Papers by Jeanene Harlick
Community Mental Health
This chapter challenges the myth that most suicides are caused by mental illness. Among other thi... more This chapter challenges the myth that most suicides are caused by mental illness. Among other things the author, a survivor of a violent suicide attempt herself, looks at the socio-economic factors which often play into the decision to take one's life. The essay also examines the unwarranted stigma associated with suicide, and the lack of support for suicide attempt survivors.
Over the past half-century, since the beginning of the Civil Rights movement, minority groups suc... more Over the past half-century, since the beginning of the Civil Rights movement, minority groups such as African Americans, women, gay and lesbian people, and the physically disabled have made enormous strides in the elimination of prejudice and discrimination. But people with psychiatric disabilities have for the most part failed to reap comparable gains, and remain one of the most stigmatized and disadvantaged minorities in this nation (Corrigan, 2005). Often not even included in minority rights discussions the mentally ill are still associated with a wide array of negative stereotypes (Corrigan, 2005) and experience significant prejudice from employers, landlords, government institutions, medical professionals (Orovwuje & Taylor, 2006; Corrigan & Kleinlein, 2005; O’Brien and Brown, 2009) and often even counseling professionals (Akabas & Gates, 2000, as cited in O’Brien & Brown, 2009). The mentally ill experience disproportionate levels of unemployment, lowered standards of living, economic hardship, social isolation and social restrictions (Mulvany, 2000). The primary burden of mental illness falls on those who suffer from severe and chronic disorders – about 1 in 17 adult Americans, or 6 percent of the population (NIMH, 2010). This paper is primarily concerned with the 6 percent of Americans who live with chronic, serious mental illness. The paper seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the history of the mentally ill in the United States, the oppression they face, psycho-social models underpinning how both society and mental health professionals view the population, and emerging models that offer hope for more effectively equalizing opportunity.
Community Mental Health: Challenges for the 21st Century, 2017
This chapter challenges the myth that most suicides are caused by mental illness. Among other thi... more This chapter challenges the myth that most suicides are caused by mental illness. Among other things the author, a survivor of a violent suicide attempt herself, looks at the socio-economic factors which often play into the decision to take one's life. The essay also examines the unwarranted stigma associated with suicide, and the lack of support for suicide attempt survivors.
Drafts by Jeanene Harlick
Seeking a publisher! , 2019
This essay, sparked by a re-reading of "Gone With the Wind," considers the need for voters to em... more This essay, sparked by a re-reading of "Gone With the Wind," considers the need for voters to employ "political empathy." In a time when democracy is at stake but the political divide is deep, ardent liberals and conservatives need to start putting themselves in the other side's shoes. Only by becoming "culturally fluent" - trying to contextualize the opposition's political beliefs - can we start to actually come together and end the political cowardice and stalemate that now dominates the federal playing field.
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Papers by Jeanene Harlick
Drafts by Jeanene Harlick