Mental Illness, a Summary

One in five Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. Look around, who do you see? In a classroom of thirty, six peers may, someday, indulge in delusions, attempt suicide, or simply never be able to put a smile on their faces. Who knows if they’re already going through this? People have always placed a stereotype or stigma on others with poor mental health, and the purpose of this article is to erase some of that discrimination put on the mentally ill and enlighten.

“In the past men created witches: now they create mental patients.” -Thomas S. Szasz, Hungarian psychiatrist. The timeline of mental illness, predictably, is not a pleasant one. In the 1600’s, Native American shamans, or medicine men, believed the inflictions to be the result of an evil spirit living inside the victims brain. They preformed “purifications” to release these ghosts, and would perform a large incision to the skull. Most patients died for obvious reasons, but ironically, despite a toonie-sized hole in their scalp, a small number survived. Over time, things improved for patients physically, but certainly not in regards to retaining their health. They were accused of demonic possession or witchcraft, and usually sentenced to hanging. In the 1800’s, mental hospitals began running, but the conditions were similar to those of prisons. Those who did not comply were tortured, either by solitary confinement (we’re talking cages), physical abuse, or the humility of being the star of a fare-paid “freak show.” In the early 1900’s, electric shock therapy was introduced, but this produced horrible physical effects such as severed tongues, broken teeth and limbs, etc. before the treatment was perfected and put to a minimal use. With the advancement of technology, people became more understanding of mental conditions as therapy and medication steadily transformed the state of mental health treatment.

Nowadays, while the standards of hospitalization and therapy have improved, many people still go untreated. The stigma of having a mental illness creates a worse situation. We’ve all heard it; crazy, cuckoo, weirdo, lunatic, etc. Admittedly these are pretty easily used, common terms. But for people already struggling to interpret their conditions, these names and stereotypes aren’t exactly helping. It usually just puts them in a downfall, with no external factor to keep them straight.

This leads me to my next issue: suicide. Or, more fitting in regards to the context, teen suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for teens in Canada. The rates are on a steady rise; teen suicides have tripled since 1970. Why? Perhaps the growing lack of moral ethics, due to the media, industrialization, and the new ease to life our generation is experiencing. Maybe it’s the pressure someone is encountering at school, at home, or even within their own circle of friends. Teens with these feelings are often ashamed or embarrassed to admit it, and the bottling only makes it worse. Although 8 out of 10 teens will give some warning sign (usually directed at a friend), most go unnoticed.

If you think a friend or someone you care about is considering suicide, first consider the following; are they withdrawing from their friends and family, interests and hobbies? Do they experience emotional outburst or mood swings? They may have a preoccupation with death, or talk about dying. If you still think that they are at risk, talk to them. Listen; do not act shocked or embarrassed. Try to break through the walls of secrecy, and help them rediscover the good things in their life. Encourage them to get proper help, but remember, the only person capable of curing suicide is the suicidal themselves.