Mental Illnesses In Of Mice And Men

How do you perceive people with mental illnesses? Did you know that in a 1996 survey, 12.1 percent of Americans identified people with mental illnesses as “violent, dangerous, frightening.” John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men illustrates the real-life issue of people with mental illnesses and disabilities and how people around the world fear these people and won't offer them available treatments, because of those acts they aren't treated equally or with respect.
Due to a survey that was taken in 1996 by Indiana University and Columbia University, 12.1 percent of Americans who were surveyed recognized people with disorders as “violent, dangerous, frightening.” While 48.4 percent said they won't even interact with someone who has schizophrenia.
Another 37.4 percent said they wouldn't interact with someone who has major depression. That's just about 1,444 Americans who were surveyed. This is why Lennie had to hide his disorder in Of Mice and Men. Once Lennie started killing hurting other worker and killing Curley's wife people got frightened and thought of Lennie as a violent person. Most people during that time didn't have any second thoughts on people with disabilities or disorders like Lennie. Disabilities, mental illnesses and disorders were all misunderstood at that time. Based on the 1996 survey, people still believe to this day that people suffering from disorders are considered violent and most of those people who were surveyed won't interact with anyone who have disabilities, disorders, or mental illnesses.
In fact, North America isn't the only region that holds a grudge against disorders.
Let's take France for example, did you know that treatment for certain disorders, disabilities, mental illnesses in France can't be treated because of their high costs. In society, people these days just tell most people suffering from depression to “just get yourself” and “be strong.” This portrays shame towards people with depression. French health care system only covers treatment by a psychologist and not a psychologist. This makes it harder to access therapy for those who suffer from mental illnesses like major depression. Based on an article published by Karine Chevreul, Amélie Prigent, Aurélie Bourmaud, Marion Leboyer, and Isabelle Durand-Zaleski it states, “The total cost of mental health care was estimated at €13.4 billion, The total costs of mental disorders were estimated at €109 billion.” France has a population of 65million people and 12million are currently suffering from disorders or mental illnesses. Because of the high cost and limited access to psychologists, many of these people can't be
treated.
For this reason, World Health Organizations want to help treat people who suffer from disorders or mental illnesses.
Based on an article published by Clare Nullis, it states, “One in four people in the world will be affected by mental health or brain disorders during their lives, but few of them will seek or receive help.” Although, only 40 percent of countries don't even have a mental health policy. That's a possibility on why people don't get treated faster. Clare Nullis stated in his article, “Two-thirds of countries spent 1 percent or less of their health budget on mental health, and half had only one psychiatrist per 100,000 people.” Think about a country's health budget, and only 1 percent or none is spent on mental health. Now just think about that country's population and those suffering from mental illnesses, one psychiatrist per 100,000 people. The cost and access to treatments aren't the only problems, though. Even when treatments and help are offered, about two-thirds don't seek help or treatments because of shame. For this reason, about 1 million people commit suicide every year while 10 to 20 million attempts to commit suicide every
year.
To wrap this up, in society people with mental illnesses or disorders are despised. Even social media tends to convey that people with mental illnesses or disorders are considered “evil.” Other than the cost for possible treatments, most people suffering from disorders or mental health don't seek help because of what society distinguishes towards their conditions. Are you willing to take a stand and help treat people or will you side with society...