Mental Illness’ Term and Related Problems

Mental illness is a health problem that leads to distortion in a person’s way of thinking, feeling, and frame of mind. People suffering from this condition often find it difficult to relate well with others and may have difficulties undertaking routine tasks. There are many problems associated with the use of the term ‘mental illness.’ For example, it is hard to associate ‘mental illness’ with a particular group of people. This is because of ‘mental illness’ cuts across age, race, religion, and social status. In addition, it is difficult to associate ‘mental illnesses’ with a particular cause or factor.

This is because ‘mental illness’ does not emanate from personal weakness, poor upbringing, or lack of personality as is commonly believed. It is also difficult to define exactly what is ‘mental illness.’ This is because there are various conditions that can fit in the broad category of ‘mental illness.’ There are various categories of ‘mental illness’ including ailments like schizophrenia and depression among other disorders.

There are other problems associated with the use of the term ‘mental illness’ apart from those discussed above. For example, there has been frequent use of the phrase ‘mental illness’ in relation to schizophrenia. The likelihood of the term ‘mental illness’ being used in describing a person in the vignette is notably higher for early schizophrenia, especially under chronic cases of schizophrenia. Therefore, there is a contradiction in the use of the term ‘mental illnesses with schizophrenia. In addition, various professionals have a different interpretation of the term ‘mental illness.’

The variation in professional interpretation of the term may cause public confusion during ‘mental illness’ debates. Mental illness is caused by a wide range of factors that fall into four categories; environmental, psychological, socio-cultural, and biological factors. Therefore, ‘mental illness’ is multifaceted and has many issues that cannot fit in a narrow simplified definition. Knowing whether the diagnosed patient is suffering from a pathological process can be a fact, a judgment, an assumption, or a hypothesis. Therefore, to regard ‘mental illness’ as a fact easily diagnosed is undeniably false. The diagnosis of ‘mental illness’ is not standard as with other diseases.