Tag Archives: society

How is the mental health of society?

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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.

Is it time for society to change?

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I’m going to ask you to think back to when you started working at a new job. Think about your excitement of your first day as you happily met everyone as the supervisor introduced you to your co-workers. Things are going well, you are happy at the organization but as you get comfortable in your new environment, you notice certain tasks being done completely inefficiently and you even overhear other employees complaining about how inconvenient and useless the entire process was. You think to yourself, why don’t they do things differently? In fact, you can think of a myriad of better ways the task can be handled and you wonder if no one else has thought of these options before. You approach your supervisor expressing your concerns and ways you think things can be done better and you get the dreaded, “This is the way it’s always been done.” And with a shrug of the shoulders the supervisor walks away.

Think of how you felt when you heard that phrase. The frustration at why no one wanted to put in the effort to make a change that so many others agreed was past due. What if you tried to there and make the changes on your own only to be met with the direction from management to reel it back. Would you decide to give up and go with the flow or do you wait until the final straw and quit? What then? Nothing changes, the organization stays the same, the people are still frustrated and everyone continues with the status quo.

Now apply this scenario to society. How many people think it is time for a change? How many people can see the many ways things can be done differently, or better and wonder who is going to step up? This is not an opportunity to wag a finger in the face of anyone but to invite everyone to stop and think about why are we continuing to do things the way they’ve been done for so many years, particularly when it isn’t working?

Why create a system that intentionally contributes to the deterioration of the environment, perpetuating hate, and fostering individualism to the detriment of care for the less fortunate? Forcing people to robotic lives that offer no personal fulfillment but is wrought with societal rules and standards. Criminalizing the mentally ill, poor, and any group deemed as an other by society. Education systems that are biased and inequitable and deliberate attempts to marginalize certain groups of society has caused many people to wonder, why are we not doing things differently, why not change?

Why not consider the ideas of the “radical” individual that is screaming that we are doing it all wrong? I think at this point, most people can acknowledge that what is going on in so many areas of our society is not working. I’m sure just as many people can think of at least two ways things can be done differently, but it seems as if many people in society have become that frustrated new employee. If that is you, can you identify where you would be if you were the new employee? Would you be ready to go out and make your own change, are you giving up and prepared to go along to get along, or are you ready to quit the whole thing and start new somewhere else?

If more people consider that collectively change can happen but the key is collectively. More people need to decide that enough is enough and things need and should be done differently. Start with you. Do your best to do things differently in your life everyday. Inspire those around you to do the same. If you have a way to help someone, do it, and someone else can/should help you. Don’t quit. Don’t give in. The answer can no longer be, “This is how its always been done.”

Peace and blessings.