Mental Health in Contemporary Society

The research question for my project is: “In what ways does literature view and represent mental health, and how does this affect the stigma society has toward mental illnesses?” I chose the topic because, in contemporary society, mental health issues have transformed into a sensitive problems, and literature acts as a lens revealing the multifaceted aspects of life, especially those that pertain to mental health: Mental Health in Contemporary Society.

The most interesting aspect of this topic is the role literature is capable of playing in changing people’s views and developing empathy and understanding. In the form of a narrative, character presentation, and thematic exploration, literature could address the issues concerning mental health in a way that removes the stigma attached to it and elicits candid discussions.

Personal encounters fuel my interest in the subject more because I have seen some of my close friends and relatives battling different types of mental illnesses. This has opened my eyes to the stereotypes placed on mental health and made me want to study the power of literature in reinforcing or subverting these societal norms. Accordingly, I believe knowing these societal attributes will bring about a more caring society.

The relevant discipline for my topic incorporates both literature and psychology. In any piece of literature, the analysis of characters, themes, and their writing style shows how the author focuses on telling a story about mental health (Shephard, 2021). Conversely, psychological approaches provide an understanding of the consequences of these depictions on public opinion.

In this regard, I hope to accomplish an understanding of the extent to which literature reinforces negative societal stereotypes of mental health in my research project so that I can argue for the role of literature in transforming attitudes and raising awareness. I seek to help create an understanding of how stories represent and reconstruct the mental health debate within society.

References

Shephard, M. (2021). Expanding mental health awareness in adolescents using contemporary young adult literature in the English classroom. Charles Sturt University. https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/ws/portalfiles/portal/235013197/ShephardM_11290867_PhD_Thesis.pdf

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DISCUSSION POST 3

In this discussion forum, you are laying the foundation for your research proposal and articulating the specific discipline you are interested in.In this week’s discussion forum, you are to identify the research question you submitted in Module 2 and draft a paragraph of no less than 250 words that responds to the following questions:

Mental Health in Contemporary Society

• RESEARCH QUESTION: In what ways does literature view and represent mental health, and how does this affect the stigma society has toward mental illnesses?
• Why did you choose this topic?
• What about it interests you?
• What experience do you have with this topic?
• Identify the relevant discipline or category for your topic.
• What discipline-specific conventions apply to your topic?
• What do you hope to achieve with your research project?

Textbook:

• Reading Literature and Writing Argument.