Preview

Mentally Ill Research Paper

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2837 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Mentally Ill Research Paper
A
A Better Life For The Mentally Ill

John Henry Ruffin II

Devry University

A Better Life for the Mentally Ill Mentally ill individuals in America are forced to endure numerous forms of abuse and do not receive the proper care they require and deserve. In the past, the “insane” members of society have been treated horribly by the people that live within their communities. Today, There are many different treatment options available to the mentally ill individuals that require help to live in today’s society. Although there are plenty of treatment options, the individuals still need to have the ability to make choices pertaining to the care that they receive and the type of medical/mental treatments they are given. The facilities …show more content…
This can be anything from being bi-polar, having brain damage, or having a genetic defect that effects the natural growth and development of the mind. People in the past have used the term “retard” to describe a person with cognitive disabilities. This term has changed due to the use of it as a derogatory remark to a person not as smart as they are. Now they may say things like “he has a cognitive delay”, “she suffers from down syndrome”, or “he has special needs”. These terms are far less demeaning to the individuals and are much more accepted in the health …show more content…
The mentally ill should not be excluded from this basic human right. If an individual does not want to take a shower for example; the person (mentally ill or not) should not be punished or forced to do so. If a patient has been told by her “care team” that they need a specific surgery due to the weight of the patient or because they could possibly do something they are not able to do now unless the surgery has been completed, then the individual should not have to complete it. The declaration states that any patient has “the right to discharge oneself at any time and to be discharged without restriction, having committed no offense. This is basically saying that if a person refuses to have a type of treatment done, then they should not be forced to just because someone else is their legal guardian and wants the treatment completed. Just as should the person be free to chose medically whether they want something or not, they should be able to chose whether or not they obtain
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Frontline: New Asylum Analysis
    • 252 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Frontline: New Asylum Analysis

    The elimination of state mental hospitals was not based on human need, but rather a political policy decision. The shortage of mental institutions creates a shift in the role of prison systems and presents several different issues for mentally ill inmates. The inmates are not medically treated in…

    • 252 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Crazy: a Father's Search Through America's Mental Healthy Madness - Annotated Bibliography
    • 863 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Crazy: a Father's Search Through America's Mental Healthy Madness - Annotated Bibliography

    In this article, the incarceration of the mentally ill is encouraged because it is safer than keeping them in mental institutions. It claims that mental institutions are extremely dangerous by their very nature and the nurses there are trained to treat the mentally ill, not to keep them from hurting themselves or other people. In prisons however, the guards are equipped with the experience of a 16 week training program and are able to handle any commotion that might be made without endangering the lives of the prisoners or the public. This viewpoint is contrary to that in Pete Earley’s book because it endorses the imprisonment of the mentally ill, while in contrast Earley strongly believes the mentally ill need treatment, not imprisonment.…

    • 863 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    CRMJ320 Prison The Modern Insane Asylum
    • 1190 Words
    • 5 Pages

    CRMJ320 Prison The Modern Insane Asylum

    The medieval times brought us men in shining armor and women captured by dragons for those knights to rescue. It also brought upon the dark ages which unfortunately risen the popularity of the lunatic (insane) asylums. In those days, people who were determined to be mentally ill were given a place to stay where they were treated for their illness. In todays’ society we have gone away from institutionalizing individuals because of mental illness and looked toward alternative ways of treatment most notably by prescribing psychiatric medication. This tactic was implemented to put the mentally ill back out onto the street and minimize the overcrowding that was happening in the institutions. Today most of the “asylums” have been shut down and for some reason most of the mentally ill are being housed in our state and federal prisons.…

    • 1190 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Deinstitutionalizing the Mentally Ill, Blessing or Curse?
    • 770 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Deinstitutionalizing the Mentally Ill, Blessing or Curse?

    The deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill was originally and idealistically portrayed as a liberating, humane policy alternative to the restrictive care in large state supported hospitals. It was supposed to help these individuals regain freedom and empower themselves through responsible choices and actions. Due to many funding issues, stiff opposition from communities, and ill-equipped patients, who are unable to live independently, this idealized program, has not always been a blessing for the communities or the patients.…

    • 770 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Sociology of Mental Illness Paper Assignment
    • 1445 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Sociology of Mental Illness Paper Assignment

    Describe the major components of the Sociological Model of Mental Illness and compare it to the Medical Model of Mental Illness. What evidence exists that supports the Sociological Model of Mental Illness? What evidence exists that supports the Medical Model of Mental Illness? (Approximately 2-4 paragraphs)…

    • 1445 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Hca-240 Mental Illness Paper
    • 295 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Hca-240 Mental Illness Paper

    There are many in the scientific community who believe that there is a strong genetic component or pre-disposition to autism spectrum disorders.…

    • 295 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    History and Moral Development of Mental Health Treatment and Involuntary Commitment
    • 10391 Words
    • 42 Pages

    History and Moral Development of Mental Health Treatment and Involuntary Commitment

    The authority of the state to involuntarily commit an individual for care ran the range from the absolute power of the king as sovereign to order incarceration, to the due process of law to protect life and liberty of persons with mental illness under constitutional and state law. In recent years involuntary commitment has become increasingly more difficult, due to many various legal reforms, such as the increased number of professions with the ability to assist with the process, the least restrictive mandate, and the right to refuse treatment mandate. Maine has created amendments to laws that have changed the dynamics of involuntary commitment, including giving persons the ability to refuse treatment, restricting involuntary commitment to persons that are at high risk to themselves or others, and placing limits on time around the number of hours a person can be held for psychiatric evaluation. The moral standards in society raises question of a breach of the constitution are created with this process of involuntary commitment. Thomas Szasz argues that involuntarily committed and involuntary treatment of a mental illness represents a violation of the individual's civil liberties and takes away a person's autonomy, gaining…

    • 10391 Words
    • 42 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Should Mental Illness Be Taken Into Account in Determining Punishment?
    • 3184 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Should Mental Illness Be Taken Into Account in Determining Punishment?

    The penal system has been no help in alleviating the stigma attached to mental illness, routinely and historically treating mentally unstable inmates with just the same harsh approach as their criminally insane counterparts. Indeed, the distinction between these two populations is significant; however, authorities have long been reluctant to entertain such a concept. Similar to the treatment availed to them in institutions, mentally ill inmates have a history of being shackled, beaten and deprived of the most basic human needs. One might readily argue how state and federal penitentiaries exist for one reason and one reason only: to lock up the criminal and throw away the key. The conspicuous absence of rehabilitation programs speaks to the attitude society openly harbors about its convicted felons – keep them out of sight forever. Only recently has the idea of rehabilitation over incarceration been considered throughout contemporary correctional institutions as an alternative toward addressing the imprisoned mentally ill, a population many believe are deserving of this option because of their blatant lack of free will in making morally responsible choices.…

    • 3184 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Insane Asylum Research Paper
    • 3514 Words
    • 15 Pages

    Insane Asylum Research Paper

    Asylums such as The McLean Asylum for the Insane located in Boston, The Worcester Lunatic Asylum, and The Northampton Lunatic Hospital have been around for many years. Since the 1800s through the 1950s asylums have drastically changed in appearance, treatment, diagnosis and many aspects of the asylum such as the food patients are given to eat, and what work the patients get to do while being treated. The grounds and buildings of asylums have made significant improvements. Treatment has become more moral and orderly as the decades progress. Each asylum has different forms of recreation and work that the patients are allowed to do while being treated in the early asylums.…

    • 3514 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Psychiatry and Deinstitutionalization
    • 2151 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Psychiatry and Deinstitutionalization

    There is an agreement that about 2.8% of the US adult population suffers from severe mental illness. The most severely disabled have been forgotten not only by society, but by most mental health advocates, policy experts and care providers. Deinstitutionalization is the name given to the policy of moving severely mentally ill patients out of large state institutions and then closing the institutions as a whole or partially. Deinstitutionalization is a multifunctional process to be viewed in a parallel way with the existing unmet socioeconomical needs of the persons to be discharged in the community and the development of a system of care alternatives (Mechanic 1990, Madianos 2002). The goal of deinstitutionalization is that people who suffer day to day with mental illness could lead a more normal life than living day to day in an institution. The movement was designed to avoid inadequate hospitals, promote socialization, and to reduce the cost of treatment. Many problems developed from this policy. The discharged individuals from public psychiatric hospitals were not ensured the medication and rehabilitation services necessary for them to live independently within the community. Many of the mentally ill patients were left homeless in the streets. Some of the discharged patients displayed unpredictable and violent behaviors and lacked direction within the community. A multitude of mentally ill patients ended up incarcerated or sent to emergency rooms. This placed a huge burden on the jail systems.…

    • 2151 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Insane Asylum Research Paper
    • 863 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Insane Asylum Research Paper

    While it is important to understand the differences in today’s institution compared to their predecessors; it is also critical to take heed of lessons learned. Throughout history mankind has been challenged by how to treat members of society who are different whether these differences are based on physical or mental attributes. As for mental illness, we have entered into an age of new beginnings where the negative aspects of these places are being forgotten and images of safety and happiness for these patients are being…

    • 863 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Mental Health Worker Research Paper
    • 2933 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Mental Health Worker Research Paper

    * high workload and pressure facing social workers, leads to poor quality of work and bad practice * mistakes in the fields of child protection can lead to significant human consequences and to critical attention from the public and media * there is less career ladder for social workers compared with other sectors * Poor decision making.What could be improved: * training must be improved * decision making must be improved * response to crises must be rapid * Greater creativity in exploring solutions * The availability of different perspectives in understanding families * Better responsiveness to families * The senior management to continue to seek out the way good practice enabled and implemented * Supervisions to be carried out to monitor individual competence and Consideration should be given to strengthen the social workers response to problems * Government to issue more funding in social working, this will encourage people to consider career in social working 2. Psychiatrist: The important aspect of a Psychiatrist:Psychiatrist are doctors who look after people with mental health problems, such as…

    • 2933 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Deinstitutionalization In Prisons
    • 1799 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Deinstitutionalization In Prisons

    Until the 1970s, public psychiatric hospitals were responsible for treating and housing mentally ill citizens. However, as a response to the deinstitutionalization movement – this is, a national campaign that urged the federal government to shut down mental health facilities and thus “deinstitutionalize” the mentally ill – prisons and jails became the new de facto mental health asylums. In 2015, according to the Treatment Advocacy Center, in 44 of the 50 states, “the largest prison or jail held more people with serious mental illness than the largest psychiatrist hospital.” Therefore, in a country where incarcerating people with mental challenges seems to be a more viable option than treatment, it is inevitable to question the policies and…

    • 1799 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mentally Ill In Prison Essay
    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Mentally Ill In Prison Essay

    “Mentally ill prisoners who are not being treated often become much more symptomatic while incarcerated.” (Charleston Gazette, 2002). If they are not being treated right mentally ill will be sicker in jails or prison, than actually living out in the community. Since state facility have fewer beds, this inmate’s fate are left up to the criminal…

    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Principle Of Respect For Autonomy Essay
    • 65 Words
    • 1 Page

    Principle Of Respect For Autonomy Essay

    Any mentally competent adult has the right to give or refuse consent to treatment. The principle supporting this free choice is respect for autonomy. This duty of respect of patient decisions is enshrined within the NMC code (2015). The principle of respect for autonomy acknowledges the individual's 'right to hold views, to make choice and to take actions based on their personal values and…

    • 65 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More

Related Topics