Jason Chen

September 25, 2019

The Mental Health Crisis in the United States

In the wake of recent mass shootings, many people have come to identify the cause of  these shootings. How many have heard that these shootings are caused by the infamous “violent video games” and new media which promotes violent behavior? How many have heard that it’s the readily accessibility of firearms and its lax regulations? Many Americans hold such beliefs and have been misinformed by the mainstream media and political leaders in a clear attempt to use video games and new media as a scapegoat. Despite the false narrative presented by both parties, the problem boils down to the mental health crisis in the United States: a problem which no one seems to be talking about. Mental illness is stigmatized in U.S. society and most Americans willingly choose to ignore it. This, in turn, has caused a systemic problem in modern U.S. society where sufferers do not admit their illnesses in fear of being neglected and cast aside. In tandem with the country’s lacking and expensive healthcare, most people do not receive proper and sufficient treatment which leads them to commit horrendous acts of violence as their mental condition deteriorates. In this essay, I will rhetorically analyze four sources that explore the issue in greater depth.

Mental illness is defined as a mental condition that affects one’s mood, thoughts, and behavior which often interferes with daily life. Despite the severity of the illness, many Americans remain ignorant and it’s something Richard McNally hopes to address in his book What is Mental Illness? Through thorough analysis and research, McNally presents the book as an informative piece with the purpose to inform its readers about mental illness. He challenges the classification of mental illness, explains the difference between mental illness and mental distress, tries to unearth the cause for mental illness, explains the cultural influence on mental illness, and more. The book largely appeals to an American demographic who are either oblivious about mental health issues or wants to inquire more about the issue. To capture attention from this demographic, McNally has the audience relate to the issue by directly speaking to them. In the opening statement, McNally does just that: “Nearly 50 percent of Americans have been mentally ill at some point in their lives, and more than a quarter have suffered from mental illness in the past twelve months.” (McNally). This conscious decision to address his audience directly is an effective use of rhetoric and enables the author to establish a compelling hook. The quote has two important functions: highlight the magnitude of sufferers and provoke self introspection with its readers. Doing so will undoubtedly have readers ask questions like “Have I been mentally ill?” or “ Do I know anyone who is or have been mentally ill?”. By having readers ask such questions, it will establish a deeper connection with the author, promoting audience engagement, as it will simulate partaking in a greater conversation. McNally also asks rhetorical questions throughout his book to maintain audience retention by further piquing reader curiosity and keeping the conversation going. To reiterate, the book is an informative piece where it summarizes the study. Due to the nature of an informative piece, the author maintains a neutral tone and does not interject his opinion. Rather, it is written more professionally where he solely present facts and research accompanying it to strengthen his findings. Furthermore, the book is written in the third person which further shows the author’s desire to maintain objectivity and be neutral. 

Similarly, the article Tragedies in Waiting, by Patricia J. Williams, makes a similar argument and appeals to the same group of people as McNally’s What is Mental Illness?. Most people are aware that there is a stigma associated with mental illness in the U.S. Some even believe that mental illness is a false fabrication created by the sufferer. As a result, there is a complete lack of empathy towards those who suffer from such illnesses. The purpose of this article is to address those beliefs by showing the realities of the issue and Williams does so by implementing different perspectives from friends and family of the victim to convey her message. Here is one perspective Williams included in her article: “She describes the gut-wrenching vigil for someone slowly transforming into a different person, as well as the near impossibility of procuring treatment…To commit her father involuntarily, she states, “he had to be an imminent danger to himself or others…in practice, it seemed to mean that he had to be standing on the ledge of a building, or holding a knife to someone’s throat.” (Williams). 

Not only is William’s use of these quotes well suited for her overall message, but her inclusion of such perspectives is an exemplary implementation of rhetorics and rhetorical situation. Consider the quote previously mentioned, it aims to provoke shock, horror, and sadness among readers and is a method for the author to speak to the reader’s emotions. Almost everyone knows the emotional pain associated with losing a loved one and the rage and helplessness knowing that their efforts aiding the situation are futile. Reader’s will show empathy towards the victim after realizing the emotional trauma it can cause on oneself and others. Emotional appeal is a powerful motivator and the author is able to effectively capture the emotional pretense. Readers begin to acknowledge mental illness and that, yes, it is a prominent issue in the U.S. Furthermore, William’s use of diction establishes her tone which further conveys her message. She presents her tone as outraged and aggravated as she sees that misconception and social stigma associated with mental illness. It is one of her more prominent use of rhetoric, along with emotional appeal,  to make a stronger argument along and to provoke urgency for change.

Many Americans are affected by mental illness and there is no doubt that the number continues to grow. College students are among the most affected demographic for mental illness. Look to the article, Challenging the Stigma of Mental Illness Among College Students by Kristin A. Kosyluk and many contributing professors at various educational institutions. As previously mentioned, there is a stigma associated with mental illness and it is ever so prevalent among students. In this article, Kosyluk discusses the study they conducted and concluded that both education and contact based strategies are effective at reducing stigma towards mental illness. Without a doubt, this purpose of this article is to inform its readers about their findings with an appeal to mental health workers. Mental health workers can then utilize this information and implement said strategies, from the study, to reduce social stigma towards mental illness. The core of any argument is credibility and it’s something that this particular article does best. Many authors contributed to the study and they are associated with educational institutions which are known to support large and well funded research. Based on that aspect, readers are already more inclined to believe this study. Kosyluk has noted that “among college students estimate depression at 17.3%, panic disorder at 4.1%, and generalized anxiety disorder at 7%.” (Kosyluk). These statistics have greater significance than what initially meets the eye. Experiencing mental illness in college has prolonged effects later in life affecting economic and social outcomes. In other words, experiencing mental illness is life changing and these authors are publishing a conclusive study that can potentially create a social safety net for those who are ill. As an informational article, the author maintains a neutral tone and is effective in persuading readers by letting the “results do the talking”. The author believes there should be social reform where mental illness is not stigmatized. From the article’s self evaluation and information it presents, mental health workers will be more informed about the social perception regarding mental health and the necessary steps to take to minimize social stigmatization. 

Unlike other countries, the U.S. healthcare system is not only insufficient, but it is also expensive. With a quick google search, one can see that nearly 44 million Americans are uninsured which shows the magnitude of the problem. US Healthcare: Expenditures Over Time and as They Compare with Other Nations is an informative article published by Pharmaceutical Executive where it analyzes U.S. spending on healthcare over a few decades. The purpose is to inform readers about the growth in U.S. healthcare spending. Statistics from the article shows that the U.S. has increased his spending over the years, however the article is quick to point out the country’s lacking healthcare services: “The study notes that despite the large spend, the United States “does not appear to achieve substantially better health benchmarks compared with other developed countries.”” (Pharmaceutical Executives). Despite the country’s increased spending, the quality of healthcare service has not improved and readers can see that with recent mass shootings and the current stigma associated with mental illness. Readers realize that the money spent on health insurance does not necessarily mean an increased service quality. Rather, the opposite seems to occur. If healthcare services were up to par, then mass shootings wouldn’t be so prevalent and mental illness would be more socially accepted in the U.S. The basis of the article is a statistical study from a credible institution where the publisher seeks to have a neutral tone and maintain objectivity. Statistics play an important role in how the author is to inform the audience. In most cases, numbers are more easily understood compared to words. The publisher’s neutrality and use of rhetoric are effective and readers realize the country’s lacking healthcare despite its increased spending.

All four sources highlight the many reasons to why mental health crisis is such a prevalent issue in the United States: the belief that mental illness is a myth, the social stigma associated with it, and the insufficient U.S. healthcare system. Without improvements in public opinion toward mental illness and the healthcare system, incidents like mass shootings will continue to occur. It’s time for Americans to acknowledge mental illness and the harm it cause others to prevent future incidents. 

Works Cited 

Kosyluk, et al. “Challenging the Stigma of Mental Illness Among College Students.” Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 59, no. 3, 2016, pp. 325–331.

McNally, Richard J.. What Is Mental Illness?, Harvard University Press, 2011. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ccny-ebooks/detail.action? docID=3300897.

US healthcare: expenditures over time and as they compare with other nations.” Pharmaceutical Executive, Oct. 2007, p. 32. Gale OneFile: Contemporary Women’s Issues, https:// link.gale.com/apps/doc/A170815493/CWI?u=cuny_ccny&sid=CWI&xid=2c26dfda. Accessed 20 Sept. 2019.

Williams, Patricia J. “Tragedies in Waiting.(Diary of a Mad Law Professor)(Mental Illness in the US)(Column).” The Nation, vol. 295, no. 9 10, 2012, pp. 10–10.