Abstract
This paper explores the relationship between social class and mental illness, explaining that society as a whole tends to view mental illness in terms of violence and as a condition that affects the poorer classes. These perceptions can be understood from the symbolic interactionist perspective which demonstrates how meanings are attributed to mental illness. Just as importantly, the same perspective shows how researchers have certain expectations about the prevalence of mental illness. A trend becomes apparent whereby researchers in the early 19th century tended to focus on the prevalence of mental illness among the working class but more recent research findings find that the middle class is more affected by mental illness. Other variables beyond social class such as ethnicity and gender are important as well.

From the Paper
"Society as a whole tends to view mental illness in terms of violence and as a condition that affects the poorer classes. These perceptions can be understood from the symbolic interactionist perspective which demonstrates how meanings are attributed to mental illness. Just as importantly, the same perspective shows how researchers have certain expectations about the prevalence of mental illness. A trend becomes apparent whereby researchers in the early 19^th century tended to focus on the prevalence of mental illness among the working class but more recent research findings find that the middle class is more affected by mental illness. Other variables ..."

Tags:wealth, demographics, poverty, welfare, care

Abstract
This paper explains that the association of mental illness with social class contains implications resulting in stigma for the patient, errors in psychiatry approaches, and misinformation about mental health policies. The author points out that the belief that mental illness was associated specifically with the lower social classes and certain ethnicities began in the 19th century; however, today, the conclusion is that mental illness is manifested across all social classes and ethnicities. The paper relates that the fundamental research problem remains that, whatever means are used to measure the association of mental illness with social class are still not standardized. The author states that another problem is that, when social class is linked to mental illness, the real meaning is easily distorted. The paper concludes that the more common mental disorders such as stress are not the result of social class but of social disadvantages.

From the Paper
"In Song and Biegel's (1997), there is an assumption that the family caregiver of the mentally ill is also likely to have mental illness. The symptoms the caregiver experienced were caused by the care giving burden, the patient's behavior, and lack of social support. However, lower social class and race were presumed to be factors in the appearance of mental illness symptoms. The reason is that caregiver burden differs between the white middle class and lower classes which are not white. The link between care giving and developing symptoms is based in patient impairment and behavior which results in severe caregiver stress."

Tags:disadvantages, rates, interactionist, immigrant, occupational

Abstract
This paper explains that mental illness, which also includes autism, Alzheimer's disease, addiction, mental retardation and epilepsy, affects people of all nations of all social, economic and cultural backgrounds; however, the poor suffer most from a lack of the most basic resources for effective treatment. The author points out that, even though available treatment methods for mental illness differ among regions and socio-economic classes, most patients are prescribed psychotropic drugs, such as antidepressants. The paper states that, in the U.S., managed care systems usually do not cover mental disease and insurance companies look to mental health benefits as the first place to cut in an attempt to reduce rising costs.

Table of Contents:
Mental Health and Primary Care
Status of the Primary Mental Health Care Industry
Incidence
Current Approaches
Recognition and Current Response
Policy Initiatives
The New GMS Contract
General Practitioners and Practitioners with Special Interest
Primary Care Graduate Mental Health Workers
Shared Care between GP Practices and Community Health Teams
Obstacles and Issues
Little Attention Paid to Improving Primary Mental Health Care
Fragmented Linkages of Substance Abuse Treatment with Community-Based Services
Obstacles to Accessing Primary Mental Health Care
Social Disparities
Developments
Effects of Cutting Back on Health Coverage
Legislation
Community-based Primary Care Satellite Clinics

From the Paper
"Mandating mental health benefits has already been an ongoing policy process, as in fact, more than as many states have enacted legislation and the mandates have become more typically comprehensive than previous ones. However, state legislation has not proved to be adequate substitutes of a federal legislation. State legislation did not appear to have reached enough persons to create a significant difference at the population level. Many consumers in the parity states were not aware of their improved coverage or that parity legislation may have accelerated the development of managed care in the mental health care arena, which separates nominal benefits from actual benefits."

Tags:depression, proactive, insurance, programs, legislation

Abstract
Incorporating a review of literature, a synthesis of findings, and a number of conclusions, the paper details the symbiotic relationship between mental illness and drug abuse, identifying the ensuing treatment challenges and explaining how related factors such as homelessness impact treatment.

From the Paper
"Drug abuse and mental health are each in themselves devastating to human lives, wreaking havoc upon relationships, sound reasoning and decision-making, employment and the hope of a fulfilling life. The mentally ill and drug abusers-including alcoholics-are considered high-risk populations in terms of their propensity to end up homeless as well. Although health care professionals have often noted the co-occurrence of drug abuse and mental illness in their patients, the synergy between the two conditions..."

Tags:psychology, drug abuse, substance abuse, mental illness, schizophrenia, cannabis, marijuana, dual diagnosis, triple disorder, mental health, review of literature, homelessness, homeless, youth, teen, adolescent

Abstract
The use of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of mental illness are examined from the point of view of their specific mode of effectiveness, as well as their toxicity, and dosing schedule.

From the Paper
"The only real advance in treating mental illness over the last century or so has been the use of psychoactive drugs. While psychologists continue to catalogue neurotic and psychotic syndromes and symptoms as they have always done, there has been very little progress in understanding the causes and treatment of detrimental psychological conditions. There is little scientific proof that talk therapy produces better results for the patient than being counselled by a sympathetic lay person. But the dramatic effect of drugs like lithium, Zanax, Prozak, Ritalin..."

Tags:dosage, pharaceuticals, mental illness, toxicity, brain-blood barrier, liver toxins

Abstract
This paper examines how the aetiology of mental illness has rested mainly on the notion that the main contributing factors rest in the biological school of thought and how it was not until the 19th century that psychological explanations began to emerge. This paper seeks to explore the differing factors of the aetiology of mental illness from the differing schools of thought in the psychological, biological and sociological perspectives.

From the Paper
"Concepts of mental health include subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, intergenerational dependence, and self-actualization of one's intellectual and emotional potential, among others. From a cross-cultural perspective, it is nearly impossible to define mental health comprehensively." The World Health Report (2001) Spanning almost 2,500 years explanations as to the aetiology of mental illness has rested mainly on the notion that the main contributing factors rest in the biological school of thought and it was not until the 19th century that psychological explanations began to emerge. Furthermore, the 20th century brought new and different ways of thinking and social issues became more prominent. This essay will seek to explore the differing factors of the aetiology of mental illness from the differing schools of thought in the psychological, biological and sociological perspectives."

Tags:anti, behaviourism, biochemistry, constructionism, disorders, dsm, psychogenesis, schizophrenia, social, theory

Abstract
This paper discusses the two opposite viewpoints with regard to the existence of mental illness and whether there is a unique model that can actually fully cover mental illness. The paper also talks about the concept of deviance, what the accepted norms are from which the deviation can be observed in the so-called mentally affected individuals, and who decides the norms of mental health and, hence, the deviation. The paper also argues that socio-psychological issues are involved in mental health practice, and a strictly medical approach cannot provide all the answers. Finally, the conclusion argues that it is vital to recognize the social, sociological, and psychological elements involved in mental illness.

From the Paper
"However, the medical profession holds the opposite view and is satisfied that mental illness does exist and is usually divided into two major groups: the psychoses and the neuroses. (Roth and Kroll, 1986, p.27) Psychotic disorders, also knows as personality disorders include schizophrenia, manic-depressive disorder, psychotic (severe) depression, while neuroses comprise of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, dissociative (hysterical) and somatoform disorders and neurotic (mild) depression. The rapid advances in clinical treatment of many of these disorders have strengthened the case of the medical view of mental illness."

Tags:physical, pathology, social, skills, incompetence, training, neurological, defects, social, context

Abstract
This paper explains that the protagonist Bertha Mason, who never consents to society's restrictions on women's behavior in Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre", symbolizes the oppression of women by the patriarchal system where men are the interpreters and enforcers of social and political rules. The author points out that Bertha is interested in neither social acceptance nor self respect; her childhood experiences did not teach her to comply with social rules. The paper relates the story and concludes that, although Bertha's conduct seems inappropriate according to the norms of nineteenth century middle class society, it cannot be definitely diagnosed as mental illness.

From the Paper
"Rochester is "ignorant, raw and inexperienced" and is "dazzled" by Bertha's beauty. After the marriage he realizes that he "never loved, never esteemed nor even knew her" and that he was "not sure of the existence of one virtue in her nature, neither modestly nor benevolence nor candor nor refinement in her mind of manners." Rochester criticizes Bertha's behavior in the context of morality and intellect, but his belief in her madness is arbitrary. Her behavior tends to be more demanding and self indulgent than insane: "No servant would bear the continued outbreaks of her violent and unreasonable temper, or the vexations of her absurd, contradictory, exacting orders.""

Tags:patriarchal, rochester, oppression, temper, psyche

Abstract
The paper relates that homelessness has been increasing for decades and is one of the most significant of all contemporary urban problems. The paper explains that there is no other issue where the victim is blamed so much, and violence against homeless people is common in Toronto, most especially in Florida. The paper shows how attitudes to poverty and homelessness are marked by strong prejudice by people in higher social classes; the homeless are viewed as a homogeneous group of losers who could not function in society and are mentally ill.

From the Paper
"Homelessness has been increasing for decades and is one of the most significant of all contemporary urban problems. There is no other issue where the victim is blamed so much and violence against homeless people is common in Toronto most especially in Florida. Attitudes to poverty and homelessness are marked by strong prejudice by people in higher social classes. The homeless are viewed as a homogeneous group of losers who could not function in society and are mentally ill. In fact, homelessness follows the opposite course and results in problems related to functioning, mental health status, and social stigma for the person..."

Tags:homeless, social, attitudes

Abstract
"Generation X", by Douglas Coupland, is a fictional account of three strangers brought together by circumstance to the fringes of the desert town of Palm Springs, CA. The paper explains that Andy, Dag and Claire are intelligent, educated twenty-somethings of middle-class backgrounds who have retreated from mainstream society to live creatively in its margins. However, their desire to find happiness in life without losing themselves in the dreary corporate workplace, without becoming obsessed with the value of economic and social success in our culture, leaves them alienated from the major ideals of most of those who comprise the world around them. This paper analyzes the concept of alienation as it pertains to the characters in "Generation X", both psychologically and sociologically. The paper argues that Andy, Dag and Claire are alienated, rather than mentally ill, members of society.

From the Paper
"The mass media's bland, recycled version of the past combined with the characters' ambivalence about the future (emphasized by the recurring theme of nuclear warfare in the characters' inner and outer dialogue) leaves them suspended in a state of not knowing which direction to look in. Their dialogue is characterized by "O'Propriation: the inclusion of advertising, packaging, and entertainment jargon from earlier eras in everyday speech for ironic and/or comic effect" (GX 107). This is an example of their ability to subvert the media in an eccentric manner. They have a disturbing form of humor indicative of their fears about and frustration with the world, yet it is apparent within the framework of their humor that they are striving not to be depressed about their situation, and that they identify with each other and find solace in each other's company."

Tags:Gemeinschaft, Existentialism, Tobias, O'Propriation