The Mental Health Stigma by Kathryn

The Mental Health Stigma by Kathryn - June 2020 Scholarship Essay

I intend to pursue an undergraduate degree in some variant of Psychology, with an emphasis on Biological or Clinical Psychology. Throughout my adolescence I have witnessed firsthand the positive influence of professional psychologists as I have personally difficulty coping with stress and anxiety. These struggles continue to be an ongoing factor in my life, as well as that of my brother. I have a clear appreciation for those who dedicate themselves to helping others with psychological matters and would be grateful for the opportunity to do the same.

Last Spring, I was accepted as a freshman to Boston College. I was excited about the prospects of a new city and friends, new subject matters and a new, more “independent me.” By the time I moved into my dorm room, I was in ruins. Anxiety and the inability to cope with these changes in my life almost destroyed me. I never saw it coming. Although deciding to attend BC was arguably the biggest decision of my life, the decision to leave was even more significant. This is simply one example of my struggle with mental health, that drives my career path.

I have also experienced some of the negative stigmas associated with having a ‘mental health ailment.’ These stigmas villainize the idea of seeking help for mental health disorders and plaguing those who need therapy and assistance to cope. My goal in the field of Psychology is to help dismantle that stigma through research and promoting awareness of psychological matters. I am considering pursuing a doctorate in psychology in order to become a licensed psychologist, and help those in need, the same way I was helped.

The practice of dismissing and disrespecting people with mental illness is a long-standing societal problem. Mental illness is just that: an illness. Even more than physical maladies, those with mental disorders are often subject to poor treatment or, perhaps even worse, disregarded completely. Only recently have the old ‘shell shock’ cases among veterans been reevaluated as Post Traumatic Stress. Unfortunately, our greater understanding of PTSD did not facilitate an eradication of the social stigma associated with it.

If you get the flu, you go to a doctor. You are treated. There is no disgrace when a colleague finds out you’re sick. Yet with mental illness, there is shame associated. Often those with mental illnesses are perceived as weak or unpredictable. They become subjects of doubt in their abilities and can even be labeled dangerous. However, in most cases, those with such afflictions just need care. If a person afflicted by a mental illness is asking for help, they are clearly trying to cope and move forward. But the attitudes of others can hold them back and make them feel like outcasts.

I would like to normalize the mindset toward mental health. This will allow those afflicted to get help without shame. To do this will require a multi-faceted approach. Healthcare offerings should be changed to more efficiently identify and manage psychological issues. Financially, insurance companies need to stop treating mental health care like it is someone else’s problem. Even a new political approach and understanding could assist. Education would improve understanding of the issues on all levels – for patients to doctors to those supporting treatment. With knowledge, the stigma stemming from ignorance can be removed.