Biases Surrounding Mental Health
Biases are known to be ingrained in the human nature. Ironically, the bias starts reflecting in our approach to an individual's health, even if the sufferer is a loved one, as we give priority to physical health over mental health. Many of the biases regarding mental health are inbuilt or are passed on from one generation to another. Social media has a considerable role in propagating such biases. Without proper evidence, many crimes of violent nature, such as shootings, murders, etc., are often ascribed to mental disorders. As indicated by Jonathan M. Metzl, M.D., Ph.D., and Kenneth T. MacLeish, Ph.D., in a 2015 study published in the American Journal of Public Health, most of the mass shootings in America are attributed to mental illnesses, and are often considered the root cause of violence. The stereotype that "all persons with mental illness are violent" add fuel to the prevailing negative mindset against mental disorders. Another deep-rooted stigma regarding ment...