Advocacy and the Mentally Ill
Advocacy and the Mentally Ill
Summer Fleming
BSHS/442
January 13, 2014
Dr. Elizabeth Thompson
Advocacy and the Mentally Ill
The American mentally ill population faces numerous barriers to acquiring basic services that those without mental illness receive daily. Advocating for the mentally ill population gives a voice to those who cannot voice their problems or may not know how. Mental illness is often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed. Individuals who are not properly diagnosed cannot receive necessary medical treatment which can help them live normal lives. When needed medical treatment is not made available, those who suffer often end up homeless, and frequently cycle in, and out of the judicial system because their behavior is mistaken as criminal instead of as a mental illness that can be treated given proper services are provided.
Traditional Advocacy Services
Advocating services for the mentally ill most often involve raising awareness by influencing legislation to make policy changes through educating the public about the facts of mental illness and rebuffing common stereotypes and negative views often associated with mental illness. The effort is typically centered on changing current and ineffective policies so proper treatment and equal opportunities can be provided to those who suffer. Putting pressure on policy-makers for increased support, “denouncing stigma and discrimination, and fighting for improved services” (World Health Organization, 2003, p. 3) are common services for advocating for the mentally ill.
Barriers to Service Delivery
Numerous barriers exist that continue to affect delivery of needed services for the mentally ill. Many of those barriers relate to lack of available mental health services, or the inability to pay because of rising out of pocket expenses. Quite often there is no link made between mental health and physical health. Mental health is not regarded with the same importance as physical health
Summer Fleming
BSHS/442
January 13, 2014
Dr. Elizabeth Thompson
Advocacy and the Mentally Ill
The American mentally ill population faces numerous barriers to acquiring basic services that those without mental illness receive daily. Advocating for the mentally ill population gives a voice to those who cannot voice their problems or may not know how. Mental illness is often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed. Individuals who are not properly diagnosed cannot receive necessary medical treatment which can help them live normal lives. When needed medical treatment is not made available, those who suffer often end up homeless, and frequently cycle in, and out of the judicial system because their behavior is mistaken as criminal instead of as a mental illness that can be treated given proper services are provided.
Traditional Advocacy Services
Advocating services for the mentally ill most often involve raising awareness by influencing legislation to make policy changes through educating the public about the facts of mental illness and rebuffing common stereotypes and negative views often associated with mental illness. The effort is typically centered on changing current and ineffective policies so proper treatment and equal opportunities can be provided to those who suffer. Putting pressure on policy-makers for increased support, “denouncing stigma and discrimination, and fighting for improved services” (World Health Organization, 2003, p. 3) are common services for advocating for the mentally ill.
Barriers to Service Delivery
Numerous barriers exist that continue to affect delivery of needed services for the mentally ill. Many of those barriers relate to lack of available mental health services, or the inability to pay because of rising out of pocket expenses. Quite often there is no link made between mental health and physical health. Mental health is not regarded with the same importance as physical health