7-1 Discussion: Are Psychological Disorders Manifestations of Society and Culture?
In this discussion, you will explore the concept of public perception and the impact it has on the mental health field. By reading the Forbes article, Researchers Doubt That Certain Mental Disorders Are Disorders at All, you can see that perceptions regarding mental health shift on a metaphoric pendulum over periods of time.
For your initial post, address the following:
⦁ The article notes that labels often define who we are and help us to determine what we are able to do. For argument’s sake, if the scientific community shifted from labels such as ADHD, anxiety, or PTSD to the definition of an individual’s response to the environment, how do you believe society would adapt to the change?
⦁ In some cases, a diagnosis can provide individuals with a sense of relief. It gives them the opportunity to address personal issues with a clear treatment plan.
⦁ What are the benefits of having labels for mental health disorders?
⦁ What are some detriments of having labels for mental health disorders?
⦁ How does the concept outlined in this article apply to any of the following programmatic themes?
⦁ Self-care
⦁ Social justice
⦁ Emotional intelligence
⦁ Career connections
⦁ Ethics
Solution
Discussion 7-1
If the scientific community shifted from labels such as ADHD, anxiety, or PTSD to the definition of an individual’s response to the environment, I believe that society would adapt to the change in a negative way because they are not aware of the new exceptional behavior, they will describe them in according to their perspectives, which will create much more confusion among the society as everyone has a different view.
On the other hand, the benefit of having labels for mental health disorders is, that if we all are aware of the exceptional behaviors, complications, and characteristic features it would become easy for us the management and handling of this disease (Galindo et al. 2020, p.296). With the help of science and the medical world.
Some detriments of having labels for mental health disorders are, as these belong to slightly different categories than the normal life flow, sometimes because of lack of education and awareness, people deal with them in a negative manner (Sadath, Kumar & Mathew, 2018, p.12). Sometimes they are empathetic or sometimes they show sympathy and simply reject to accept the uniqueness of exceptional behaviors. This could be a huge problem in society. Rejection and negative acceptance would always make the issue bigger than resolving it. Sometimes they also had been questioned whether they have a mental disorder. Which is very disappointing.
The concept outlined in the article applies to the programmatic themes of Self-care. I always believe that self-counseling is always the best approach in the management of any mental disorder. With the help of scientific labels, one can easily become aware of all the strengths and weaknesses of that mental problem and can be able to further work on it to overcome it. While doing this one can take the help of the therapist, books, and expert advice in treating any mental health disorder.
References:
Galindo-Vázquez, O., Ramírez-Orozco, M., Costas-Muñiz, R., Mendoza-Contreras, L. A., Calderillo-Ruíz, G., & Meneses-García, A. (2020). Symptoms of anxiety and depression and self-care behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population. Gaceta médica de México, 156(4), 294-301.
Sadath, A., Kumar, S., & Mathew, S. (2018). Mental disorder and disability: A cross-sectional study of disability variance in severe mental disorders. Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry, 34(1), 52.
