Physical illness and ailments have been understood for as long as man has been alive; if something hurts, something is wrong and needs to be fixed. Mental illness is an ailment that cannot always be seen. Mental illness can be categorized into many different ailments and it is too broad and complex to be treated the same for every person diagnosed as mentally ill. There is a lot that we still do not know about the human brain, which makes it harder to treat mental illness. These unknown factors contribute to unwanted stereotypes and the social separation between the mentally disabled and the enabled, which can be seen today.
The history of mental illness has been a long struggle for acknowledgment. Although studies about mental illness have been conducted, in today's modern society, man once treated the manifestation of mental illness, as demonic possession. Biblically speaking, many Christians believed that someone possessed by demons had a weak mind, therefore opening themselves up to demonic possession. They were not strong enough to fight off the urges of the devil. In This Abled Body, Holly Joan Toensing mentions that these people were ostracized from there community and in most cases, forcibly restrained or killed (Toensing 133). Toensing says "throughout most of Western history people believed that behaviors associated with what we call mental illness today were caused literally by demonic possession" (133). This mistreatment and misdiagnosis of people with disabilities show how little they were recognized and understood by their own community.
The mistreatment and exclusion of people with disabilities is not the only cause for concern in the divide between the disabled and enabled. The Epidemiological Catchment Area (ECA) studied the risk of comorbidity back in 2003 and discovered that people diagnosed with mental illnesses have more to worry about than just mistreatment. The Ohio Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Coordinating Center of Excellence states that "that persons with severe mental illness were most at risk for Comorbidity." The most repeated comorbidity among people with mental illness is alcohol and other drug abuse (AODA). According to The Ohio Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Coordinating Center of Excellence, 25%-35% of people with mental illness have had or are currently having difficulties with substance abuse in the last 6 months.
A more recent study, Breast Cancer Stage and Treatment Among Ohio Medicaid Beneficiaries With and Without Mental Illness, discovered that women "were also more likely to be diagnosed with medical comorbidities." An average of 83.6% of women with mental illness was shown to have been diagnosed with medical comorbidities compared to 64.6% of women without mental illness (Koroukian e52). In addition to addressing their own needs, those diagnosed with a mental illness, have a high chance of gaining a substance abuse disorder. They may already be struggling to gain the help they need for their mental illness, let alone a co-occurring substance abuse disorder. The issues that arise from comorbidity need to be addressed and an integrated treatment plan for those with comorbidity, "a specific protocol of program components including continuous treatment teams, assertive community outreach, four-stage treatment approach, ongoing clinical training, and attention to research and program fidelity and evaluation" (Ohio Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Coordinating Center of Excellence). This plan has been implemented in Ohio facilities, however, the funding for this program does not state how many people it can financially support throughout the treatment implementation.
The quality of treatment given in a medical center can cause another divide in our communities between the enabled and the disabled. The recent study, Breast Cancer Stage and Treatment Among Ohio Medicaid Beneficiaries With and Without Mental Illness, released in Journal of Oncology Practice, analyzed the treatment given to women with breast cancer and mental illness and with breast cancer without mental illness. The study predicted they would discover that "patients with mental illness are more likely to experience barriers to adequate treatment" (Koroukian e52). They did not plan to analyze why patients with mental illness were more likely to inadequate treatment, they were just studying whether or not they received equal treatment that a patient without mental illness would receive. The study's outcome states that "the findings reflect the equalizing effect of the Medicaid program and its ability to reduce financial barriers, at least partially, thus improving vulnerable individuals' access to care" (Koroukian e53). The findings from this study show the improvement that the Medicaid program has offered patients with mental illness and their ability to receive similar if not equal care than those without mental illness.
Elsewhere in Ohio, Wright State University (WSU) has become one of the leading disability service schools in the United States. In the interview between Jeff Vernooy, director of WSU's Office of Disability Services, and Mike Fisher, the author, the words "mental illness" are never stated outright, instead, Vernooy discusses the creation of the Office of Disability Services. Vernooy states, "since 1970, we've developed a culture, a way of life, that supports students with disabilities. It really is a part of the fabric of this place" (Fisher). Vernooy addresses the WSU community and how integral it is to accommodate every new student with disabilities. Vernooy says the overall goal "is to eliminate all barriers that prevent qualified individuals with disabilities from obtaining a college education. Whenever a prospective student comes through its doorway with a new set of needs, the university takes another step toward that goal" The university is looking to address any and all barriers that may prohibit a student with disabilities to earn a degree. Helping students with disabilities does not stop after graduation. WSU's Office of Disability Services teamed up with the career services office. WSU wants to eliminate that job apprehension for students with disabilities and build lifelong skills that can carry them through any job experience.
Over the course of history, the mistreatment of people with disabilities has been one of the more taboo topics. Our communities right here in Ohio are working to bridge the divide between the disabled and the enabled. Medical centers like the Ohio Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Coordinating Center of Excellence provides research, resources, treatments, and awareness of issues like severe mental illness and comorbidity. They are currently working on expanding outside of their area and creating a state-wide initiative that would assist people with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorders. The study on Breast Cancer Stage and Treatment Among Ohio Medicaid Beneficiaries With and Without Mental Illness shows us that Medicaid beneficiaries in this study received relatively the same treatment, it was not dependent on patients with or without mental illness. The cities and communities in Ohio seem to be making great strides in equal treatment for people with mental illness. They continue to spread their resources so that other people in similar situations or with similar disabilities can benefit in a way that fits their needs. Wright State University, right outside of Dayton, Ohio, is working to accommodate all students with disabilities, not just mental illness. Not only does WSU' Office of Disability Services work to help students graduate, they also help students succeed after graduation where they otherwise may not have been given the opportunity. Although there are still issues that need to be addressed, The State of Ohio seems to be working to better their community by working to include and prevent unjust treatment to people with mental illness.