Mental Health in the US Culture

Mental Health in the US Culture

Culture refers to a common heritage or a set of values, beliefs and norms. It implies to the learned and largely shared attributes exhibited by a group of people. Culture is often described as a system of shared meaning. For instance, people placed in the same ethnic or racial group through either self-identification or census categories share a similar culture. Although the modern America is multi-cultured, Judeo-Christian white Americans' norms, beliefs, and values dictated the country’s culture during its early years. Nevertheless, mental institutions that train and educate are shaped by Western culture. The same cultural legacy has an imprint on the response accorded to mentally-ill patients. To understand mental health provision in US culture, I interviewed James, a mental disorder patient and Michael, a mental health professional.

James is an American of Asian origin. He found it hard to describe his symptoms to the clinician. He can recall informing the clinician about his recurrent dizziness, but when pushed further to explain if his somatic symptom is related to his emotions, he declined to clarify.  Later, James was diagnosed with schizophrenia and mild depression. As a medical professional, Michael agrees that social and cultural context contributed to James diagnosis. He gave an example of a finding from a recent research that some mental disorders are hereditary besides being highly prevalent in certain families (Marsella and Yamada 809).

James contemplated committing suicide on numerous occasions to end his ‘mystery’. He had lost all hopes of ever leading a normal life. The fact that he is a Vietnam War veteran compounded his sense of alienation as he felt that most people did not understand his condition. While Vietnam War happened decades ago, his memories of the loss of friends during combat missions are still fresh in his mind. In addition, he suffered physical damage during the deadly war resulting in an amputation of both legs. He feels neglected by his family and the society.

Racism in America has incubated a sense of mistrust in James because he hails from a minority group. He narrated stories on how health professionals have mistreated his most of his friends on ethnic grounds. Michael, on the other hand, confirms that James’ claims are true. Notwithstanding, he clarifies that racial mistreatments are often hyped because some decent US medical professionals (including him) exist.

Additionally, there is a patient’s mistrustful attitude towards healthcare providers inspired by negative attitudes towards government institutions. Some Americans of Russian or Chinese origin do not trust the US government because they view it as the main cause of problems at their native countries.

In the United States, mental healthcare providers deliver and finance services in a sharp contrast to other countries, especially the developing world. The economic, historical and political forces mostly shape the high level of organization seen today. America’s mental health service provision system is fragmented because it lacks a unitary set of organizing principles. Michael claims that the hybrid system needs an upgrade as it fails to successfully address the people’s needs. James’ stance is that the current problem in psychiatric system is even magnified for the minorities (Kirmayer et al. 964).

Diagnosis and American Culture

            Worldwide, Western medication is regarded as a health cornerstone because of its basis on scientific research and discovery. Michael argued that Western medicines’ hallmark lies in the accurate diagnosis of the disease, its identification, and classification. He further states that the accuracy of the diagnosis dictates the type of supportive care and treatment accorded to patients. Besides, it reveals the cause and prognosis of illness. There are no laboratory tests or definitive lessons hence the difficulty in detecting the causes of such diseases. Michael and other professionals cluster potential symptoms, observe patient’s behavior and signs associated with disability or distress.

            James was asked to provide a detailed description of the intensity, nature and duration of his ailment. It is a standard protocol required to be performed by all clinicians to determine the cause of the mental disorder and to provide its accurate diagnosis. Furthermore, mental health professionals rely on signs seen from patient’s psychiatric examination. The clinicians must diagnose a patient with a particular disorder only if the symptoms observed match a description of a specified diagnosis. It took a long period of time for James’ disease to be diagnosed. Other times, he thought that the entire process involving counseling sessions, medical examinations, and observations were unnecessary. In fact, he hardly believed that he was ill but after a diagnosis and subsequent treatment, he feels that his health condition is gradually improving.

How Patients should be Perceived

            James and other patients of mental illness should not be demeaned as lesser mortals because of their situation. They should be viewed like any other patients and their illness should be shrugged off as temporary. James feels that people often see his illness as permanent hence do not bother to help him in his path towards recovery. The derogatory labels segregating them from normal beings often astonish him. Besides, he feels that people including medical professionals and his family members fail to fully understand his situation, thus making it harder for him to receive the necessary help. Michael says that James’ views are not uncommon: many patients are indeed mistreated hence plunging them further into depression. If family members and the society support patients with mental illness, they will recover quickly. He gave examples of a few individuals currently leading normal lives though they were formerly chronic patients of depression and schizophrenia. Such patients regained their health solely because their families stood side by side with them during their time of need.

            There is a common public perception that mental illness patients are violent. James thinks that such should this should not be the case and should stop immediately. He explained that people flee on sighting him because of the stigma. With both of his legs amputated, he can hardly understand how he can get violent. Thus, his call is for people to see him as an equally harmless human that intends to establish peace. He could not recall a single instance when he became violent, thus he wonders how people could perceive him and other patients as such.

            Since James was admitted as a psychiatric patient, he has remained jobless. Though his health has improved remarkably over the past few years, he cannot secure a job no matter how hard he tries. It is notable that James possesses a wealth of experience and skills in the automotive and spares industry. Immediately he returned from Vietnam, he quit his service to the country to join the industry. In fact, by the time he was diagnosed with mild depression, he held a senior advisory role in his organization. However, his diagnosis has diminished his chances of regaining his job (Kim et al. 586). Though he has almost fully recovered, no firm has expressed an interest employing his skills.

            Moreover, people assume that James and others suffering from a mental illness have poor judgment. As a result, family members and caregivers overrule most decisions they make. However, it is not the case: most mental illnesses do not affect the victim's ability to make a sound judgment. Actually, most patients are consciously aware of what is best for them. An attempt to make decisions for them demeans their capability and complicates their already worse situations. James says that this perception should change. As a medical professional, Michael agrees with James. He encourages patient's family members and young medical professionals to allow patients to make a personal decision. In fact, he says that such patients recover quickly as compared to those viewed as having poor judgment.

            People should respect the wishes of mentally ill patients. Friends and families should display a sense of calmness, empathy and care towards patients because the patients get agitated and upset quickly. Their swift emotional reactions should be calmed down with an understanding counter response. The main reason why most patients attempt suicide is the abject feeling of lack of respect and understanding. Neutralizing negative emotions is an effective and one of the first steps in ensuring a restoration of patients’ health. It is also a fatal mistake to assume that patients with mental disabilities cannot cope with stressful situations. They can outperform normal people because they have been stress subjects on multiple occasions. Therefore, over time, they learn how to effectively and singe-handedly manage stress. James emphasizes the need for people to express basic human courtesy and to respect human dignity through recognizing the patients' competencies. 

How Patients Perceive Themselves

            James is well aware of people’s perception and stigmatization to the mental patients. During the initial years of his sickness, he had an immense difficulty trying to balance people’s views and his own. He has been a keen learner during the course of his illness. He understands that he can only recover if he takes steps to wrestle his fears and to confront the disease. So far, has taken the right lane. In fact, doctors are telling him that he will be healed completely in a few months or years.  Such reassurance has instilled strength in him. He is constantly reminded on the kind of a fighter he is. Even with all the stigmatization and negative views launched from his surroundings, he still manages to resurface.

            However, James is more concerned about newly diagnosed patients who are yet to learn how to cope with the public views and the disease. Experience has taught him that not all patients are strong enough to deal with the disease. Some of his friends and former Vietnam colleagues have succumbed to the pressure. Most have committed suicide while others are leading miserable lives. A few have recovered or are in the path to recovery just like him. He borrows a leaf from those that have survived to work on his own formula.

            The emergence of Schizophrenia and mild depression has made James a better human than before.  He dedicates himself to encouraging others as he understands how neglect and lack of constant care can add harm to the sufferers (Myers 513). Consequently, James views himself as a fighter. 

Works Cited

Kim, Paul Y., et al. "Stigma, barriers to care, and use of mental health services among active duty and National Guard soldiers after combat." Psychiatric Services 61.6 (2010): 582-588.

Kirmayer, Laurence J., et al. "Common mental health problems in immigrants and refugees: general approach in primary care." Canadian Medical Association Journal 183.12 (2011): E959-E967.

Marsella, Anthony J., and Ann Marie Yamada. "Culture and psychopathology: Foundations, issues, and directions." (2007): 797-813. Print.

Myers, Neely Laurenzo. "Culture, stress and recovery from schizophrenia: Lessons from the field for global mental health." Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry 34.3 (2010): 500-528.