Mental Illness Is Considered Deviant Even When Prevalent in Society
While some may consider suicide to be an untimely death, and mental illness to be another unfortunate result of the environment, others may view these situations as deviant behaviors. Many people do not have a mental illness, and very few individuals commit suicide; therefore, this may cause others to ignore these conditions.
There are situational factors that may contribute to mental illness, self-harm, and suicide. For example, poverty is a common denominator for a variety of negative behaviors among members of any society. The frequency of mental illness, self-harm, and suicide — and the social response — vary among cultures, but there is still bias and stigma.
The positivist theories of Durkheimian theory, the biomedical theory, and the psychosocial theory of social stress may help explain why mental illness and suicide exist and why the rest of society views people with these disorders and behaviors as deviant.
Deviant Behavior and Poverty
The prevalence of mental disorders in many societies have not changed the reality that they may still be considered deviant. According to the research by Charles Dean, income inequality in the United States, less funding for mental healthcare at the state level, and the lack of advancement with psychiatric experimentation are likely to result in more mental illness that is prolonged.
The Charles Dean’s article focuses on schizophrenia, but he mentions that any mental disorder will have similar results since it will raise the risk of mortality, and there is a genetic link that causes “a full spectrum of mental disorder among children of parents with mental disorders.” Those with a mental illness have a lifespan that is lesser than the average person, regardless of income level.
People with mental illnesses are prone to self-harm. It seems that the lack of financing and research in improving the mental health of society could be related to that fact that lower socioeconomic classes are the most likely to have a mental disorder, and that may be a sign of inequality among the scientific community.
The research by Thio, Taylor, and Schwartz explains that poverty, social class, race, and sex may result in mental illness, but the core reason is the socioeconomic level. In fact, Charles Dean believes that mental illness has a direct connection to poverty:
Poverty itself ―aside from stress― can impair cognitive functioning. This in turn impairs one’s ability to focus on longer-term goals such as obtaining a good education and adopting healthy behaviors.
Social stressors related to a lack of wealth, and the overall inequality of a society, may increase the rate of mental illness.
Biases Towards Mental Illness
The social and global responses to mental disorders vary by culture. For example, Thio, Taylor, and Schwartz state that people with a mental illness still face negative stereotyping or bias — and possibly discrimination — by being viewed as “dangerous, violent, unpredictable, or worthless.”
The biomedical theory may explain some of the social responses to mental illness because the genetic material that is prone to causing mental illnesses can be passed from the parents to their offspring. Social stress theory relates to how a stressed individual can cope with changes in life, and those who fail to cope in a healthy manner are at risk for mental illness.
The research provided by Ezell, Choi, Wall, and Link shows that people with a mental illness are likely to be stigmatized by others with “antagonistic attitudes and acts of discrimination in various spheres of the recipient’s life.”
There have been some positive social responses since community health centers for the treatment of mental health have become involved and have allowed outpatient treatment. They have also sponsored public events that include the friends and family of the patients. Some even provide employment assistance and resources. Still, many people choose not to seek help from these facilities.
Since chemical imbalances can be treated with medication, this means that many people may be able to minimize the effects of their mental disorder if enough attention and financing were directed towards research and the improvement of mental healthcare. It is still imperative for a patient to develop healthy coping mechanisms that can prevent other mental illnesses.
Self-Mutilation and Suicide
Suicide, while being categorized as deviant by many, has become a part of society. According to researchers, McGinty, Baker, Steinwachs, and Daumit, people with a mental disorder are 82% more likely to have a non-fatal injury, and unintentional injury has double the rate than that of the average American.
Thio, Taylor, and Schwartz also mention that the majority of individuals who have committed suicide had made at least one other attempt before finally succeeding in the act and were more likely to be older adult males from a higher socioeconomic class.
Young adults, women, and people who are closer to the poverty line are at the highest risk of attempting suicide, yet they are least likely to succeed.
Self-mutilation can be done in order to cope with negative emotions rather than preferring suicide. There are connections between poverty, mental illness, self-harm, and suicide because poverty may breed negative emotions which could result in coping that involves risky and dangerous behavior. One difference was how the research by McGinty, Baker, Steinwachs, and Daumit shows that once a person has a mental illness, race and sex make no difference to the rate of injury.
On the other hand, Thio, Taylor, and Schwartz believe that whites and males are more likely to self-harm and suicide. While white males in a high socioeconomic class are more prone to having success with their suicide attempts, they may not be suffering from a mental illness as much as other races. While not all injuries are intentional or meant to result in death, people who suffer from a mental illness are prone to self-harm and suicide.
Biases Towards Suicide
There are various social and global responses to suicide. For example, more industrialized nations have additional experience reacting to suicide. Thio, Taylor, and Schwartz believe that this is due to promoting a higher level of independence:
Western societies have higher suicide rates because they, being more modern and individualistic, place greater importance on self-reliance so that distressed individuals are more likely to be left alone to fend for themselves.
More religious cultures forbid suicide; therefore, it is less common among those groups, but other cultures allow euthanasia which is performed with the help of a doctor. Friends and family are forced to manage with an untimely death that may result in feelings of guilt.
Legal and illegal suicide can cause emotional and physical stress when dealing with the reality that their loved one preferred to seek death because they felt unable to live with their circumstances and negative emotions.
Durkheimian theory may explain the majority of social responses to suicide since it can be caused by an imbalance of social integration or social regulation — one is about in-group attachment while the other includes the level of control exerted by that in-group.
As stated by Ezell, Choi, Wall, and Link, a person who is suffering may have “reduced self-esteem, lowered self-efficacy, avoidance of social interactions, and increased isolation.” The likelihood of suicide, whether anomic, egoistic, altruistic, or fatalistic, is influenced by the way a person relates to society or the people around oneself.
Negative Coping
Poverty, social isolation, low self-esteem, and genetics can cause mental illness while these individuals deal with some level of social stigma. Anyone can become unemployed or deal with a divorce or family death. Many people do not realize how easy it is for a person to have an anxiety disorder or a mood disorder if the right circumstance is created and if the negativity is prolonged.
Minorities are more likely to have social stressors due to poverty, and the stigma related to mental illness only makes it more difficult to seek help. Also, people with a mental disorder are prone to self-harm for short-term coping and suicide for long-term coping.
Addictions to alcohol, prescription drugs, and illegal substances are common negative coping mechanisms for some people with mental illness. These addictions can be short-term or long-term, but the longer the abuse takes place, the more likely one is to suffer physical side effects and be placed in dangerous situations.
McGinty, Baker, Steinwachs, and Daumit did compare accidental injury and injuries that were committed on purpose, but individuals with a mental illness are prone to risky behavior that can result in “poisoning, open wounds to the head and face, and superficial injuries, fractures, and sprains of the extremities.”
Their focus was not on suicide or self-harm done as a coping mechanism, but it does prove that people with psychological disorders may find it more difficult to think deeply about their actions since they may be suffering from social stress or a chemical imbalance.
Conclusion
I do agree mainly with positivist theories such as the biomedical theory, but I can understand how the phenomenological theorists would focus on the individual reason for choosing suicide instead of living with problems related to a lower socioeconomic class. Social stress implies much because with poverty and ignorance, it may seem easier for those from a lower class to turn to drugs, and that could lead to self-injury.
I do believe that suicide and self-mutilation are deviant acts, but I do not view mental illness as deviant behavior if a chemical imbalance is definitely the cause. As for alcohol and drug addictions, I do view those situations as deviant.
Of course, I agree that anyone with a mental disorder needs to find help. Family, friends, and caring strangers should approach those who are suffering and offer a listening ear or advice, if asked. Those with severe habits should definitely be convinced to seek professional therapy.
On a personal level, I identify most with social stress theory because it explains my mental illnesses since I have failed to utilize the proper coping mechanisms, in the past. The biomedical theory and the Durkheimian theory do play a part, as well, since my family has a long history of mental illness, anti-social behavior, rebellion, and poverty.
The prejudice towards mental disorders, self-harm, and suicide may prevent many individuals from resorting to death, directly, yet others may conceal their inner torment for as long as possible — some with the use of recreational substances and dangerous behavior. Stronger social support, personal skills, and higher self-esteem can aid in avoiding some mental disorders, but certain cases involve a genetic influence.
The lack of funding for research needs to be addressed, as well, because it’s unethical to leave a portion of society suffering when scientific advancement could provide an answer and a cure for many.
Those who feel that the world is closing in on them, and that there is no way to thrive alone, may find themselves with a mental illness — or worse, attempt to commit suicide.
