Mental Health Crisis in America Assignment 1 PDF

Margo Ogrosky Free Write Something I am deeply passionate about is addressing the mental health crisis in America, particularly as it affects low-income communities. While it’s important to acknowledge that mental illness doesn’t discriminate—impacting individuals regardless of their weal...

Margo Ogrosky Free Write Something I am deeply passionate about is addressing the mental health crisis in America, particularly as it affects low-income communities. While it’s important to acknowledge that mental illness doesn’t discriminate—impacting individuals regardless of their wealth, race, or sexual orientation—I recognize that marginalized communities often face greater barriers to accessing the resources they need for understanding and treatment. These barriers can stem from various issues, including healthcare mistreatment, underfunding, and social stigma. Additionally, I care about the negative impact of social media on the mental health of teens. Social media is specifically bad for mental health in teens. Emotional regulation and awareness play crucial roles in how young people navigate their mental health in the online world. By focusing on these issues, I hope to contribute to a more equitable approach to mental health support and advocacy. Empirical Claims 1. There is a mental health crisis in America 2. Marginalized communities face greater barriers in accessing mental health resources 3. Social media is specifically bad for mental health in teens Claim 1 My first claim is that there is a significant mental health crisis in America. This conviction stems from my own experiences and witnessing loved ones struggle with severe mental illness, often without access to appropriate resources or healthcare. Furthermore, many articles highlight the number of people struggling with mental health issues and the lack of available support. I am confident in this assertion, as there is substantial evidence to back it up. For instance, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides statistics showing the prevalence of mental illness among the population (https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/mental-health-by-the-numbers/). These figures may represent only those individuals willing to disclose their struggles, indicating that the actual number may be even higher. It is possible that some may challenge the existence of a mental health crisis or question the use of the term “crisis,” but even if this were true: people in America are suffering, and that alone is enough reason to advocate for help and support. To strengthen my understanding, I recognize the need to explore more statistics related to mental illness, as well as how these figures are collected and interpreted in the U.S. Claim 2 My second claim is that marginalized communities face significant barriers in accessing mental health resources. I believe this is true based on articles I've read and insights gained from courses like Psychopathology and Mental Health. Although I haven’t experienced these barriers firsthand due to my privileged background, I am confident in this claim because of the evidence supporting it. One article is by Mongelli et al., titled “Challenges and Opportunities to Meet the Mental Health Needs of Underserved and Disenfranchised Populations in the United States.” It highlights how the issue is multifaceted, pointing to a lack of community-based interventions, unequal access to evidence-based practices, and insufficient funding for health services. Individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups are 20%–50% less likely to initiate mental health services and 40%–80% more likely to drop out of treatment prematurely. They also tend to rely more on psychiatric emergency services, often entering treatment via law enforcement and facing a higher likelihood of involuntary hospitalization. These statistics underscore the complexity of the issue, showing that assessing healthcare disparities is challenging when many individuals are not receiving adequate care to begin with. There is little objective evidence to dispute my empirical claim. Again, even if one were to argue against it, the fact remains that people are struggling with mental illness, which only strengthens my motivation to advocate for better support. To deepen my understanding, I want to have firsthand accounts, though I want to approach this sensitively to avoid putting anyone in uncomfortable positions or pressuring them to share their experiences if they’re not ready. Claim 3 My third claim is that social media has a negative impact on teen mental health. This belief is informed by my work in the Teen Social Media and Mental Health Lab at WashU, where I collaborate closely with my principal investigator (PI), who has conducted research supporting this assertion. During our weekly meetings, my PI assigns us various papers—either her own work or related studies—allowing me to deepen my understanding of the topic. Additionally, my hands-on experience with teenagers using social media in the lab provides further insight into its effects. While I have gathered strong evidence from the papers I've reviewed, it's important to note that because social media is a relatively recent phenomenon, there is still limited research on its short- and long-term impacts on mental health. This gap in research may contribute to conflicting findings, making it essential to approach the subject with nuance. If the negative effects of social media weren’t a concern, I believe more parents would be comfortable allowing their children to engage with these platforms, and social media would likely see even broader adoption. I always am seeking more evidence for this claim, as new research continues to emerge in this field.