Why don't the older generations understand mental illness?

Question

Why?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Because their generation were not taught about mental illness, except that it was something to be ashamed of and that you should hide it. If someone had a mental illness, there was something wrong with them and they shouldn't be around other people. They were also taught that if someone was behaving differently than normal, they just wanted attention or were unruly and should be either punished or ignored.

What you learn early in life often tends to be the view you hold for the rest of your life.

ChrisMaster69 · Accepted Answer

Some do some don’t.

Also there is a difference between mental health and mental illness.

usually people really mean mental health issues and not that they have been diagnosed for a major mental illness.

A lot comes down to what people have experienced, it’s not that mental health is anything new, it’s just the impact of mental health issues are recognised more.

Breanna_nonbinary · Accepted Answer

I’m older and I understand mental illness. It’s our culture that looks at mental illness poorly. We have a taboo about it because like all our human imperfections it’s seen as something that would be passed on to our offspring. Thus it’s programmed into our genes to as a flaw that wouldn’t help the species survive.
In addition we as humans try to down play our own flaws. So to pretend it doesn’t we don’t have flaws is one way of subverting our misgivings and preventing others from judging us.

anon171999 · Accepted Answer

Because most mental illnesses aren't actually mental illnesses. People are just abused a lot and don't know how to heal or cope with life now because of the abuse and trauma they experienced. Most people who have been diagnosed with the common mental illnesses such as bpd, depression, anxiety, etc. Don't actually have those. They just had a lot of trauma and learned poor coping skills and mindsets.

Anonymous · Answer

It's because what is considered mental illness has changed. 40 years ago a 6yr old boy that wanted his dick to be chopped off and identify as a girl was seen as suffering some type of mental illness. In today's society he's glorified and seen as a hero. 40 years ago a 6yr old boy that played with toy guns and got overly aggressive with friends on a play ground was seen as a normal boy. In today's society he's seen as suffering from "male toxicity" and has a mental illness.

bamesjond0069 · Answer

Because when i was depressed i was told "keep busy to keep happy" or "you have to make yourself happy dont rely on other people or things" or "decide to be happy". These things worked for me over time. Today there is a sad 12 year old and all they do is give them drugs and allow them to use it as an excuse to play video games all day. Smh. Then the depression gets worse instead of better.

LilyDiamond · Answer

What older generations think of Mental illness and what my generation thinks of mental illness if vastly different. Also the social norms and circumstances have changed. Giving rise with Social Media more teens depressed, Anxious, insomnia, etc. So not that they don’t understand as time have changed and so has the rates and what is considered a mental illness.

ShadezMcgee · Answer

Because it was something that was viewed as detrimental and difficult to understand, so as a result were told to bury it and not acknowledge it because it was very stigmatized back when it was getting recognition. That's why lobotomies were a thing back in the day as a form of treatment.

Deathly_Pheonix · Answer

From my experience, it is largely due to the fact that little research in the field was done, and so it led to things like depression, adhd, and anxiety, etc, being chalked up to how you are or that is was a choice. And back in the day, physical labor was all that really mattered, if you weren't fit to be corporate, you were in labor, and you didn't have to be mentally healthy or sound for that so long as you could do the physical work, thus mental illness was often ignored

HenryEvans · Answer

I wasn't allowed to have mental illnesses. Our parents had mental illnesses and would hit us for anything we did.
Accidentally spilled my juice at the dinner table and my mom slapped me across the face.
If I was annoying my older brother he would pull my pants down in front of everyone and spank my bare ass. My dad grabbed me by the collar and threatened to hit me because I moved his stuff.
Most of my family had issues so I just learned to be strong mentally.

wankiam · Answer

i think we understand it only too well actually. i might ask you why you think none of us have ever been through stuff?

TsAubreyKate · Answer

Because they know mental illness can’t be treated locking someone inside psychiatric hospital and sticking a needle in their arm to “calm them down” aka go to sleep isn’t treating them this is something I fucking hate about my country we have the worst healthcare and justice systems in the fucking world not because we’re not able to have one of best we choose to be one of if not the worst

najekim · Answer

Because most "mental illnesses," like depression, are obtained by allowing oneself to be that way. True mental illness is when there is a testable chemical imbalance in the brain, disease within the brain, or birth defect present. Otherwise you chose to be, let's say, depressed.

Older generations had more mental discipline than folks today, IMHO.

genericname85 · Answer

well cause people thes days are mostly self diagnosed and not actually mentally ill. back then "mental illness" meant you were suffering from shell shock or ptsd after a war that crippled you mentally and left you unable to live a normal life. not just "a bit sad sometimes".
compared to back then, "mental illness" seems to be a joke. it makes our generation look weak as fuck.

AydenHazor · Answer

Because it was demonized to them. It's now more widely understood and seeking help is encouraged, but there's unfortunately still a stigma to it in many generations and environments

FictionalCharacter · Answer

Older generation justified:  -incest relationships  -rape  -physical and emotional abuse

Leonharted · Answer

They do. Look up PTSD in regards to Vietnam vetrans.

FakeName123 · Answer

Because the older generation didn't have the same amount of luxury to wallow in their self-pity.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

Why do you think "the older generation' doesn't understand mental illness?

joeldalton · Answer

What makes you think they don't? Unfortunately, many kids your age exaggerate mental illnesses for attention and have made up new mental illnesses, so it is hard to find out the truth.

normalice · Answer

Because they are the cause of most of it. They don't want to understand something if its their fault.

TrueConfection · Answer

It's hard to take young people seriously when universities have to supply kittens and coloring books to help the students cope with disappointments.

_no_one_ · Answer

They do but i i guess they're too mentally strong to relate.

AngelMegumin · Answer

Cuz many of 'illnesses' is the result of one's delusion. Mental state is evaluated by psychiatrists.

mobiusforniner · Answer

Because most boomers were themselves mentally damaged by the fallout from radioactive testing during the cold war...

jahaims · Answer

Because they were taught to bury it and keep going.

noohair · Answer

Because it reflects negatively on the genetics of the family.

Wowboi · Answer

Because 50 % of it is done for attention and they've been through worse considering the length of time lived

Wester1967 · Answer

Because Boomers are almost all mentally ill. They will die off before they look in the mirror even once.

exitseven · Answer

Mental health had a big stigma attached to it. Nobody ever talked about it. There really were no real treatments for it either.

Mangospacho · Answer

I was just about to agree with you and start ranting about the older generation but then I realized I am the older generation now.

zaharuh · Answer

A lot of people in general really don't

nawtee_me · Answer

because in their day there was no such thing... At least not thought of as it is today...

Anonymous · Answer

Why do younger generations have more mental illness or not?

sheikalana · Answer

They still see it as a taboo Lord knows why.

Fuentes · Answer

Cause its probably not a mental illness

Nazgol · Answer

Never existed back in their day? Lol

Iron_Man · Answer

We realize

Luckycharms12 · Answer

Wasn't talked about

Why don't the older generations understand mental illness?

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Thoughts true or false: this generation emphasizes being a pansy when it comes to mental illness instead of fighting mental illness?

Why don't the older generations understand mental illness?

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What Girls & Guys Said

Thoughts true or false: this generation emphasizes being a pansy when it comes to mental illness instead of fighting mental illness?

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