Clinical Psychology Should Not Be Taken Lightly

1382 WordsJan 30, 20166 Pages
Clinical psychology is one of the most beneficial branches in psychology. It is a specialty that provides behavioural and mental healthcare for individuals and families worldwide (Hunsley and Lee, 2014). Across all cultures, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds, clinical psychology provides proper assessment and treatment plans for mental illnesses (Dozois, 2012). However, there are many individuals that underestimate the reliability and value that clinical psychology offers to our society. Clinical psychology should not be taken lightly. Without the specialized techniques and procedures that clinical psychologists supply, many individuals would not be able to overcome the battle against mental illnesses. It is an extremely important…show more content…
Major depression is defined as a persistent mood disorder that involves abnormalities in normal cognitive, emotional, and behavioural functioning (Dozois, 2012). A depressed individual will typically be extremely sad and unmotivated, displaying a loss of pleasure in activities that were once pleasurable (Dozois, 2012). Depression involves a serious brain abnormality that can easily be hidden from the naked eye. The signs of depression are not always obvious and many individuals fail to get proper diagnosis and treatments. Depression involves an imbalance of neurotransmitters within the brain and specific medications have been designed to regulate these brain abnormalities. In an article, Brown and Schulberg, (1998), discuss the detrimental effects of depression being left untreated. Unfortunately, only about 50% of individuals suffering from depression actually seek help for this disorder in fear stigmatization. Mental disorders, such as depression, that are left untreated are the leading cause of suicide. For example, Wade Belak, a former Maple Leafs hockey player was suffering from depression when he unfortunately isolated himself and committed suicide (Dozois, 2012). Depression does not discriminate; it can affect people of all ages, ethnicities, and even professional athletes. With effective treatments, depression can be beat. The Value of Clinical Psychology Brown and Schulberg (1998) found that severely depressed individuals that received
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