StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Vulnerable Population: Mentally Ill People - Term Paper Example

Cite this document
Summary
There are mainly three categories of vulnerable populations like physical, psychological, and social. For this assignment, the vulnerable population chosen is mentally ill people (psychologically vulnerable population)…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER91.1% of users find it useful
Vulnerable Population: Mentally Ill People
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Vulnerable Population: Mentally Ill People"

Vulnerable Population: Mentally Ill People Vulnerable Population: Mentally Ill People Introduction There are mainly three categories of vulnerable populations like physical, psychological, and social. For this assignment, the vulnerable population chosen is mentally ill people (psychologically vulnerable population). The varying needs of mentally ill people are often underserved despite the fact that their needs are highly serious and they require extensive medical and non-medical attention. This paper will particularly address the nature of mental illness, its national and community statistics, federal and state initiatives taken, healthy people 2020 objectives, and the role of nurses.

The Vulnerable Population Mental illness can be simply defined as a medical condition that causes troubles to an individual’s thinking, emotions, mood, daily functioning, and ability to relate to others. Individuals with mental illnesses often suffer from diminished capacity of meeting daily needs of life and hence this population is vulnerable to many life threatening conditions. Generally, major mental illnesses include depression, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PSTD), schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and borderline personality disorder (NAMI).

However, recovery is possible in almost all cases of mental illnesses. According to psychological researchers, mental illnesses can affect individuals regardless of their age, sex, religion, race, or income; and mental illnesses are not caused as a result of lack of character, personal weaknesses, or poor upbringing (NAMI). Nature of the Vulnerability It is observed that mentally ill people are extremely prone to social isolation, which is a condition where individuals have lack of contact with the society.

Psychologists argue that social isolation can worsen the medical condition of this population. They also indicate that mental illness may increase people’s vulnerability to unhappiness and diminished enjoyment of life. In addition, it is often identified that this population suffers from family conflicts and relationship difficulties. As many studies point out, mentally ill population is prone to alcohol addiction and substance abuse; and self-harm and harm to others are some dreadful issues facing this population (Mayo clinic staff).

Mentally ill people have increased risk of motor vehicle accidents, heart diseases and similar medical conditions, and weakened immune system. National and Community Statistics Mental illness is very common in the United States. According to statistical data, nearly 26.2 percent Americans aged 18 and above develop a diagnosable mental illness in a given year. Evidences also suggest that mental illness is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. “Although mental disorders are widespread in this population, the main burden of illness is concentrated in a much smaller proportion – about 6 percent or 1 in 17 – who suffer from a serious mental illness” (NIMH).

Living conditions of communities can have a great influence on mental illness rather than ethnicity or race. Federal and State Policies The US federal government and states have formulated a number of policies to address the issue of mental illness. Recently, the Obama administration has declared a policy called ‘essential health benefits’ in order to assist people to gain access to mental healthcare coverage; and under this federal policy, insurers are required to cover treatment of mental illnesses (as cited in Pear 2013).

Healthy People 2020 Objectives The healthy people 2020 objectives give specific attention to mental illness. According to this plan, the major objective is mental health status improvement and treatment expansion. This policy framework specifically tries to reduce suicide rates and promote healthy eating behaviors among mentally ill population. Another objective of this plan is to reduce the number of people who experience major depressive episodes. In addition, the healthy people 2020 objectives strive to provide proper treatment to mentally ill people by establishing new treatment facilities and improving the existing ones.

The Role of Nurses Undoubtedly, nurses have a crucial role to play in improving the mental status of this vulnerable population. As experts point out, proper patient care is an integral part of treating mentally ill people because it can have a positive psychological influence on their mental health. While serving this population, nurses must seek the active involvement of the patient’s family members. The nurses must be able to influence the way the mentally ill people perceive their life.

Conclusion From the above discussion, it is clear that mentally ill people represent a vulnerable population that is exposed to threats like family conflicts, relationship difficulties, substance abuse, suicide and homicide, and heart diseases. The federal government has taken a number of policy initiatives to address the growing issue of mental illness in the United States. References Mayo Clinic staff. Mayo clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mental-illness/DS01104/DSECTION=complications NIMH.

The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml NAMI. What is mental illness? Retrieved from http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness Pear, R. (2013). New Federal Rule Requires Insurers to Offer Mental Health Coverage. The New York Times, Feb 20. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/21/health/new-federal-rule-requires-insurers-to-offer-mental-health-coverage.html?_r=0

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Vulnerable Population: Mentally Ill People Term Paper”, n.d.)
Vulnerable Population: Mentally Ill People Term Paper. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/nursing/1479468-vulnerable-population-mentally-ill-people
(Vulnerable Population: Mentally Ill People Term Paper)
Vulnerable Population: Mentally Ill People Term Paper. https://studentshare.org/nursing/1479468-vulnerable-population-mentally-ill-people.
“Vulnerable Population: Mentally Ill People Term Paper”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/nursing/1479468-vulnerable-population-mentally-ill-people.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Vulnerable Population: Mentally Ill People

Vulnerable Population and Healthcare

Running Head: vulnerable population & Healthcare vulnerable population & Healthcare vulnerable population & Healthcare Vulnerability is a global phenomenon of susceptibility whereby individuals or communities are at greater risk of poor physical and social health than the average of the rest of the community.... Many people view drug addiction as a lowly, self-harming habit with no hopes of recovery.... % and that between the people of ages between 18 and 25 is 21% “(Wolf, 1998)....
4 Pages (1000 words) Research Paper

Vulnerable Population and Self-Awareness

Running head: vulnerable population AND SELF-AWARENESS 1 vulnerable population and Self-awareness (Name) (University) vulnerable population AND SELF-AWARENESS 2 vulnerable population and Self-awareness To be vulnerable means to be susceptible to harm, whether through physiological, psychological, or emotional means (Poirrier, 2001, p.... As a nurse, one should understand that dealing with the vulnerable population is more than counting the numbers or acquiring percentages (Poirrier, 2001, p....
4 Pages (1000 words) Research Paper

Vulnerable Population Homeless Mothers

With the identification of two health related problems of homeless mothers, this paper analyses these problems from the public health perspective and from the perspective of national Healthy people 2010 program.... Simultaneously, mental disorders among homeless mothers in conjunction with history of childhood sexual abuse, the experience of adult partner violence, and a PTSD diagnosis make this population group being extremely vulnerable to substance abuse....
11 Pages (2750 words) Essay

Vulnerable Population

In this paper “vulnerable population” the author analyzes populations that are vulnerable for health disparities.... nbsp;… The author states that the basic problems with the gay people are lack of recognition or acceptance by healthcare providers, homophobic attitudes, and an absence of awareness regarding the healthcare needs of this vulnerable population.... he basic problems with the gay people are lack of recognition or acceptance by healthcare providers, homophobic attitudes, and an absence of awareness regarding the healthcare needs of this vulnerable population....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

Challenges to the Treatment of a Vulnerable Population

It is stated that the treatment of mentally ill people is confronted with numerous obstacles.... The treatment of mentally ill people is confronted with numerous obstacles.... nbsp;… The purpose of this paper is to investigate the challenges presented in the treatment of this vulnerable population of mentally ill persons.... 5) are termed as vulnerable populations, and they include the mentally ill and disabled.... Those who experience neuroses and psychoses, or cognitive impairments such as mental retardation, constitute the mentally ill and disabled....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Vulnerable Populations in Health Care

ncome rates significantly affect the health of the vulnerable population.... Thus, people ages 65 years old and older are more vulnerable to chronic diseases and disabilities.... people with chronic illnesses often intend not to receive or to delay necessary medical, dental, and mental healthcare and to not fill the prescription.... On the other hand, people with a high-income group can include health in priority needs because income rates are sufficient enough to cover all essential and leisure needs....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Vulnerable Populations - Homeless People in Los Angeles County, California

In order to address the growing concern of homelessness problem in county, there are many… According to National Alliance on Mental Issues (2009), only about one-third of homeless people are facing mental illness problem and significantly major proportion of people suffer m homelessness problem that last for a long time having this disability which is often complicated by means of getting addicted to drugs and suffering from some physical illnesses.... According to Einspar (2010), homelessness is described as a lack of permanent housing that usually results either from extreme poverty problem or inability to have instant access to living environment which is suitable and ideal for the people....
9 Pages (2250 words) Research Paper

US Health Care System for the Mentally and Physically Disabled

Thus, physical and mental disabilities are pertaining to those people who suffer from certain impairments that interfere with their normal daily functioning.... Under this ADA act, it is illegal to show any sort of bias against people with mental and physical disabilities “in employment, public services and transportation and places of public accommodation” (United Nations, 2004).... Thus, physical and mental disabilities are pertaining to those people who suffer from certain impairments that interfere with their normal daily functioning....
7 Pages (1750 words) Research Paper
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us