How the notion of danger become politically constituted regarding mental health and race

Mentally illness can be suffered by anybody irrespective of their race. The problem with this is that racism makes it very difficult to help those who are mentally ill because they are looked at in a different way. It has also become politically constituted because those who are able of making the situation better are also key players in racism. Mentally ill people cannot reason or think very well. When in this condition, it has been realized that stigma comes in (Rohde, Paul, Lewinsohn, and Seeley, 2015). The notion is a belief or perception. A perception is an idea in the minds of people that tend to stick unless proven otherwise. It is actually an assumption. Mentally ill people can be dangerous in several ways. It does not have to be that they are capable of physically harming a person but rather, even the information they give may not be accurate.

This is a conventional belief that if carried forward ends up making them look violent in their actions (Keating, 171). In the treatment of mental disorder, stigma is a very serious problem. Mentally ill patients may admit to their situations and agree to take medication but this becomes very difficult especially in a society where they are stigmatized. They are stigmatized because of their condition and the way in which people view and treat them. They are seen as outcasts and this should not be witnessed in any civil society. This is an environment that does not value people who are mentally ill because, in one way or another, it is blamed on them for being in the condition that they are in. stigmatization is a tool that creates the “dangerous” notion about mental illness because of the attitude it makes people have towards mentally ill people.

Racial and ethical issues further fuel stigmatization which makes treatment very difficult. There are some societies such as England who view mentally ill patients as outcasts. They are classified as less human population due to their condition. Three out of ten mentally ill patient go through this experience (Wakefield, Jerome, 232). Racism has contributed to the suffering that black and minority ethic go through in several ways. Most time, they are forced into institutions to get help. The problem with this is that these institutions have doctors who are sometimes also racists. This means that the kind of services they get are not up to standards (Wakefield & Jerome, 373). This disparity is very dangerous because it only helps one part heal while the other person finds it very difficult to heal. Of importance is that they are both human beings and that should be the most important thing.

There is a very close link between racism and mental illness. Racism as it is is a clear fueling factor to mental illnesses. Psychologist are giving this another approach in that sometimes, they have to consider the beliefs of a person to help them though the healing process. When patients feel this way, their recovery process becomes very complicated. Conclusion The notion of danger becomes reified and politically constituted in the discourse of mental health and race. Racism has to stop in order to avoid certain conditions. If it cannot be stopped then the rates of racism should at least be reduced and it should not play any roles in serious issues such as mental health. Everyone needs to be of sound mind. Racialized Communities, Producing Madness and Dangerousness 173-181 Harshad Keval.

Schizophrenia and psychosis: the magical and troubling disappearance of race from the debate 6-8 Karlsen, Saffron, et al. Racism, psychosis and common mental disorder among ethnic minority groups in England.  Psychological medicine 35. Wakefield, Jerome C.