+1 862 207 3288 Topic: Mental illness disabilities.
Mental illness disabilities. Choose a vulnerable population: disabilities, homeless, rural/migrant health, or mental illness, and discuss the nature of the vulnerability in detail.
Answer: Mental illness disabilities.
Mental Illness Disabilities
Mental illness causes distress and impairment of interpersonal, occupational and psychological functioning. The most common types of psychiatric disorders include; mood, eating, anxiety, psychotic and personality disorders (Rogers & Pilgrim, 2014). Homelessness is associated with abuse of drugs and drug-induced mental disorders which exacerbate mental health symptoms.
National and Community Statistics and Comparisons (Mental Illness Disabilities)
According to national statistics, nearly 1.5 million people who are homeless have been diagnosed with a mental health condition. In England alone, 1.191 million people manifest with mental disorders. Out of the homeless population, adults above the age of 18 years record, a total of 905, 000 cases of mental conditions (Rogers & Pilgrim, 2014). Men and women account for 530, 000 and 375,000 cases of mental health conditions, respectively.
Federal and State Policies, Mental illness disabilities.
Annually, it is estimated that one in every four individuals present with a mental disorder among the homeless population. The country’s health care system aims at ensuring that there is improved access to mental health services, through quality care and allocation of sufficient resources to meet the demand and achieve ‘parity of esteem’ between the known physical and mental health.
In 2016, an independent mental health task force came up with a publication known as ‘The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health.’ The team came up with recommendations which will achieve quality psychiatric care among the homeless. The recommendations by the task force include improving the community based mental health care for the homeless (Rogers & Pilgrim, 2014). £1 billion have been allocated for a successful implementation of the project.
In response to the increased prevalence of mental disabilities associated with homelessness, the National Mental Health Act of 1993 was reviewed (Rogers & Pilgrim, 2014). By 2018 May, public opinions were collected on amending the act to increase access to mental health care among the minority populations, including the homeless.
Healthy People 2020 Objective, Mental illness disabilities.
There is a need to improve the health services across England. Department of Health came up with a task force which was mandated to research how to improve the health services among the homeless. The general population was consulted, and all concerns were included in the Healthy People 2020 Initiative (Kobau, Bann, Lewis, Zack, Boardman, Boyd, & Johnson, 2013). The objectives were; to attain high-quality service provision in all hospitals through strategies that prevent mental health diseases. Secondly, to achieve equity in healthcare provision, irrespective of the race, gender or economic status of an individual. Thirdly, to create a social and physical environment that will have a positive impact on mental health among the homeless.
Role of Nurses, Mental illness disabilities.
According to Stanhope & Lancaster, (2015), nurses are responsible for offering equitable mental health care services for all populations, including the homeless in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. The role of nurses is to participate in the implementation of mental health policies and initiatives. The nurse has a role in investigating the factors responsible for mental health disabilities among the homeless. Nurses have a role in advocating for the right to mental healthcare for the homeless community in the UK. Nurses are responsible for the integration of other social services with mental health care among the homeless.
Conclusion
Mental illness is one of the healthcare issues that affect the homeless population in the United Kingdom (UK). Healthy people 2020 Initiative objectives facilitate the improvement of mental health among the homeless in the UK. Elimination of mental conditions among the homeless in the UK can be achieved through the creation of a favorable social and physical environment to promote mental healthcare provision. Contact us for a similar paper.
Reference
Kobau, R., Bann, C., Lewis, M., Zack, M. M., Boardman, A. M., Boyd, R., & Horner-Johnson, W. (2013). Mental, social, and physical well-being in New Hampshire, Oregon, and Washington, 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System: implications for public health research and practice related to Healthy People 2020 foundation health measures on well-being. Population health metrics, 11(1), 19.
Rae, B. E., & Rees, S. (2015). The perceptions of homeless people regarding their healthcare needs and experiences of receiving health care. Journal of advanced nursing, 71(9), 2096-2107.
Rogers, A., & Pilgrim, D. (2014). A sociology of mental health and illness. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2015). Public health nursing-e-book: Population-centered health care in the community. Elsevier Health Sciences.
