Mental health issues, is a broad term used often to describe the personal “ills” of an individual, or it can also be used to describe a series of incidents or situations one can encounter that can negatively affect their behaviors, thoughts, or actions. Merriam-Webster defines mental health as, “the condition of being sound mentally and emotionally that is characterized by the absence of mental illness and by adequate adjustment especially as reflected in feeling comfortable about oneself, positive feelings about others, and the ability to meet the demands of daily life.” With a general understanding of what is mental health and an understanding of how mental health issues are generally defined, the question then is how is the mental health of this society? Is this country mentally “healthy” or does this country have some “mental health issues?”

If there are some issues, what are they? Here’s another question, is it a mental illness on the part of this country to have separate realities for citizens based on race, finances, social status, gender, religion, etc.? Is that even considered a mental illness, or is it considered a way of life? Who considers it a way of life? Could it be said that the individual who believes these occurrences are just a way of life is suffering from a mental illness?

There are different realities for individuals in this country and they are based primarily in race. The differences can deviate from race and extend to other superficial factors like how much money or access to money an individual may have, or the level of celebrity status of an individual, and the list could go on, but the overall concerns is that everyone does not get even the option of certain realities and that is based on superficial standards set a very long time ago.

These standards are part of what make up our society. Merriam-Webster defines society, in part, as “a community, nation, or broad grouping of people having common traditions, institutions, and collective activities and interests.” What are the standards of this society and who decided all our interests are common or collective in that most of us generally agree? How have we become so desensitized to the inequities that we now simply shrug them off as the norm?

We are in a unique time in history where these inequities are being called out, but real action to change how things are being done must occur. We should be beyond pointing these things out and compelled to stop the behavior, stop allowing the thinking to be the standard. An individual’s race should not determine whether leniency and mercy are granted in court, or less scrutiny of work performed, and certainly not whether an individual lives or dies during what is considered a “routine” interaction with a member of law enforcement or, in some cases, another member of the public.

How do you make the change? The first is acknowledging that the thought is there? Recognizing the emotion and being honest about where it is coming from because this is an exercise of being in a constant state of awareness of those biases, judgments, and assumptions. There is a term that is often used in the study of psychology and that is cultural competence. How culturally competent is this society? What is the gauge used to determine whose standard should be followed?

There needs to be a shift in the level of accountability for everyone in society. No one should receive the consideration of leniency or mercy that is not given to someone else in a similar situation. The thought needs to be why is there a consideration of mercy or leniency for one person and not someone else, if you are looking at the circumstances of the situation and not the individual?

What does special considerations like these do to the mental health of society? Are the people well, or have many accepted certain dated customs and practices because of either personal gain, lack of faith in their individual ability to effectuate change, or an acceptance of societal standards in an effort to get by? It is time to do things differently because enough is enough.