Mental Illness In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

The mental and emotional unity between the patients in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, shows an important aspect of relationships and community through the terrible life of discrimination and abuse. Despite the treatment in mental institutions, the bond between the patients perseveres. When McMurphy came to the ward for the first time, he said to the Acutes, “...we got lots of time, lots of games ahead of us. I like to use my deck here because it takes at least a week for the other players to get to where they can even see the suit”(Kesey 10). Creating a bond from the very beginning of an introduction imminently helps the relationship grow with ease. Friendships enrich lives no matter if there is a mental illness involved or not and they also
¨Despite the significant impact of mental illness at the individual and societal levels, researchers have increasingly documented trends in which individuals with mental illness either delay seeking mental health treatment or go untreated altogether¨ (Sickel 203). Going untreated for too long can cause dangerous psychological problems to the person. Getting treatment is beneficial for the patient and others involved. In the novel, almost every patient was self committed. “You have more to lose than I do,” Harding says again. “I’m voluntary. I’m not committed” (Kesey 150). One of the protagonists, McMurphy is one of a few the have actually been committed by government jurisdiction to be at the hospital. Most of the patients choose to be there for their own well-being, but could voluntarily leave at any
Friendships promote social and emotional stability on both ends of the relationship (Latfiyya). But many people with mental and/or physical illnesses do not get as many chances to form relationships because of seclusion, environment, and lack of social skills. These skills and opportunities can be provided through family, caretakers, and community. Friendships offers stability and fulfills social needs that each individual needs to function normally. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, all patients had a form of social isolation, but when McMurphy came along with his free mind, he cleared the fog from everyone’s minds and helped them to communicate with each other. Important dimensions of friendships are mutuality, rights, responsibilities, obligations, companionship, and trust. Families and service providers can help enhance friendship opportunities by introducing them to similar people to them, and not for a relationship