The Solution to Mental Health Rights

The Solution to Mental Health Rights

John Steinbeck’s novella, Of Mice and Men, highlights the difference in inequality between regular and mentally handicapped people. Fifty years ago, mental health laws did not fully protect the rights of the mentally disabled. As seen in the novella, Lennie (who is mentally disabled) is often pushed around. Before George takes him under his wing, he “...turns to Lennie and says, 'Jump in.' An' he jumps. Couldn't swim a stroke. He damn near drowned before we could get him. An' he was so damn nice to me for pullin' him out” (Steinbeck 20). Even though George is soon able to figure out that this kind of behavior is cruel and inhumane, many other people around the world need laws and social guidelines to know how to treat the mentally disabled. Although some say that mental problems are just ‘in one’s head’ and ‘undiagnosable’, the last few decades showcased the improvement of mental health rights, social guidelines, and awareness. 

In Of Mice and Men, Lennie depends on George for almost everything. While it is safe and efficient that George looks out for Lennie by asking him to throw out dead mice so he won’t get rabies, today’s laws require Lennie to know anything he pleases about his treatment and mental conditions  (Steinbeck 5). Moreover, confidentiality in medical treatment would allow Lennie to only share the details that he wants to share with George (Young). While these laws exist today, special mental health law enforcement officers could boost the number of mental health cases that get reported or treated. Even volunteers could improve people’s lives who suffer from mental health.

Social integration is something that took a long time for colored people and women, but it will take even longer for mentally handicapped people without further help. In Steinbeck’s novella, Crooks scares Lennie by saying that George would leave him. In retaliation, Lennie says, “George wun't go away and leave me. I know George wun't do that” (36). While Crooks scaring Lennie is already illegal, this social experiment shows how lost Lennie is without his companion. Today, more than ever, people who suffer from a mental disability need a friend to trust and a community to be a part of. “In 1999, though, two Georgia women sued for the right to live in a non-restrictive community setting... The Court ruled that keeping the women institutionalized was a form of disability discrimination, and that people with mental health disabilities have a fundamental right to live in the least restrictive possible setting.

For years now, mentally ill people have used this decision to gain access to greater independence and freedom…” (Young). This monumental case proves that mentally disabled people have the same social rights as people who are lucky enough to live without disabilities. Moreover, the simplicity of kind acts can brighten many and help mental patients get the kindness that they deserve (as humans).

Another way to help people with depression or anxiety is to raise awareness. One way to do this is by, again, making connections. With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, this might seem hard to do. However, Snapchat “...has announced that it will bring forward the launch of its new 'Here For You' mental health resource center, making it available to all users this week in response to rising angst around the COVID-19 pandemic” (Hutchinson) With the help of new online resources, it is becoming easier to raise awareness for mental disabilities. Raising awareness of disabilities like depression and anxiety can help ease the lives of many people around the world.