Question

Talk to three people: one of your friends, a friend of your parents, and your neighbour.

Ask them if they have seen someone who is mentally ill or who has mental problems. Try to understand why they find this behaviour abnormal, what are the signs and symptoms shown by this person, what caused this behaviour and can this person be helped.

Share the information you elicited in class and see if there are some common features, which make us label others as ‘abnormal’.

Answer 1

Someone in my neighbourhood appeared to be struggling with severe mental health issues.

Why the Behavior Felt ‘Abnormal’

I found the behavior abnormal because it completely deviated from established social norms and lacked any clear, rational purpose. In a shared community space where people typically walk, chat, or commute, this individual was entirely disconnected from the surrounding reality, causing noticeable distress to himself and discomfort to passersby.

Observed Signs and Symptoms

The signs I observed spanned across changes in appearance, speech, and physical actions:

• Disorganized Speech: He frequently engaged in loud, animated conversations with himself. His sentences were fragmented, and he would suddenly shout at empty spaces as if responding to someone who wasn't there.
• Altered Perceptions: He exhibited signs of paranoia or hallucinations, frequently looking over his shoulder, dodging non-existent obstacles, and appearing terrified of everyday objects.
• Neglected Personal Hygiene: There was a clear lack of self-care. His clothes were heavily soiled and inappropriate for the current weather, and he appeared to have gone weeks without bathing.
• Erratic Motor Behavior: He would pace back and forth along the same stretch of pavement for hours, occasionally making sudden, jerky movements or freezing in unusual postures.