Changes In Attitude Towards Those With Mental Health Conditions 

Where did it all start?

In earlier times it was thought that people who exhibited behaviour which wasn't part of the social norm were possessed by spirits or demons. Unfortunately, these people would be isolated or even killed because of something they had no control of or understanding over. This would then make sense why movie industries present those with mental disorders as seeming to be aggressive and dangerous, like a "possessed" person would be, in order to add shock value to their productions. 

It wasn't until the 19th century when psychiatrists started looking at mental health conditions as being caused by genetic and environmental factors to which the affected individual was exposed to. Certain health conditions were also found to cause mental health symptoms which resolved when the offending disease was treated.

It's still not well understood how certain mental health issues come about but, in terms of neurological changes, it's hypothesized that hormonal imbalances in the brain are a major cause of mood disorders. Understanding a relatively simple reason like this can make one realize that mental health disorders are illnesses.

What can be done to change these attitudes?

Although this process can take a long period of time, at least it can get the ball rolling and people will eventually be informed well enough to show objective behaviour towards those with mental health conditions.

Knowledge is power but it can also be a life sentence if you don't get your information from the correct sources. As mentioned, the movie industry tries to get a shock value, but other media sources such as newspapers, digital media, social networks and television will also display shocking and sensational stories in order to sell their products.

One can also get hold of the local ward councilor and enquire about laws and practices which can be supported in order to raise awareness for mental health conditions. Stalls can be setup and information can be distributed amongst members of the community. This will help to reduce discrimination and increase inclusion of affected individuals.

READ Physical And Mental Health – Are They Interconnected?

Spend time with people who experienced or are experiencing mental health issues. Here, one can share and learn from the affected individual's experiences as they could from yours. Enquire from local organizations where you can volunteer and come into contact with such individuals. Most of the time you'll find that you'll relate with a lot of people and that there may not even be any differences in family setups, relationships and upbringing.