As a psychology major, I have been eager to observe how mental illness is treated, and how well this is working for Ecuador. From day one, I had been seeking out various mental health clinics, or therapist offices. However, I could not find much at all. So, I began asking my mama about the lens in which mental health is seen. This interaction took place with just the two of us, and was really a concerning conversation to me. There is a huge stigma in mental health here in Ecuador, and it is shown through the structure of treatment. In the late 1900s, the US shut down mental institutions, which were a leading cause of the stigma in America. Mental institutions are still active in Ecuador, where individuals can spend their entire lives in a hospital.
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