As this class has already shown, the eight dimensions of wellness are vital to the
overall wellbeing and health of an individual and a community. This discussion topic
reminded me of the time during nursing school where I worked at the Veterans locked
psychiatric unit where I spent two months working alongside mental health specialists in
helping support these young veterans through their mental health struggles and working to
improve their social, emotional, and physical wellness. Throughout my time in this unit, it
was clear that not only is there a lack of mental health resources in the United States, but
there are many biases that negatively impact those who struggle with mental illness.
Some of these bias include the false stigmas that those with mental health disorders
are dangerous, “crazy and unhinged”, and completely incapable of being functional and
productive members of society. While not everyone holds these exact viewpoints, they
have enough of an influence on society that those with these disorders often feel such
shame and discrimination when they voice their issues or try to seek help that they often
refuse until they have no choice. Being able to understand the struggles these veterans face
can help me work with fellow public health workers on ways to educate the public and
dismantle these harmful stereotypes. It also taught me that negative mental health biases
have an immensely negative impact on the overall wellness of the individual by alienating
them and affects whether they try to seek help and treatment.
