Consistently, modern American society underestimates the importance of mental health. Those who struggle with anxiety, depression and numerous other mental health issues are often told to “toughen up”. “It’s all in your head, just buckle down and work hard” is a common piece of advice.
People wouldn’t dare speak this way to someone with a bodily malady, such as a broken bone or chronic illness. Why is it that Americans don’t take mental health seriously?
Why Don’t Americans Take Mental Health Seriously?
Toughen Up, Buttercup
One aspect of this is good, old-fashioned toxic work ethic at play. Americans are expected to work and be profitable for a company. If they want to eat and have somewhere to sleep, at least, they have to sell their labor. When someone gets physically hurt, they can’t exactly be compelled to work.
However, when someone is suffering from mental health issues, these aren’t outwardly noticeable issues. A broken leg is visibly broken, but a depressed person looks otherwise normal. For someone who has never suffered with depression, they might even seem like they’re just wallowing and need to cheer up.
Sympathy and Portrayal
The portrayal of mental health in popular culture and mass media has down little to help in this regard, either. Oftentimes, cartoon villains are depicted as being “criminally insane” in goofy, simplified ways. The Joker is psychotic, Harvey Dent has multiple personalities, and so on.
Even more everyday mental issues like anxiety and depression get reduced to character flaws to be overcome by strength of will. Presenting these mental issues as cartoon villains or easily-bested flaws does a disservice to the people who actually suffer with them.
Healthcare
Finally, the most damaging aspect of America’s lack of attention to mental health comes down to our healthcare system. When someone receives a checkup from a general physician, the doctor looks over all of their health. From their muscles to their organs, the doctor makes sure the patient is healthy.
However, isn’t the brain an organ? Shouldn’t issues of the mind be consider alongside maladies of the body? Doctors will often make passing inquiries about mental health, such as one’s general wellness and relationship with alcohol. However, if the conversation reveals the patient may have a mental issue, often the doctor is left only able to recommend them to a therapist.
Cost
As many Americans know all too well, the cost of visiting a therapist can be prohibitive. Many people who could benefit greatly from the help of a mental health professional are unable to do so thanks to the exorbitant cost of healthcare. Without diagnosis, it could even be consider an elective treatment and not be covered by insurance at all.
This has a tremendous human cost. If we don’t take care of our people, how can we claim to be a great place to live? It’s time for Americans to start taking mental health seriously.