How is mental illness a social problem?
Hi there, there are many social implications of mental illness. The effects on the family as you mention can be tough, in terms of their energy and time. Perhaps they need to employ someone to look after the family member if it is chronic, which is also a financial burden. Add to that the fact that mental illness and days lost in terms of sick leave cost the country an awful lot of money. You can easily find statistics on this. I’ve quoted some statistics in a news release here: http://igennus-hn.com/the-mental-health-agenda-treatment-prevention-banishing-stigma/ Treatment for mental illness also costs the NHS an awful lot each year… demonstrating the need for prevention initiatives. Hope that gives you some ideas.
Mental illness can be a social problem because there are a lot of mental illnesses that affect how you socialize with the world. For instance, anxiety / panic disorders affect your ability to communicate with the world. Social anxiety disorder = social phobia. With social anxiety disorder, you find it hard if not impossible to talk to any one. Typically a person with social anxiety disorder will sit by themselves, withdrawn from society due to their phobia of it. A person with severe depression could be affected socially as well. A depressed person will typically be withdrawn and won’t open up about his/her feelings. They won’t be happy, social, or chipper. They’ll be downers and social recluses. If a person is depressed, usually family and friends might be able to pick up on it. Depressive people are also prone to suicide. Suicide is obviously a huge social problem as suicide is one of the highest killers in the world today. Then consider the high profile news stories that hit the tab
