Raysa Vargas

ENC1101

7 AM

Final Essay Outline

Introduction: Without even noticing, people among us can be suffering from a mental

illness. A lot of the times people wont notice that someone has a mental illness, simply

because a lot of the times their physical appearance won't change. Multiple people will

experience a mental illness and some might not even know it. A mental illness is not

something that should be taken lightly; a mental illness is a behavioral or mental issue

that could cause suffering and a poor ability to function in life. There are so many

disorders such as, anxiety, and eating disorder, depression, substance abuse disorder and

so many more. It is crucial that society starts to become more aware of the mental illness

issue in order for us to give it more importance; society is quick to judge someone with a

mental illness and its time to speak up about it in order to help those who need it. We

must take action and speak up about the problems people face on a day-to-day basis.

I. Topic Sentence: It is known that a mental disorder is a serious

issue, but it is one that society refuses to acknowledge until

something grand happens.

A. The term mental illness or mentally ill, has for an

extended amount of time carried around the stigma of

negativity, and the connotation of a person that is

 somehow sub-human to others. (Alley Rhinehart

article)

B. Now more than ever the term mentally ill has

appeared in media through the descriptions of

horrendous shooters that have committed unthinkable

crimes. (Alley Rhinehart article)

II. Topic Sentence: Mental illness not only hinders the person who is

mentally ill but it will hinder their family as well. Whenever

someone is diagnosed with a mental disorder, neither the person

nor his or her family will be able to take it lightly. It is a serious

topic that can affect anyones life.

A. When mental illness first strikes, family

members may deny the person has a continuing

illness. (Impact of Mental Illness on Families)

B. Sometimes, even after some family members do

understand the reality of the illness, others do

not. Those who do accept the truth find that they

must protect the ill person from those who do not

and who blame and denigrate the ill person for

unacceptable behavior and lack of achievement.

Obviously, this leads to tension within the

family, and isolation and loss of meaningful

relationships with those who are not supportive

 of the ill person. (Impact of Mental Illness on

Families)

C. It may seem that the hardest impact of a mentally

ill person is with the family; however when he or

she is diagnosed with a mental disorder the

individual will do one or two things, go into

denial or try to ignore what is happening. It often

hinders the individual more.

D. One such misconception is that people with a

mental illness are lazy and weak, and if they

tried hard enough they could snap out of it.

E. Fear about the onset of the next episode,

confusion about the illogical, and at times

irrational nature of their inner world may be

some of the feelings experience by someone with

a mental illness. They may also experience anger

and bitterness due to the manner in which the

mental illness is affecting all aspects of their life.

They may be hypersensitive to criticism and feel

as if other, including their career and mental

health professional, do not understand them or

what they are going through. (Caring for

Someone With a Mental Illness)

 III. Topic Sentence: In order to become aware of a situation and to

help those with the situation it is time to speak up about the subject

at hand.

A. People are often afraid of people becoming mentally ill

but what people dont like to do is to speak up on the

issue.

B. Just because someone is suffering from a mental illness

it does not mean that the person is crazy it just means

they are suffering with an issue that they need help on.

C. Even celebrities are speaking out on the cause of mental

illness and how it is okay, and how speaking about it

will help the individual more than keeping it in.

Conclusion: To conclude and to bring awareness to this dreadful issue, it is time to

understand that mental health not only affects the individual, the families and society but

it needs to be spoken out about. The best way to have people understand and sympathize

mental illness is by showing them that the people suffering have it worse. Mental illness

does not justify things that the individual does wrong but it does show how bad it could

affect people. If people would just speak about what is going on then we can all come

together as one.