting certain deviations. Moreover, modern technologies can be employed in the treatment to advance the effectiveness of procedures and communication. Also, the treatment is to be performed at a high level, so that a prisoner could become a full-fledged member of society when he or she would leave the prison. It is essential to pay attention to prison employees and promote responsiveness as well as morale in them. The implementation of this decision is likely to increase the early recognition of mental disorders. Finally, the access to psychosocial support and adequate medication should be ensured in order to decrease the level of the further complications.
Another potential problem associated with corrections is budgeting of prisoners. Nowadays budgets and funding tend to reduce their investments in prisons’ maintenance. This also relates to health care sector and subsequent inability of prisons to provide their patients with the required treatment. Many prisons are getting closed, receiving insufficient amount of money and facing employees that prefer to change their job. Accordingly, less training would be provided to staff that can make them more responsive. Therefore, this situation becomes quite dangerous and would undoubtedly worsen in case of the lack of appropriate solutions.
The first decision that can be suggested is to reconsider the very system of budgeting to identify the areas that require immediate improvement. After that, it is important to develop a specific tool that would calculate costs and prioritize them accordingly. Moreover, continuous surveys are likely to reveal key trends and failures associated with costs that, in turn, would help to create a new effective system of prisons’ budgeting and funding.
Mental health is an integral part of health which serves as the foundation for the well-being and effective functioning for a person and society. However, nowadays, there are many people who experience anxiety, excessive emotional stress, and mental disorders. Postponing the visit to a doctor and ignoring the symptoms might have dramatic consequences for an individual. Therefore, effective public interventions should be elaborated in order to enhance mental health of society. In the given essay, programs which should be implemented on a local level for promoting emotional health are discussed.
Although mental health problems can affect anyone at any time, they are not equally distributed, and their prevalence varies across social groups. Mental illness can be affected by a variety of psychological, biological, and social factors. It is generally believed that people with the high level of poverty, lack of education, and poor housing are at increased risk of mental diseases. Apart from that, people who have troubles at work and feel like they are often under pressure could also experience anxiety and stress. That is why a variety of social groups should be supported by a community in achieving good mental health.
One may note that it is possible to intervene on the local level to improve the population’s mental health and educate people on how to adapt and maintain healthy lifestyles. Health promotion work should be done in collaboration with a community using program planning and implementation strategies. Firstly, a thorough study regarding the needs and resources of a community should be conducted. Secondly, a plan of action should be made and implemented. Evaluation of the final results is an important step in the further enhancement of the plan.
Promotion and prevention programs are aimed at addressing the needs of different categories of population. In particular, there may be programs designed for mothers during pregnancy and the perinatal period in order to help women deal with postnatal depression and develop parenting skills. Regular visits of nurses and social workers could improve the child-parent attachment, promote breastfeeding, and prevent the low-intellectual development of infants.
Children and teenagers might also be at risk of anxiety and depression. Therefore, it is possible to improve their self-esteem and communication skills through pro-social life in the school community. Teachers could also learn how to treat children with anxiety and help them overcome it. Moreover, parents of children with challenging behavior should be educated on skills and techniques to target the aggressive behavior of children.
Special attention should be paid to working people as they may be particularly affected by stress and anxiety resulting in insomnia and physical health problems. That is why programs aimed at reducing job burnout by providing skills to manage stress and allocate tasks should be established on a local level. Another target group includes people who lost their jobs and might, therefore, face alcoholism and marital stress. These people should be counseled on a regular basis by social workers in order to reduce symptoms of depression and be encouraged to find a new job.
To sum up, promoting mental health in society is of particular importance as it contributes to all aspects of human life and has an intrinsic value for an individual and a community. Programs aimed at helping people maintain a healthy lifestyle may reduce levels of stress and educate individuals on how to cope with it. Pregnant women, new mothers, children, teenagers, and working adults are among people who could benefit from such programs.
Topic: My speech pursues the goal of convincing more people to go to therapy, as mental health awareness, although gaining recognition worldwide, remains an issue for average American citizens who see therapy as a weakness and a luxury for the upper-middle class.
General Purpose: To persuade the audience.
Specific Purpose: I want my audience to be persuaded that therapy, in the modern context, should not be abandoned or ignored. For this reason, I will resonate with the recipients by telling them how therapy can improve their daily lives and their perception of life in the long-term perspective.
Introduction
Attention-Getting Device: Does it ever seem to you that the stress of everyday life is just unbearable, and there is nobody to listen to and understand because everyone deals with their issues? Luckily, the growing popularity of therapy and mental health counseling has now become a solution!
Relevance to the audience: With everything going on in the world, including global pandemics, wars, and inequality, just scrolling through the newsfeed can become a traumatizing experience for a person. A few years ago, every fifth US resident experienced a certain sort of mental health issue, and this statistic is unlikely to decrease anytime soon (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Thesis: Despite the fact that many people are aware of the perks of mental health counseling, nearly 47% of Americans perceive therapy as a sign of weakness (Robinson). However, if anything, seeking therapy is a demonstration of strength, as it gives you the opportunity to find a sense of self-worth and build a better future for yourself.
Body
Main Point: Addressing psychotherapy is a sign of strength that provides a person with valuable insights into their lives and their personality. While many people see therapy as a weakness and the inability to deal with one’s problems without assistance, resorting to counseling takes more courage than trying to save face.
Support: While people tend to label therapy seekers as “weak,” the truth is that people’s avoidant behavior is significantly weaker because they block the ways to experience negative emotions and relive the challenging experience (Brenner et al. 132). The researchers indicate that people with self-stigma have difficulties with help-seeking intentions because they are afraid of judgment.
Support: Going to therapy, however beneficial, requires much strength mainly because the first step toward healing is acknowledging the problem. The scholars emphasize that, unlike medications, therapy is a journey that requires awareness and acceptance of the change to heal from stress and trauma (Perrotta). Hence, instead of continuing to judge people who go to therapy, it may be the right time to ask yourself how prepared you are to face and deal with your demons.
Support: While therapy is seemingly associated with weakness, more women seek counseling, and men are generally discouraged from therapy by society. However, men still suffer from a series of mental health issues, including abuse in intimate relationships (Lysova et al.). For this reason, acknowledging your flaws and issues is the first step toward breaking a vicious cycle of psychological challenges.
Main Point: Besides manifesting enough strength to change your life, therapy has a series of beneficial long-term implications, including lower risk of chronic diseases, higher life satisfaction rates, and better social adjustment.
Support: Mental health issues commonly lead to various alterations in lifestyle, including low physical activity rates, substance abuse, and unhealthy habits like compulsive eating or smoking. As a result, people with mental health issues are at higher risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and others (Canadian Mental Health Association). Timely intervention, however, can prevent these risks by improving both your physical and mental health.
Support: Addressing mental health is an important step on the way to securing higher life satisfaction rates. According to the research, there are many predictors of life satisfaction that include mainly financial well-being, social support, high standards of living, and education. These aspects, in their turn, rely heavily on the person’s mental readiness to take care of their future and invest in their well-being. Hence, investing in mental health and counseling will inevitably help you find resources to build a brighter future for yourself and the ones who surround you.
Support: Everything that is happening in the world over the last few years has taken a toll on people’s lives, as many people struggle with financial hardships, COVID-19 complications, and discrimination. For this reason, it is of paramount importance to define the coping mechanisms to become socially adjusted to such a challenging environment. Therapy is a way to share your concerns out loud and, together with a qualified counselor, develop a roadmap of possible actions to improve the situation and feel more secure.
Conclusion
Review/reinforce the main idea: In brief, while therapy has become a widespread social phenomenon and mental health awareness is a topic raised on a regular basis, many of us are still paralyzed by the thought of sharing our concerns with a stranger. However, today, seeking mental health counseling is not only perceived as a major strength, but it as well guarantees many positive changes in your life.
Provide a Sense of closure: I hope that my speech has encouraged at least one of you to consider therapy as an option to build a better life for yourself and your surroundings. Today is always the best day to start a change for the best, and therapy is one of the most beneficial ways to do it!
Works Cited
Brenner, Rachel E., et al. “Seeking Help Despite the Stigma: Experiential Avoidance as a Moderated Mediator.” Journal of Counseling Psychology, vol. 67, no. 1, 2020, pp. 132-140.
Canadian Mental Health Association. “The Relationship between Mental Health, Mental Illness and Chronic Physical Conditions.” CMHA, n.d., Web.
Lysova, Alexandra, et al. “Internal and External Barriers to Help-Seeking: Voices of Men Who Experienced Abuse in the Intimate Relationships.” International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, vol. 66, no. 5, 2022, pp. 538-559.
Perrotta, Giulio. “Accepting “Change” in Psychotherapy: From Consciousness to Awareness.” Journal of Addiction Research and Adolescent Behaviour, vol. 3, no. 1, 2020, pp. 1-8.
Robinson, Bryan. “47% of Americans Believe Seeking Therapy Is a Sign of Weakness.” Forbes, Web.
A college essay on mental health is a type of writing that requires your preparation. For this purpose, you can check out some examples. Below, we’ve prepared “Why I Want to Be a Mental Health Counselor Essay,” which will help you get inspired and write a successful application to your preferred educational institution.
Mental health counseling is a diverse profession with national standards for education, preparation, and clinical practice. The profession offers help to the ever-increasing number of Americans requiring mental therapy.
Clinical mental health practitioners are highly skilled professionals who provide flexible, consumer-oriented therapy. Mental health counselors offer a variety of services, such as evaluation and diagnosis, psychotherapy, solution-focused therapy, crisis management, substance abuse treatment, and prevention programs.
After carefully researching and critically evaluating my career options, I have decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling focusing on mental health counseling. This path will propel me toward becoming a mental health counselor. Not only am I an excellent listener with a desire to help the marginalized, but it is also evident that there is a growing need for clinical counselors in the country to safeguard against unemployment.
Furthermore, recent surveys indicate that clinical counselors receive competitive salary packages. Beyond the financial aspect, the mental health field is diverse and rapidly evolving. Much remains to be explored regarding brain function, and consequently, therapeutic methods in this field are not as advanced as in other medical fields. I plan to delve into this study area and uncover as much knowledge and information as possible throughout my career.
The decision to apply for the clinical counseling program in mental health was significantly influenced by an internship I completed at the Carter Center for Mental Health. Founded by Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, the center aims to reduce the stigma associated with mental disorders in society. Despite increasing media coverage and information dissemination about mental health, myths and misconceptions still prevail in society.
At the Carter Center, I undertook a three-month volunteer internship to gain insight into working as a psychologist. However, after visiting numerous hospitals, outpatient mental health facilities, and hospices, I realized that my true calling might be in mental health counseling.
The internship was an eye-opening experience regarding the challenges faced by mental health patients, including those with depression, substance abuse issues, schizophrenia, eating disorders, personality disorders, and anxiety disorders. Witnessing the struggles of thousands of Americans with mental health disorders, I instinctively knew I had to contribute to the social welfare of this great country.
Cultural diversity and cultural prejudice are prevalent in our lives, and we must acknowledge and responsibly embrace them. Professionals have recently recognized the importance of addressing the challenges in serving culturally diverse populations. Cultural values, beliefs, and assumptions significantly influence mental health workers and other professionals’ service delivery.
These cultural experiences, traditions, beliefs, and assumptions shape our worldview. Thus, professionals should be conscious of their thoughts and strive to separate them from their work. Counselors and clients bring a range of values, attitudes, culturally influenced behaviors, biases, ideas, and assumptions to the therapeutic process. Some mental health professionals and counselors underestimate the significance of these factors in treatment.
I consider myself culturally enlightened, having grown up in a culturally diverse community in New York. This environment has taught me to embrace and appreciate cultural pluralism and diversity. Cultural diversity is an integral element that enriches society.
I have interacted with people from various cultures in school, stores, and my neighborhood, learning that humans are not as different as we sometimes think. We need to treat each other with respect and embrace each other’s beliefs, traditions, and cultural customs.
In addition to the internship, my drive for mental health counseling was subconsciously motivated by a teenage experience. Following the tragic death of my younger sister in a surfing accident, my mother fell into a state of depression. She frequently spoke of seeing my sister in her dreams. This placed a significant burden on my father to maintain family stability. Our relief came after my mother sought help from a post-trauma counselor.
She attended sessions with the counselor and, to our relief and joy, recovered within six months. She coped better with the loss of her daughter and realized that nothing could have been done to prevent the tragedy.
Reflecting on the counselor’s impact on my family, I appreciate this noble profession. I aspire to bring joy to families and individuals by helping them understand and cope with their mental health challenges.
Upon completing my Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling, I plan to practice for five to eight years in outpatient mental health facilities and other relevant settings to gain extensive experience in mental health counseling.
Additionally, I aim to join professional organizations such as the American Psychological Association and the American Mental Health Counselors Association, which require a Master’s degree in a related field and adherence to a strict code of ethics. Eventually, I plan to establish a private practice in New York, New Jersey, or California.
Wednesday is a Netflix original series released in November 2022. The main essence of the plot is that the eldest child of the Addams family, a girl named Wednesday, is gloomy and gloomy. In addition, she grew up in a rather extravagant family whose members showed extraordinary abilities (Gough & Millar, 2022). She goes to the academy, where instead of studying, she focuses on solving mysteries and finding a serial killer (Gough & Millar, 2022).
Wednesday has clear developmental and mental health issues that form the main picture of her character. The main problem is the violation of the socio-emotional attitude towards society. The main character does not like people and prefers the loneliness of the company; she does not express emotions and remains indifferent to different situations. In addition, Wednesday is content to deal with violence as she calmly investigates murders and assesses her readiness for physical violence.
Characteristics of the personage are extensive. However, it is important to focus on her physical and mental data. First of all, the physical condition of the girl is different from others. She is extremely thin, which indicates a lack of weight and possible problems with eating behavior. In addition, Wednesday is distinguished by a pale complexion, uncharacteristic of a healthy growing organism. In some episodes, one can notice severe bags under the eyes and prominent bruising (Gough & Millar, 2022). The norm for teenagers her age is a body without signs of anorexia, a healthy, ruddy complexion and a fresh look. Wednesday does not fall under these criteria, which indicates a lack of physical growth.
However, what stands out in Wednesday’s abilities is her high cognitive development. The main character is smart and analyzes what is happening, looking at things from different angles and applying them to different events. She successfully uncovers the secrets of the academy, drawing conclusions about a secret society and possibly a serial killer. People are able to strategically plan their actions in relation to an investigation and draw conclusions based on the information gathered (Andrews et al., 2021). Nevertheless, there are problems with decentration when communicating with other people, in particular with peers (Andrews et al., 2021). She points out to people the things she does not like about them and sometimes does it rudely, not caring about the feelings of others.
Wednesday and her family have a rather specific relationship with each other. Parents respect the girl’s choice and in general, they all live according to the standards they set. However, Wednesday often does not respond to the speech and conversations of parents, not listening to them and not showing interest (Gough & Millar, 2022). In some cases, this is reminiscent of a complete lack of respect for some family members for others. In adolescence, the child’s psyche is mobile and conditioned by hormones. Thus, Wednesday’s behavior is, on the one hand, normal and may be a relic of age-related changes.
Wednesday has several mental problems, but Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) stands out most clearly among them. Wednesday shows little interest in the feelings of others, which indicates a lack of empathy. She is cruel and promises her friend to shoot her boyfriend if he offends her (Gough & Millar, 2022). In addition, she has difficulty understanding other people’s condition and understanding their feelings. This aggression is manifested towards ill-wishers who can offend her. In addition, Wednesday shows sadistic tendencies towards his brother, whom he can tie up and close in a closet.
Critical social theory can be applied to Wednesday’s behavior. The main character opposes society and its established culture, thereby criticizing its foundations and the power that determines them (Azevedo et al., 2020). She does not trust teachers and does not respect their opinions. Her attitude can be seen as a rebuff to the foundations of the society in which she exists. In this way, Wednesday expresses its position and individuality without accepting banal norms.
Among the theories of development, cognitive theory can be applied to it. Wednesday tries to understand and interpret future events related to the murders. Accordingly, such a social environment affects her and makes her perform within the framework of a closed and joyless teenager. In addition, her parents are gloomy and their entire mansion resembles a gothic structure from scary stories (Gough & Millar, 2022). Interacting for the most part with the family, Wednesday developed a certain social construct aimed at branding and negativity.
As mentioned above, Wednesday may have a problem such as ASPD. She has outbreaks of aggression and a rude attitude towards others. Azevedo et al. confirm this by saying that people with such diseases are impulsive in nature (2020). This is the main type of aggression seen in patients with ASPD (Azevedo et al., 2020). Wednesday’s behavior approves this, as her aggressive actions are circumstantial. In addition, the authors talk about emotional sensitivity as an accompanying symptom of the disease. At the same time, people may not feel empathy and not understand the feelings of others.
In conclusion, it should be said that Wednesday is a teenager with certain problems. She is pale and extremely thin, which does not correspond to the normal development of adolescents at her age. In addition, the main character suffers from a lack of empathy and shows a clear negative attitude towards both family members and the surrounding society. At the same time, she is not aware of the incorrectness or abnormality of behavior, insisting on her opinion and views.
References
Andrews, J. L., Ahmed, S. P., & Blakemore, S. J. (2021). Navigating the social environment in adolescence: The role of social brain development. Biological Psychiatry, 89(2), 109-118. Web.
The artist whose disorders are being discussed is the famous painter, Vincent Van Gogh [1853-1890], who is believed to have suffered from temporal lobe epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and also other conditions arising out of excessive and compulsive writings at one time, and complete idleness during other times. (Vincent van Gogh: Biography).
How these disorders affect different facets of Van Gogh’s life?
The volatile aspect of Van Gogh’s personality affected his love life in that he could not continue his relationship with any woman. There were many women in his life, but finally, unable to cope with his temperament, they were forced to leave him, forcing him to seek the company of morally low women. His fit of violent temper and epileptic fits, during which he was capable of violent behavior, alienated him from others. It is also believed that his use of an alcoholic concoction, absinthe provoked convulsive behavior and was mainly responsible for his continued ill-health and bouts of severe mental illness. (Blumer).
How these disorders affect personal and professional life of Van Gogh?
Although this painter was interested in landscapes to which he had devoted much of his painting career, he began portrait work from the year 1888 onwards, and it was this post-1888 period that was characterized by bouts of mental illness, which eventually led to his committing suicide during 1890. It is believed that Van Gogh’s self portrayals are lucid manifestations of his erratic mind. (West, p. 180).
He was prone to fits of violent behavior, and during one of these episodes, he even seized a razor and ran behind his roommate Gauguin, threatening him. When this act was not possible, possibly in an act of self-redemption, he slit his own left ear lobe. Subsequently, he was confined to a mental asylum for one year but left when there was no improvement to his health. His fundamental mental instability and lack of mental equilibrium are manifest in many of his self-portraits, which reveal a gloomy and morose personality, not contented with his life and environment. He could not continue stable relations with members of his family and was dependent upon his brother, Theodorus for support. Theo’s marriage and subsequent fatherhood in 1889 may have created a sense of loneliness and futility in Von Gogh’s mind from which he really could not recover.
From most of his paintings and portraits, the darker realities of Von Gogh’s personality are revealed, including his seclusive behavior, isolation from the mainstream of successful painters with whom he could not forge strong bonds, and his anxieties about his own mental state and its after-effects. It is seen that after 1888, his mental conditions worsened and he was often at a loss of control over his own mind.
Conclusions
While it is considered that most artists do possess a certain element of mental imbalances, most people consider that Van Gogh’s illness concealed a brilliant genius who could have achieved the greatest heights in his career. Critics agree that certain works of Van Gogh were incomparable during that era and no living artist could have performed at that level of excellence.
Perhaps, the greatest thought that could be provided to Vincent Van Gogh is that, after his death, he became a much-celebrated artist and his paintings and portraits are well sought after. It is believed that his works rank with Paul Gauguin, Georges Seurat and Paul Cezanne as one of the all-time great Dutch painters, post-Rembrandt. (Vincent van Gogh).
Good afternoon, everyone. I hope you’re all doing well today. Now, let me ask you a question: have you ever had the feeling that memories of certain events in the past can bring you sadness, discomfort, or even nightmares? Our mental health is constantly challenged by negative influences such as discrimination, isolation, and financial and health difficulties.
Discussion
Thus, taking care of your mental health now is a need, not a must. Furthermore, the term mental health can often be encountered in modern media in the discussion of mental illnesses. Today, I want to inform you about mental health, including its definition, importance during different stages of development, and strategies for maintaining good mental health.
As I present this information, I want to emphasize that everyone has different experiences with mental health. However, it is universal that mental health presents an essential aspect of our well-being that affects our behavior, thoughts, and reactions. According to studies by Wirkner et al. (2021), Lattie et al. (2022), and McGorry et al. (2022), maintaining good mental health is an ongoing strategy that can be achieved by maintaining healthy lifestyles.
Firstly, let’s discuss the impact of mental health on behavior, thoughts, and reactions in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Family background can affect mental health, including the role of divorce and trauma (Lattie et al, 2022). Thus, a conducive environment that fosters emotional stability and social skills is essential. Now, let’s move on to strategies for maintaining stable mental health. A balanced diet, and engagement in sports, hobbies, and other activities can positively engage the mind and reduce stress (Wirkner et al., 2021). Furthermore, healthy relationships and socialization can help prevent mental illnesses (McGorry et al., 2022). It’s important to note that maintaining good mental health is an ongoing process. Regular self-care practices, such as meditation, therapy, and other activities that promote mental well-being, can be helpful. Overall, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a supportive environment are crucial for achieving good mental health.
Conclusion
To summarize, mental health is an essential aspect of our well-being that affects our behavior, thoughts, and reactions. It’s important to prioritize mental health during different stages of development, and there are many strategies for maintaining stable mental health. I encourage you to reflect on your own experiences with mental health and take action to prioritize your well-being. Remember, mental health is a crucial aspect of your overall health, and seeking help when needed is a sign of strength, not weakness. Thank you for listening, and I hope this information has been useful to you.
Wirkner, J., Christiansen, H., Knaevelsrud, C., Lüken, U., Wurm, S., Schneider, S., & Brakemeier, E.-L. (2021). Mental health in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. European Psychologist, 26(4), 310–322. Web.
We live in a world where people constantly deal with intense sorrow and unhappiness caused by the loss of a loved one, especially by death or other life changing events such as divorce and termination from work among others. According to psychologists, there is no universal way of expressing grief, as everyone’s experience is influenced by factors such as personal values, cultural background, family setting, life experiences, and inherent beliefs among others (Giannopoulou, Bitsakou, Ralli, Chatzis, & Papadatou, 2018). For example, talking about death is often treated as a taboo element in most societies.
This makes it hard for some people to recover from the trauma of experiencing the death of a family member or close friend because they tend to internalize the whole experience. Grief counseling is a form of therapy, which helps people deal with different forms of responses when they experience loss (Giannopoulou et al., 2018). According to psychologists, dealing with death of a loved one often has spiritual, emotional, physical, and social effects on people. Some of the notable signs of someone experiencing grief include withdrawal, crying, anger, as well as feelings of helplessness and regret (Enns, 2018). Most people consider it appropriate, when a grieving person holds him or herself from crying. Grief becomes a counseling issue in situations where the grieving process faces interruptions that leave several crucial elements unresolved for a prolonged period.
Discussion
Grief counseling is very important, especially to people that are often overwhelmed by loss that disables their coping process. One advantage of grief counseling is the fact that it helps one to express his or her emotions, as well as the reasons for feeling sad, lonely, and isolated following a loss (Worden, 2018). Through counseling, a grieving person is empowered to think consciously through the loss they are experiencing, the possible changes and challenges that might follow, as well as viable copping mechanisms they can apply. Psychologists also argue that grief counseling is necessary for people that suffer from anticipatory grief (Worden, 2018). This often happens to someone who has a loved one going through an experience such as a terminal illness that easily result in death. Such people are highly vulnerable to suffering health conditions such as depression because the daily exposure to the suffering of a loved one and their inevitable death can be too overwhelming. Psychologists argue that whenever someone starts to feel guilty and helpless over a situation they have little or no control over, then the time is right for them to seek professional help from a grief counselor (Enns, 2018).
Another advantage of grief counseling is that it helps people to accept their loss by finding comfort in positive memories (Giannopoulou et al., 2018). For example, counseling can be done in a group setting, where people going through a certain type of grief come together and share their experiences. This plays a pivotal role in creating a safe environment for someone to work through their feelings because they are able to recognize that their situation is not only unique to them, as others are experiencing it too (Winokuer & Harris, 2015). Counseling acts as a validation of feelings about a loss and the encouragement that their still a space where their expression of grief will not be judged or misunderstood. Group counseling is pivotal in helping grieving persons to lessen their sense of isolation because it allows people to exchange information that is relevant with regard to managing a loss (Rich, 2017).
The five stages of grief according to the Kubler-Ross theory are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance (Enns, 2018). One of the objectives of grief counseling is getting an individual to the last and most important stage of the process where someone accepts the reality of the loss they experienced. The main principle applied in the process is the need to let an individual take as much time as they may need before progressing from one state to the next (Winokuer & Harris, 2015). The main reason for this is the fact that in some people, certain elements of grieve are postponed and tend to surface unexpectedly when they ought to be edging close to the acceptance stage. Therefore, it is important for a counselor to allow a patient to grieve in his or her own way because everyone responds to loss in a different manner (Giannopoulou et al., 2018). A grief counseling session is deemed successful if a counselor manages to help a grieved person to move on from a loss. Psychologists argue that the ability to convince a grieving person that they can be happy again is often very fulfilling because they know that someone has embraced positivity in life (Worden, 2018).
Grief counseling is very important and people need in the contemporary world. Today’s world is highly diverse and complicated with regard to the way people handle various situations in life. This phenomenon has been necessitated by the emergence of technologies such as social networking sites, which have made communication and sharing of information a lot easier (Rich, 2017). However, challenges associated such technologies such as cyber bullying can have a negative effect on the ability of a grieving individual to manage his or her loss effectively.
This is because if one chooses to share a grieving moment with friends on social networking sites, there is a certain percentage who will not offer the necessary support while others tend to respond in insensitive ways. It is important to understand that grieving is a personal process, whose needs are determined by factors such as the magnitude of a loss, familiar copping mechanisms, as well as the existing support system (Rich, 2017). The value of grief counselors in the whole process is felt the most when an individual needs to establish the level of support needed in order to regain a sense of peace and normalcy. Counselors can help their societies in dealing with grief through awareness creation programs and creating support groups through which people dealing with various forms of loss can identify with and express their emotions with ease (Winokuer & Harris, 2015).
Conclusion
One of the inevitable challenges that people have to deal with at some point in life is the intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one or something that meant so much to them such as marriage or a job. Although grieving is a personal process, some people tend to take longer adjusting and moving on to the extent of requiring the services of a professional therapist. Grief counselors play a pivotal role in helping individuals dealing with a loss to reach a point of accepting their situation and moving on. Overcoming grief requires one to have a strong support system, effective copping mechanisms, as well as a free and save environment in which one can express his or her emotions without the fear of being judged. Grief counselors can be of great help to societies in terms of dealing with grief by engaging people in awareness creation programs and support groups. This would play a pivotal role in helping people to have the psychological preparedness of dealing with a loss.
References
Enns, V. (2018). Counseling insights: Practical strategies for helping others with anxiety, trauma, grief, and more. New York, NY: ACHIEVE Publishing.
Giannopoulou, I., Bitsakou, P., Ralli, E., Chatzis, F., & Papadatou, D. (2018). Addressing cultural issues in grief counseling with immigrants: The case of a bereaved Filipino family following homicide. The European Journal of Counseling Psychology, 7(1).
Rich, P. (2017). Grief counseling homework planner. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Winokuer, H.R., & Harris, D. (2015). Principles and practice of grief counseling, Second Edition. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
Worden, J.W. (2018). Grief counseling and grief therapy, Fifth Edition: A handbook for the mental health practitioner. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
It is common knowledge that the current approach to mental health issues in healthcare and psychology is to focus on therapies or medications. Many people are generally aware that physical health can be influential on a person’s mental well-being as well. Mental illnesses are becoming more recognized as serious conditions rather than stigmatized notions of the past. However, the majority of the public is unaware that mental health and mindset share a strong correlational and causational connection. Mindset has a substantial impact on a person’s mental health.
Discussion
Firstly, having a high level of grit mindset is associated with self-regulation benefitting a person’s mental health. According to Burnette et al.’s academic research in Clinical Psychology Review, neuroscience research has shown that the neural substrate for grit is in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for self-regulation, planning, goal setting, and reflection of past experiences (7). This concept is linked to the notion of having unrelenting energy over a long period of time, despite difficulties and obstacles (Burnette et al. 22). It is associated with active coping capability in individuals as well (Burnette et al. 41). The analysis of the evidence as well as applying critical thinking on the grit mindset reveals that self-regulation is important because it is likely to enable greater self-control. In other words, a person capable of regulating his or her own thoughts will not engage in negative thoughts exacerbating symptoms of mental issues. For instance, sticking to the set plans and striving towards goals cannot be done effectively if an individual is suffering from mental ailments. Each step towards achieving something of value is a positive feedback loop, which makes one more disciplined and resilient to the hardships of life. The evidence of the reflection on past experiences is another indicator of a grit mindset promoting mental well-being. Many can relate to the notion of how dwelling on negative occurrences of the past can ruin one’s day and facilitate unhealthy inner chatter. For example, a person remembering how he or she failed to pass an exam can discourage him or her from important future events, such as a job interview. This translates into another piece of evidence presented above on being energetic and resilient to obstacles. In other words, having a high degree of grit mindset provides an individual with the mental strength to be resistant to stressors. Essentially, he or she is able to cope with problems better, which ensures that mental well-being remains unaffected by constantly emerging troubles and challenges that are unavoidable. Thus, the bigger picture is that a high level of grit mindset enables better self-regulation, which keeps a person content and happy despite life’s difficulties.
Secondly, a lack of a grit mindset is associated with a number of mental health adversities. According to Burnette et al.’s academic research in Clinical Psychology Review, having a low-grit mindset can increase anxiety and excessive rumination (3). In addition, according to Schroder et al.’s publication in a scholarly journal titled Personality and Individual Differences, a lack of a grit mindset can cause a lack of motivation and coping strategies to overcome challenging events (26). The analysis of the provided evidence demonstrates the downsides of not having or having a low-grit mindset. It complements the previous main point on the utility of a grit mindset. For instance, if an individual has a low level of grit mindset, he or she will be anxious due to excessive rumination and overthinking. It shows that the inner chatter every person experiences is no longer properly controlled, which can lead to destructive thoughts and emotions. As an example, one could imagine his or her past failures being a determinant of future plans. If there is no grit mindset to block these thoughts, then such a person is doomed to become anxious about what failures are to come. Overthinking is not healthy for mental well-being as well since it causes paralysis in making decisions and committing to plans. One might set a goal to improve oneself, but excessive rumination can provide a false reason why this effort will result in failure. It is generally highly discouraging, which leads to a loss of motivation to stick to the plans and goals. A low-grit mindset translates into decreased levels of coping capabilities. For example, a person who plans to exercise daily might give up when there is additional stress coming from family or work. He or she can cope with a limited amount of distress. If this limit is exceeded, then he or she will stop exercising due to the lack of coping skills, which is the result of low grit mindset levels. The bigger idea is that having no grit mindset makes a person susceptible to life’s challenges making him or her mentally unhappy, worried, and excessively anxious.
Thirdly, the impact of a positive stress mindset on mental health is beneficial. According to Casper et al.’s study published in the European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, employees with a positive stress mindset tend to be less affected when anticipating large/stressful workloads (800). A positive mindset helps employees use coping strategies when facing large/challenging tasks (Casper et al. 805). According to Tague’s research in an academic journal titled Leonardo, a positive mindset correlates with better task performance overall (207). The analysis of the evidence, as well as the application of critical thinking to the positive stress mindset, reveals that it empowers the capabilities that have been proven to exist inside a person. The information presented above demonstrated the limitations associated with the lack of coping skills. The person exhibits elevated worry and rumination due to a lack of creativity. Lack of coping mechanisms to overcome difficult situations. A positive stress mindset is about resilience to stress, and it is an attribute linked to the levels of desire that defines the focus of one’s enthusiasm and will. The individual response to stress is moderated by various mechanisms that determine the strength of the impact of the stressor on the individual. Various personality characteristics may be particularly involved in the emotional appraisal of a situation and play a significant role in the perception of and response to stress. That is why the importance of the individual’s personality traits in the genesis and overcoming of stress is beyond doubt. At the same time, it is the features of the relationship between the characteristics of emotional reactivity and personality, the role of personal determination in the development of stress, that is the least studied and attracted increased attention. Therefore, emotional stability and personality stability are the key prerequisites for successfully solving the main life tasks, as well as maintaining mental health. The bigger picture is that a positive stress mindset influences an individual’s viewpoint on how repeated thinking impacts mental well-being.
Fourthly, the impact of a negative stress mindset on mental health is detrimental. According to Casper et al.’s study published in the European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, a negative stress mindset leads to a decrease in task performance due to low motivation levels (806). According to Schroder et al.’s publication in a scholarly journal titled Behavior Therapy, motivation is linked to increased feelings of exhaustion mixed with a large increase in the risk of burnout detrimental to mental health and well-being (714). By analyzing the evidence, it is possible to provide a commentary and critical thinking to state that the grit mindset is likely triggered by self-awareness and the desire for self-actualization through incremental mastery of problem sets. There might be positive links between one’s attitude to stress and persistence in seeking to achieve set long-term goals. Those with a defeated attitude might have increased anxiety, ruminating, and lack of drive due to a negative stress mindset. Thus, it is possible that the lack of coping methods to overcome adversity is connected with a negative stress mindset as well. In addition, it is likely that a negative stress mindset creates more negative thoughts and emotions, hindering a person’s ability to cope with stress and stick to the plans. Every subsequent failure might further amplify the effect leading to discouragement and loss of motivation. Thus, a negative stress mindset could be associated with a mental health decrease due to the reduced capacity to identify potential solutions to changes and gather the necessary energy to act. The bigger picture is that the negative stress mindset has a strong detrimental effect on mental health.
Fifthly, people with mental health conditions suffer from the mindset of social isolation. According to Elraz’s study published in the journal titled Human Relations, people with depression and anxiety tend to be socially excluded due to stigmatization of their conditions, worsening their mental health (727). In addition, the author states that an identity mindset has a substantial impact on socialization (Elraz 738). The analysis of the main point and its evidence reveals that socialization prepares individuals for participation in a social group by imparting its rules and expectations. The social satisfaction associated with social validation can potentially address distress from fear. Socialization has three primary objectives: teaching impulse control and building a conscience, educating individuals to execute specific social tasks, and establishing shared meaning and value. The positive mental attitude of persons with mental illness might be critical in developing effective mental health management and the skills involved. Social isolation might be contributing to the general loss of socialization and failures of persons with mental disorders. A negative social isolationist mindset might restrict an individual’s ability to connect with society, increasing the likelihood of mental health disorders. Observing a person’s social behavior and providing appropriate social support to improve the quality of life can be necessary for good mental health. The bigger picture is that mental well-being is deeply and profoundly affected by social isolation.
Sixthly, a positive mindset on socialization in people with mental health conditions benefits improves their mental well-being. According to Elraz’s research, the positive mindset in people with mental illness drives the development of efficient mental health management and the skills included (722). The researcher found that a positive mindset helps change the perception of people with mental conditions and contributes to their overall socialization and professional realization (739). The analysis of the evidence, as well as the application of critical thinking to the positive socialization mindset, reveals that there is truth to the information presented above. In modern society, there is often an opinion that for happiness, a person needs a lot of money, a good education, external attractiveness, a warm climate, and quality housing. However, paying attention to the correlates of happiness, one can see a completely opposite picture. All of the above factors can make a person feel better, but most likely, this state will not last long, as there may be no social component. For example, after three months, a person ceases to experience the joy of a promotion at work or receiving a diploma at the university. On the basis of the foregoing, one can conclude that the social environment and the sharing of resources that bring satisfaction lie at the root of the issue. It can be said that happiness is much more dependent on the inner feelings of the individual, his or her characteristic qualities, and socialization in society than on money, prestige, and appearance. The bigger picture is that a positive mindset on socialization benefits mental health.
Seventhly, a mindset based on self-awareness positively impacts mental health. Self-care is unique to each individual and may be interpreted in various ways. According to Sprogis, the expert on self-awareness mindset research, in its most basic form, the phrase alludes to our capacity as humans to operate well in the world while addressing the various obstacles of everyday life with vigor, vitality, and self-assurance (35). These states of awareness are required to instill the grit mindset. The knowledge of a self-awareness mindset is essential for identifying prospective methods to enhance mental health (Sprogis 84). Conscious thought control and imagery have been recommended in stress management as the mind control intervention that relieves stress and minimizes illness risk (Sprogis 141). According to proponents of this method in psychotherapy, the most immediate result of mindful meditation is a rapid surge of energy (Sprogis 176). As a result, the commentary can be made on the importance of a self-awareness mindset in facilitating mental well-being. For example, a person with a self-aware mindset can have better objective knowledge about himself or herself. Logically, it can help him or her to avoid indulgences or abnormal behaviors, which can be destructive to mental health. In addition, self-awareness might promote gratitude and create a grateful mindset accompanied by happiness and satisfaction with life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the mindset has a major influence on an individual’s mental health. The analysis in the given essay showcased this central claim by providing evidence on grit mindset, stress mindset, and socialization mindset. To summarize the key supporting ideas, having a strong grit mindset is beneficial for mental health, but the lack of it is detrimental, causing anxiety. Similarly, having a positive stress mindset improves mental well-being through superior coping skills. A socialization mindset helps people with mental conditions to better their mental health, whereas social isolation worsens the symptoms. Thus, mindset can influence mental state differently, and it can help understand what mindsets contribute to mental health improvement and which may have adverse effects. The implication of this essay is that people should regulate and manage their mindset to ensure they are mentally healthy.
Works Cited
Burnette, Jeni L., et al. “Growth Mindset and Psychological Distress: A Meta-analysis.” Clinical Psychology Review, vol. 77, 2020, pp. 1-53.
Casper, Anne, et al. “Mindset Matters: The Role of Employees’ Stress Mindset for Day-Specific Reactions to Workload Anticipation.” European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, vol. 26, no. 6, 2017, pp. 798-810.
Elraz, Hadar. “Identity, Mental Health and Work: How Employees with Mental Health Conditions Recount Stigma and the Pejorative Discourse of Mental Health.” Human Relations, vol. 71, no. 5, 2017, pp. 722-741.
Schroder, Hans S., et al. “Growth Mindset of Anxiety Buffers the Link Between Stressful Life Events and Psychological Distress and Coping Strategies.” Personality and Individual Differences, vol. 110, 2017, pp. 23-26.
Schroder, Hans S., et al. “The Fixed Mindset of Anxiety Predicts Future Distress: A Longitudinal Study.” Behavior Therapy, vol. 50, no. 4, 2019, pp. 710-717.
Sprogis, Rudy. The Self-Reflection Habit. Leading Questions, 2020.
Tague, Gregory F. “The Sustainability Mindset Principles: A Guide to Developing a Mindset for a Better World” Leonardo, vol.4, no. 3, 2022, pp. 205-208.
The term of social class has been under discussion of many sociologists for a long period. It was discovered that considerable differences between classes have an impact on human behavior, outcomes, social mobility, and the development of conflicts between people of different classes. Class differences are based on factors like speech style, sexual preferences, education, and even self-esteem. After a thorough evaluation of class differences in mental health, it becomes clearer that people from the working classes face more problems with mental health in comparison to people from the middle class: downward drift, working conditions, and mental health diagnosis influence the correlation of class and mental health (Barnett et al. 583-584). In this paper, the analysis of poverty will help to define the factors, which become influential for the mental health conditions of people from different classes. Poverty causes the development of stresses, changes in lifestyle, and even challenges in working conditions. Mental health problems turn out to be a crucial issue for people of different social classes because of the challenges with education, inabilities to get necessary incomes or/and working conditions, and varieties of stresses; varieties of social classes are characterized by different ways of treatment, different marital statuses and child development, and different lifestyles.
Discussion
Poverty and mental health: the variety of social inequality. Poverty makes people limit their living conditions and suffer from inabilities to choose more comfortable and healthier places. Furthermore, poverty is not associated with possessing a small amount of some goods, but this idea is related to people’s social status and differences between classes (De Schutter et al. 82-84). The representatives of any country, where the problems of poverty are still considered to be troublesome, are under the threat of health risks, such as drinking, smoking, obesity, as well as physical inactivity (Kivimäki et al. 141-142). A considerable amount of noise, constant fights with air, water, and earth pollution, litter congestion may be regarded as the main environmental stressors (Li et al. 39). In addition, poverty already deprives people of an opportunity to get better treatment and physical examination. It is also necessary to admit that though a rich person can get better treatment and choose the location, that is more convenient to live in, it is impossible to say for sure that they feel certainly better than people of lower classes do. Obviously, environment and work have a certain impact on human mental health; however, some people may have problems with mental health from their births, and it becomes impossible to change this truth but only accept it and try to support a challenged person.
In general, the relation of poverty as the main factor of class differences and mental health is obvious. Even more, when we talk about this kind of relation, we should consider the idea of the inverse correlation of mental health and class differences. On the one hand, people with low incomes or, in other words, poor people may suffer from mental health problems more frequently because it becomes very difficult for them to get the necessary treatment or examinations, to choose proper places for living, and to discuss their problems with professionals. On the other hand, mental health problems prevent people from using their skills to their full extent and fight against poverty. A mentally diseased person cannot organize his/her work and faces problems with education. This is why the issue of mental health and poverty can be evaluated from two perspectives, where each point may become both the reason and the outcome. Investigations show that treatment in specific institutions is related to a certain class position, and people belonging to the lower class are oftener treated in various public agencies (Pilgrim 64-68; Reiss et al. 9-12). Even though mental health is somewhat ignored in social class differences investigations, the relations between these two terms cannot be ignored. Simply, this relation has the following formula, offered by Pilgrim: “the lower a person’s social class position, the higher the probability of them being diagnosed with a mental health problem” (181). If one considers social status as the ground, from which mental health should be analyzed, it is evident that working classes have fewer chances to get the necessary treatment and more chances to suffer from mental diseases. Moreover, if mental health problems define the division of people by their social status, it turns out to be that people with mental health problems face challenges with getting necessary education and jobs to earn enough for living and choose that social class that is more appropriate for their demands and backgrounds.
Social capital and its connection to mental health problems play an important role. Social capital is considered to be a significant concept for many people’s lives because of attention to such points as trust, social networks, reciprocity, and several social norms. Webber makes a wonderful attempt to analyze the origins of social capital and the reasons for its influence on human mental health. One of the most powerful definitions, discovered by Webber was Bourdieu’s one, where social capital is explained as “the aggregate of the actual or potential resources which are linked to possession of a durable network of more or less institutionalized relationships of mutual acquaintance or recognition” (91). However, the ideas of Robert Putman, offered at the beginning of the 1990s, were supported by the vast majority of mental health sociologists. They agreed that social capital needed to be regarded as “contextual property of communities rather than an individual trait” (Weber 92). The concept of social capital is regarded from its structural (“regulated networks that foster mutually beneficial relationships”) and cognitive (“the value system that is shared by members of a community and fosters participation in social relationships”) components (Weber 93). The analysis of the connection of social capital to mental health shows that mentally diseased people can organize and support the relations and communication with people from other groups. This is an example of a horizontal connection that is characterized by the relations between groups and people. However, when discussing the relations on different hierarchical levels (from the government to institutions), it is necessary to evaluate a vertical type of connection, when a community’s integration can be equated to society.
Stresses, their reasons, and the ways of how people of different classes cope with them. Social and health problems may become the reasons for stresses of different types. Constant anxiety, people’s desire to have more, low self-esteem, and social isolation – all this leads to considerable problems with health. The investigations by WHO show that the lower stages people take in the existed social hierarchy, the more chances to face the above-mentioned anxiety and insecurity these people face (Wang and Geng 281). However, the most terrible threat for people of lower classes is the inability to cope with the appeared anxiety within a short period. If rich people can easily find enough entertainment or other possible ways out of stress, poor people cannot stop thinking about problems and worsen their health conditions. The situation in the United Kingdom is worthy of attention because its citizens suffer from combined stress and depression (Shevlin et al. 125). With the help of a deeper analysis of stress reasons, it becomes evident that people may suffer because of stress in different ways.
First, the general state of affairs makes many people of the lower classes worry about their present and future. These people cannot allow themselves to enjoy this life to its full extent and to use their skills and opportunities when they want. Constant problems at work and home bother people and influence considerably their health conditions. State of mind cannot be called normal because it is influenced by a variety of outside factors. Mental health problems do not allow people to choose the desired style of life and the job that is more interesting for them. Second, mentally diseased people are not always able to find the necessary way of communication with people of different groups. This is why these people start panicking and breaking down their mental conditions. With time, it becomes difficult to improve the situation and get the necessary treatment. Stresses turn out to be an integral part of their lives, and mental conditions continue worsening (Cantor et al.; Thomson et al. 516). As a result, the inability to become part of the desirable social class appears. The above-mentioned type of stress is discussed from the perspective when mental health problems create challenges for people to get higher social class.
The situation, when social class differences become the reason for mental health problems, represents another approach for stress development. In this case, people cannot achieve the desirable purposes because of their poverty and limitations of abilities; this is why their stresses are based on personal discontent with living and working conditions. People of lower classes cannot stop thinking about their destiny and lack of abilities in comparison to people of higher classes (Mooney et al. 46-53). They compare their lives with others who feel depressed. Such stresses become crucial for their mental health and worsen health conditions within a short period.
Social Class Differences: The Effect of the Working Conditions and Job Security on the Mental Disorders Development
There is no doubt that the environment in which a person lives and works has a direct effect on this person’s mental health. As a rule, higher wage earners have better mental health, while those who have low payments exhibit higher rates of mental illnesses. This is why the conditions in which the person is working often become one of the most crucial factors in the development of mental disorders (Reiss et al. 9-12). This is directly linked to the class differences because people with better jobs work in better conditions, while those from the lower levels of the population are exposed to the non-favorable working environment.
The idea that poorer levels of the population developmental disorders more frequently has long been discussed by scholars. Li et al. state that, referring to growing cities, a combination of such factors as overcrowding, unemployment, and limited access to health facilities makes mental disorders be related to physical complaints or even criminal cases (8-10). The combination of these factors and the fact that a person has a low-paid job and is thus forced to work in poor conditions often lead to the development of mental disorders. Most often, this happens with people of low socioeconomic status for, as it has been discovered by the field of psychiatric epidemiology so far, such a status leads to high rates of certain mental disorders among the population (Boyd and Luebbert 24-28). Consequently, working conditions directly affect the mental health of a person.
It is worth mentioning that noise is one of the factors that are most likely to lead to the development of mental disorders. The matter is that, after working in constant noise, a person may develop constant anger and loss of self-control; these are the symptoms of serious mental illnesses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, grief, or personality disorders (Li et al. 40-41). Therefore, poor working conditions lead to the deterioration of mental health and, correspondingly, loss of productivity (Karimi et al. 1-4). Still, much depends on the personal perception of poor working conditions and the costs that the organizations spend for special equipment and employees’ recovery. However, in most cases, those are not only the working conditions that may lead to the development of mental diseases.
Job security and job stress can also contribute greatly to mental illnesses development. There is sufficient evidence testifying to the fact that job insecurity and unemployment put mental health at risk and significantly increase possible anxiety levels (Vaingankar et al. 1-4). At present, practically every country has high unemployment rates. As a rule, unemployment serves as an indicator of poverty and the inability to obtain socioeconomic powers in society. These aspect “creates an environment of stress that may contribute to the development of a mental disorder” and can lead to the negative effect on obtaining the education and job position (Boyd and Luebbert 25). Besides, job stresses add to the problem of job security. Most of the people who have low-paid jobs are forced to take two or even more jobs, which often results in critical changes in individuals’ circadian rhythms and sleep patterns resulting in stress (Boyd and Luebbert 25-26). In addition, emotional problems at work increase the stress that the employees are subjected to. Thus, poor working conditions and job insecurity inevitably lead to the development of different mental illnesses (Van der Molen et al. 1-8). At this, groups with lower socioeconomic status are exposed to higher risks of developing psychiatric disorders because those are usually jobs of these people that are low-paid and that have poor working conditions.
Marital Status: Influence on the Mental Health
Marital status is one more social factor that can largely affect the mental health of a person. Several researchers have discovered that married individuals have fewer emotional and health problems because they are exposed to stress less often. For instance, Vaingankar et al. mention that unmarried individuals are inclined to experience emotional and even physical pathology because of not having marital relationships influencing their daily living (1-5). Thus, for example, alcoholism is more frequently met among unmarried people; however, the number of those who have drinking problems is even higher among separated and divorced people. Another problem that the unmarried (as well as the divorced) face is suicide. Again, it is less typical for married people because strong social connections tend to provide meaning for people, weakening the possibility of their destructive behaviors (Woodside and McClam 48-55). Social isolation remains the main reason why unmarried people are more exposed to the influence of mental disorders.
It should also be mentioned that schizophrenia is one of the mental illnesses that are the most frequently met among unmarried people. More and more studies show a direct relationship between schizophrenia and marital status. Not only unmarried and divorced people develop schizophrenia more often than the married ones, but they exhibit lower rates of recovery from this disorder. Marriage can decrease adverse and critical schizophrenic outcomes and social misfunctioning (Vaingankar et al. 1-4). In most instances, it is namely the marital status that serves as the main reason why people develop this mental disorder. Among other reasons, there are education and occupation; of these three reasons, marital status greatly influences the length of hospital stay and the recovery rates among schizophrenic patients.
Schizophrenia, however, is not the only mental illness that unmarried people may develop. Irrespective of gender, more unmarried than married people turn to mental hospitals for help. Among the most common mental disorders are anxiety, depression, and sleeping disorders. They are experienced by not only unmarried, but by the divorced, separated, and widowed people. Though some researchers state that marriage creates psychiatric distress in some people and, therefore, may lead to mental disorders development, the prevalence of the mental disorders among the unmarried still proves that people who suffer from the lack of emotional support on the part of the spouse are more likely to have mental health problems. Therefore, marital status is one of the most important social class differences that may account for the development of mental illnesses in some people.
Summary
This paper has described the main social class differences and their influence on the mental health of a person. It has been discovered and proven that people from lower social classes face higher risks of developing mental illnesses. This is the main idea that is developed throughout the paper. The paper begins by identifying the main reasons why people of different social classes have more chances of developing mental illnesses. One of the main reasons is poverty that significantly limits people’s possibilities and opportunities. After presenting a detailed definition of poverty, its effects on people’s mental health are discussed. Then the discussion gradually moves to the concept of social capital and its connection with mental health problems. Furthermore, the exposure to stress is discussed; since poor and wealthy people have approximately equal opportunities of being exposed to stressful situations, it was necessary to reveal the reasons for this exposure and how people of different social classes cope with stresses. After this, the paper proceeds to the description of working conditions and job security; at this, their relation to the people’s mental health is paid special attention to. Finally, one of the most important social class differences, marital status, is discussed. It is argued that unmarried people are more apt to develop such mental illnesses as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and sleeping disorders.
Conclusion
In conclusion, several social class differences and their effect on people’s mental health have been discussed in this paper. Social welfare is much predetermined by the financial one. This being the reason, the financial status of a person often accounts for his/her physical and mental health. Poverty is one of the main reasons why people develop illnesses, both mental and physical. Due to the lack of finances, they are often unable to turn for help or to afford expensive treatment. At this, lower levels of the population face especially high mental health risks. As it has been mentioned more than once, the main reason for this is poverty that leads to the lack of possibilities and constant exposure to stress. Besides, working people value their jobs more and, therefore, experience additional anxieties because they can lose them. Fear to become unemployed and lose the means for existence results in anger and depression, whereas shift work causes sleeping disorders and other health problems. All this is often aggravated by poor working conditions and, quite often, excessive noise to which people are exposed at work, which altogether favors the development of mental illnesses. Lastly, there is a social class difference that does not depend on financial welfare. This is the marital status which is almost always an indicator of a person’s mental health. It has been discovered that unmarried (divorced, separated, and widowed) people are more prone to develop different mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, sleeping disorders, anxiety, etc. Therefore, social class differences account for the mental illnesses that the population develops.
Works Cited
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