Inequalities in Mental Health - Essay Example

Inequalities in mental health have remained a significant long-standing issue in mental research. Sociologists first raised the issue, but epidemiologists have since taken it up as a major area of focus. Sociologists are divided on how the social status of an individual determines their mental health. Whereas some believe that people become poor because they have a mental illness, others believe that people become mentally ill because of being poor. Health inequalities refer to the variations in health status between different population groups. This paper examines the impact of different social classes in the society on the prevalence of mental ill health. It also examines the concept of deviant behavior on people with mental ill health. Also, this paper examines the relationship between discrimination and mental ill-health as well as approaches used by agencies to address discrimination towards people with mental ill health.

Health Inequality

Mental ill health account for a significant global burden of disease that remains largely underappreciated and not given the consideration it deserves. For instance, it is estimated thirty percent of the population worldwide suffers from the mental related illness, and what is startling is the fact that over two-thirds of the affected population do not receive the care required. The social class of an individual in most cases influences the awareness and seeking of specialized treatment. According to Kavanagh, Oliver, Caird, Tucker, Greaves, Oakley, Harden, Lorenc and Thomas (2009, p. 2) health inequalities refers to the resultant differences between the health of less and more disadvantaged social groups. Social class is the division of the society based on the economic and social status. Individuals in higher social classes have better mental health than those in lower social class. This is because they have adequate resources that help them afford prompt treatment and thus live longer. Those in lower social class, however, are disadvantaged, and incidences of mental disorders are prevalent in this group. Major determinants that predispose individuals in lower social class to increased mental related disorders is unemployment, poor living conditions, debt, underemployment and living in areas with high levels of deprivation. They facilitate the vulnerability of people living in lower social class to mental disorders. For example, 54% of individuals living in the lower social class are predisposed to mental illness unlike their counterparts in the higher social class (Mattheys, Bambra, Warren, Kasim and Akhter 2015, p. 9).

The individuals mental health is shaped by the prevailing environmental conditions that he or she is exposed (Mattheys, Bambra, Warren, Kasim and Akhter 2015, p. 3). Also, the complex interaction between the people living in these places impact on their mental health. This demonstrates that poverty increased the prevalence of mental disorders because poor people experience mental distress that eventually weighs down their general well-being. Once an individual encounters mental health challenge, they become discriminated in the society, for instance, they risk being stigmatized in the workplace and thus unable to secure and maintain employment.

As a result of poverty, most vulnerable individuals may get predisposed to psychotic conditions where emotions and normal thinking patterns are severely impaired to the extent contact is lost with external reality (Ngui, Khasakhala, Ndetei and Roberts, 2010). Different studies indicate that in almost all countries individuals in lower social class are at higher risk of developing mental disorders compared to individuals in higher social class (Ngui, Khasakhala, Ndetei and Roberts, 2010). Poverty is considered both a determinant as well as a consequence of poor mental health. The prevalence of mental illnesses is attributed to the increase in the number of people living in poverty in lower social class. This is linked to apparent limitation on functionality and ability of an individual to be employed once he or she develops mental disorders. Unlike the well to do individuals in the higher social rank who can seek medical attention immediately the challenge is detected, the majority of individuals affected in the lower social class, however, are unable to seek medical help because of financial limitations.

Deviant Behavior

Deviant behavior refers to any form of behavior that does not conform to the accepted norms of the society (Crossman, 2017). As explained by Crossman (2017), such behaviors can be explained in different ways, for instance, biologically, psychologically and socially. However, certain behaviors can be amplified in a process called deviancy amplification. This refers to a process in which the seriousness and extent of deviant behavior are exaggerated, usually done through the mass media (Crossman, 2017). It is intended to create wider publicity and interest in deviance that results in more deviance being uncovered, hence establishing an impression that the first exaggeration was a true representation. Examples of deviant behaviors range from minor crimes such as graffiti to advance crimes such as robbery. Others include uncontrolled moral panics characterized by a near-hysterical response by society to some kind of deviant behavior. The media facilitate the spread and amplification of this behavior that ultimately misinform the public (Crossman, 2017).

The deviant behaviors among individuals in most cases are associated with mental impairment. This is because mental illness often causes individuals to engage in abnormal behaviors that contradict the accepted norms in the mainstream society.

Discrimination and Mental Illness

Discrimination, which refers to the preferential treatment of one group of individuals over another, based on race, age, sex or inequality of any nature leads to isolation and stigmatization of the affected individuals (Ahmedani 2011, p. 2). In most cases, the mentally ill individuals are discriminated because of their inability to function as expected. For example, in the workplace, persons with mental disorders are inefficient and may engage in malpractices that contravene the established ethical standards. For this reason, they are easily discriminated by their colleagues and management who ultimately may terminate their contract.

According to Ahmedani (2011), mentally ill persons face different types of discrimination such as direct discrimination, discrimination by association and perception discrimination (Ahmedani 2011). Direct discrimination takes place when a person with a mental disability is treated less favorably than another individual based on his or her mental impairment. Discrimination by association often takes place when an individual with a mental disorder is discriminated solely because he or she associates with another person who adopts protected characteristic. Perception discrimination is a form of discrimination that is targeted at a specified individual because other people think he or she possess particular protected characteristic. Research findings indicate that young people with mental illnesses are more discriminated against compared to adults with the same condition (Ahmedani 2011).

Approaches to Reduce Discrimination

Several agencies have embraced different approaches to address prevalent discrimination of mentally ill persons. These approaches include education, contact and legislative and policy changes (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, And Medicine (U.S.), & Committee On The Science Of Changing Behavioral Health Social Norms 2016, p. 69. Educational campaigns are often carried out by agencies to present information to the public about the concerns and challenges of mentally ill individuals. These interventions are intended to correct negative attitudes and beliefs used by the public as the basis to discriminate mentally ill persons. Through these educational campaigns, the perceived stereotypes against mentally ill persons have been addressed. Also, the interest of mentally ill persons has been enshrined in the constitution. Their interests are protected in the Equality Act, which contains several clauses that prohibit discrimination of persons with protected characteristic including persons with mental disability.

Apart from the use of laws, another approach adopted to fight discrimination is contact interventions. Contact interventions are put in place to ensure people with little or no meaningful interaction with mentally ill persons have direct experience (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, And Medicine (U.S.), & Committee On The Science Of Changing Behavioral Health Social Norms 2016, p. 69). In most cases because of lack of contact with mentally ill persons, many individuals often fear or distrust them. Therefore, they discriminate them without adequate awareness. To facilitate contact intervention, celebrities who have successfully battle this condition alongside organization such as Heads together sensitize the public about the stigma and secrecy that surround it. Thus through contact interventions, this interpersonal divide has been reduced significantly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is evident from this discussion that mental health is directly influenced by social inequality in our society. Whereas people in the higher social class have reduced the prevalence of mental disorders, the people in the lower social class, on the other hand, are highly affected with the high number of cases reported in this group. This demonstrates that poverty contributes to increased levels of mental disorders. In most cases, persons with mental disorders engage in deviant behaviors because their normal mental state gets impaired. As a result, they are discriminated and stigmatized in the society. In order to reduce widespread stigmatization and to stereotype of these individuals, several approaches such as educational campaigns, contact, legislative, and policy have been adopted. These approaches have contributed significantly towards the reduction of discrimination of mentally ill persons. Therefore, adoption of these initiatives will help to improve the situation.

References

Ahmedani, B. K. 2011. Mental health stigma: Society, individuals, and the profession. HHS Author Manuscripts, 8(2), 4-16.

Crossman, A. 2017. Deviance amplification and how the media perpetuates it. ThoughtcoKavanagh J, Oliver S, Caird J, Tucker H, Greaves A, Harden A, Oakley A, Lorenc T, Thomas J. 2009. Inequalities and the mental health of young people: a systematic review of secondary school-based cognitive behavioral interventions. London: EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London.

Mattheys, K., Bambra, C., Warren, J., Kasim, A., and Akhter, N. 2016. Inequalities in mental health and well-being in a time of austerity: baseline findings from the Stockton-on-Tees cohort study. SSM - Population Health, 2, 350-359.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (U.S.), & Committee On TheScience Of Changing Behavioral Health Social Norms. 2016. Ending discrimination against people with mental and substance use disorders: the evidence for stigma change. Washington, District of Columbia: The National Academies Press.

Ngui, E. M., Khasakhala, L., Ndetei, D., and Roberts, L. W. 2010. Mental disorders, health inequalities and ethics: A global perspective. International Review of Psychiatry (Abingdon, England), 22(3), 235244.