We have a cultural issue in our society that has been around for decades. The problem of stigmatizing the mentally ill, properly caring for them and providing access to mental healthcare, and educating the public for greater acceptance of this group without isolating them has long been an issue. It is especially disconcerting when considering younger patients, notably children and teens. Growing up in Fairfax County, VA, I have lost quite a few friends to suicide from either undiagnosed mental illness or unwillingness to get proper care due to the stigma of it, so this topic is important to me to gain understanding, education and awareness. Though research on the issue has gained ground in recent years, solutions have not been fully implemented to trigger sufficient change. After reading the story “The Yellow Wall Paper,” written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1890 (published in 1892), I contend that this depiction of a mentally ill woman, initially suffering from depression that worsened throughout the story, centers around these same issues that exist in our society today. I have found multiple sources by which to analyze this societal concern and will use those to examine “The Yellow Wall Paper” for its relationship to the past, continual and current cultural problem addressed in this essay.

In his article “How Stigma Interferes with Mental Health Care,” Patrick Corrigan argues that stigma plays a detrimental role in the decision mentally ill patients make about seeking healthcare.  He cites many studies to prove his thesis and makes compelling points about how mentally ill patients begin to attach a stigma to them selves, as well as absorb the stigma inflicted upon them by society.  An example from my chosen text illustrates this point in the following quote, “I sometimes fancy that in my condition if I had less opposition and more society and stimulus but John says the very worst thing I can do is to think about my condition, and I confess it always makes me feel bad” (Gilman 300). The research supports the patient’s feelings in the text that mentally ill patients feel badly about their conditions, as if they are responsible for their illness. Another supporting line is, “He says no one but myself can help me out of it, that I must use my will and self-control and not let my silly fancies run away with me” (301). Studies presented in Corrigan’s article are numerous and support his argument. Among the research he presents, findings show that patients with severe and mild mental illnesses both fail to seek care due to the stigma associated with their conditions. For those who do begin mental health treatment, most do not complete it, so they do not improve. In “The Yellow Wall Paper,” an example of this comes early in the story, where the patient, John’s wife, says, “If a physician of high standing, and one’s own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression, a slight hysterical tendency, what is one to do? My brother is also a physician, and also of high standing, and he says the same thing” (300). In my opinion, this clearly shows that stigma is preventing the patient’s husband and family members from admitting there is a mental illness and it is inhibiting them from seeking proper mental healthcare for the wife, causing her mental illness to deteriorate. Additionally, Corrigan cites research showing mental illness has a negative affect on a person’s self esteem, as a patient internalizes the labels handed down by society, accepting them and living down to them. He notes that job and career opportunities are diminished, when the person with a mental illness may actually be fully capable of performing well in a particular position. Even the patient in “The Yellow Wall Paper” states she is forbidden to “work” until she is well again. Personally I disagree with their ideas. Personally I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good.” (301).

In an effort to avoid these limitations society imposes on the mentally ill, they avoid obtaining treatment in an effort to hide their conditions, which brings increased harm to their mental stability and health, or as in “The Yellow Wall Paper,” the family avoids getting proper care for the woman, which exacerbates her condition, but the same point is made. Corrigan points to another area of concern for the mentally ill regarding their interaction with police. He presents research stating that a mentally ill patient in a tense situation will have a much higher chance of being arrested and jailed, instead of having the situation properly diffused and handled by mental health experts. Additionally, Corrigan offers study results stating that health insurance has fewer benefits offered for the mentally ill and less health care services are available to them. Corrigan offers data on anti-stigma programs as a good start in overcoming the huge concern of stigma for mentally ill patients. He explains that increasing society’s awareness of the harm stigma causes and educating society on its implications will improve the health of these patients by allowing them to seek help without negative consequences and labels. Their self-esteem improves and they feel empowered to seek job opportunities, healthcare and social interactions. This resource is significant, as it provided me with a deeper understanding of “The Yellow Wall Paper.” After researching this cultural issue and reading “The Yellow Wall Paper,” it is obvious that the patient could have benefited from proper mental healthcare, an educated family aware of the need for good care, and eliminating isolation as a way to manage the illness.

Patrick Corrigan and Amy Watson, in their article “Understanding the impact of stigma on people with mental illness,” define the challenges this group faces in life due to their mental illness and the stigma society inflicts on them because of it. They contend that a more understanding and educated public will diminish the stigma unfairly placed on this population of people. They present research supporting their argument that stigma is detrimental to the wellbeing of mentally ill people and the public’s increased awareness and interaction with this group will help to alleviate the stigma and encourage acceptance in society. Because of the public’s limited understanding of mental illness, misconceptions, prejudice and stereotypes are prevalent and promote the unfortunate stigma and its negative impact. This information gave me a better understanding of my chosen text, specifically as it relates to John’s isolation of his wife and denying she has a true mental illness that needs proper managing. He doesn’t accept that she has a serious mental condition, probably due to the stigma it would place on his wife. Therefore, his isolation of her causes a greater negative impact to her deteriorating condition. To illustrate, the wife says, “John does not know how much I really suffer. He knows there is no reason to suffer, and that satisfies him” (301). Without sufficient understanding of mental illness, John is hurting his wife’s potential recovery. Also, it is apparent that John wants to hide his wife and her illness from others, eliminating social interaction, which could be so healthy for her and is proven to have a positive impact on a mental patient’s wellbeing, based on the research of Corrigan and Watson. As indicated with the line, “When I get really well John says we will ask Cousin Henry and Julia down for a long visit; but he says he would as soon put fire-works in my pillow-case as to let me have those stimulating people about now,” (304) John is hampering his wife’s recovery with limited social interaction and isolation. This article enhanced my understanding of “The Yellow Wall Paper” and its relevance to the issues in society today.

The article “Putting Child Mental Health into Public Health,” authored by Karen Hacker, MD and Karen Darcy, RN, presents statistics on the occurrence of psychiatric issues in children and teens and the need for the public health community to embrace its role as a leader in promoting mental health for children and families. They argue that a stronger stance taken by public health professionals to increase education and awareness of mental health and illness, improve access to mental health care, address the stigma of accessing mental healthcare and coordinate efforts between healthcare providers, schools and the justice system will be effective to enhance the mental health and reduce the mental illness crisis in our youth. Taking care of the mental health of the youth of today makes for a stronger and healthier population for tomorrow, as these younger people grow up and contribute to society. It is especially important as younger children become of age to purchase weapons. The authors explain that the mental illness stigma obviously affects a child’s self esteem, causing embarrassment and reluctance to acknowledge their illness to parents and doctors. The illness likely intensifies in this case. Given the statistics in this article, I would assert that they also apply to any aged patient in mental crisis and that the patient in “The Yellow Wallpaper” would have benefited from the same efforts discussed in this article. If greater public awareness of mental health existed and acceptance in society was welcome without misconceptions, stigma, and stereotypes, then John’s wife would have gotten proper care and he would not have chosen to isolate her, with concern that she, and possibly the family, would be stigmatized. Another similar finding is presented in the article “Mental Health Priorities: Stigma Elimination and Community Advocacy in College Settings,” by Patrick Michaels and colleagues. They argue that the stigma of mental illness interferes with students seeking medical help and that a student led, college community based approach to awareness and support is effective at reducing the stigma and increasing contact with a healthcare professional. They present a study based on a student run organization called Active Minds that analyzed factors important to mental healthcare and found three priorities that outweighed all other factors. The most important efforts were changing the stigma attached to mental illness, increasing awareness of mental illness and improving community based programs that will encourage people to seek medical help when dealing with mental illness. Based on current events in the last several years, I assert that it is critically important for college students to seek mental healthcare, as our society has suffered numerous times from mentally unstable college students who have purchased weapons and used them on college campuses to inflict harm and death. From this article, I can relate the findings to “The Yellow Wall Paper” story. If all these efforts had been utilized for the patient in this story, she would have not been isolated out of fear of stigmatization. Her husband would have been better informed through public awareness campaigns and would have had better access to programs and providers who specifically and effectively address mental illness. The application of this research and the statistics on the stigma of mental illness for society’s youth can be equally useful for all ages of mentally ill patients.

In considering the text “The Yellow Wallpaper” and the information in the sources I chose to analyze, an argument can be made that stigma toward mental illness is prevalent, that this stigma contributes to reluctance to seek care, that education of mental illness for greater awareness will diminish the stigma, and that proper care is lacking for this group, and applies to mentally ill patients of all ages. Hacker points out that increased awareness through education is a must in order to help reduce the stigma for children in mental health crisis. With the information gleaned from this article, I assert that since children and teens are so impressionable, it is imperative that mental health be addressed early, without fear of labels or judgment. Children don’t have the maturity to understand their illness, so families must seek help for them in order to improve their mental health prior to the stressful teen years. Young children must be properly cared for regarding their mental health before they move into their teens, where the potential for criminal activity and police interaction could arise. Teens mental health must be monitored and any illness managed as they move into adulthood, where productivity in society is healthy and expected, which feeds into a healthy self -image. Likewise, Michaels agrees with Hacker that stigma of mental illness is deleterious to students and greater education and awareness is key to improved healthcare, acceptance in society and the desire to seek help. Corrigan and Watson convey the same point about the stigma of mental illness. By understanding the stigma and increasing educational awareness, stigma will be lessened and acceptance will be increased. All the details presented in these sources help clarify my understanding of the chosen text, “The Yellow Wallpaper.” This text exemplifies the points raised in my sources. I look forward to living in a society where all these efforts are implemented and I lose no more friends to suicide. 
