Mentally Ill Homeless and Victimization - Essay Example

Mental Ill Homeless and Victimization Poor physical health and homelessness go in hand together. Since deinstitutionalization, people with mental illness live in communities where they are at risk for victimization such as crime. Deinstitutionalization refers to situation where people do not need hospitalization away from the community and family (Hiday et all, 1999). People with challenges such as mental illness have the right of treatment in their own society. Major effects of deinstitutionalization are that people and homelessness can slip through system cracks. Homelessness experience can have detrimental effects on mental or physical wellbeing of a person. Nevertheless, poor mental or physical health together with issues of dependency is challenges for all the population of homeless people. On the other hand, mental problems can lead to homelessness. There are different discussions as to whether the mental ill homeless are victims or not. The papers focus on this major discussion. Even though there are reasons to believe that mental ill homeless people are not victims, much evidence indicates that they are victims because of the condition and society perceptions (Schizophrenia, 2005). Mental ill homeless people are mostly victims of trauma. They are subjects of rape, domestic violence and other acts of violence. Some are witnesses of violent acts. Studies show that people with mental illness are vulnerable to victimization (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2009). This involves acts like assault, theft of clothing or money, rape, and to some extent death. Women appear to be the most vulnerable. Victims of mental illness suffer from discrimination and stigma; most of them thus do not report their ordeals. They fear that their evidence will appear not credible since they have delusions. Such fear further impairs the victims to remember events accurately. The victims often suffer from shock, anger, guilt, confusion or humiliation, which is easily, intensifies by mental ill homeless state. A person doing an interview with a victim may feel that the victim might be exaggerating some details. It is difficult to filter fact or fiction from the victim and or witness. Even though it might be difficult to obtain substantial evidence from the victim or the witness, some valid truth remain that the mental ill homeless are victims of different acts (Hiday et all, 1999). Reports from schizophrenia daily indicate that, in 2004, individuals more than one fourth of severe mental illness-SMI were violent crime victims (Schizophrenia, 2005). This is eleven times the rate of the common population. Symptoms associated with SMI such as disorganization of thoughts, poor problem solving and planning and impulsivity compromises the ability of the victim to perceive risks and to defend themselves. Homelessness, poverty, conflicting social relationship and substance abuse are other factors. Opponents of mental ill homeless as victims argue that most of mental ill homeless are brutal. This is apparent from Blosser Johns “Shocking Truth about the Homeless” (Schizophrenia, 2005). The opponents feel that many Americans see the homeless and mental ill as innocent and helpless victims whereas this is not true according to them. Blosser in particular, argue that they are pathetic victims of the community. They are drug-abusers, alcoholics and criminals. Their situation is therefore not by chance, rather their own making. Low income, loss of loved ones and low education level are the other factors of mental ill homelessness. It is true that every year many common Americans are victims of murder and other violent acts from the mental ill homeless people. Almost 5 percent of American deaths are from the homeless and mental ill people. Whereas the figures are alarming and true, the challenge and question remains as to what leads them to be violent. Is deinstitutionalization a failed solution? Are the mental ill homeless people getting treatment and enough care? Arguments from Blosser and other opponents mainly depend on the individual attacks against the mental ill homeless and the few but rare cases. Such arguments are therefore baseless. They have assumptions that majority of the mental ill homeless abuse alcohol or drugs, or criminals. Can they prove their arguments? Are there any surveys on mental ill homeless population? Is there any consideration on the children who are homeless? The opponent’s arguments appear to be more theoretical than quantifiable. According to Hiday et all (1999), Mental ill homeless is a serious problem in the community. Communities treat these populations as outcast who are deviant since they do not reflect what the society considers as values and norms. An interview done at emergency shelter for the homeless indicate that majority of these populations has SMI and remains untreated. The mental ill homeless are humans and have equal rights as anyone else. They need assistance just like ordinary citizens. They not only need financial assistance, but also peoples support and attention. The release of the mental ill from the hospitals is yet to be helpful; they do not place the mental ill in places that they can get care (Schizophrenia, 2005). Understanding the factors that contribute to the problems of the mental ill homeless is a major step towards getting a solution for these populations. The factors classifications are deinstitutionalization, privatization, medicalization and criminalization. Perhaps, the major factor affecting the mental ill homeless is deinstitutionalization. In the 20th century, especially 1960s, there were changes in laws, public attitudes, and expert mental care practices leading to closure of many hospitals for the mental ill or the insane asylums as commonly referred (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2009). There need was to accommodate and accept these populations in the society. Unfortunately, community based services could not pick up as were expectations, leaving a major gap up to present. The vacuum still exits allowing for the challenges and victimization of the mental ill homeless. Because of deinstitutionalization and community based policies failure, crime rates became high in the communities. Police tried to handle the issues but there were a lot of persistence. The mental ill homeless were criminalized because of this; they were further jailed or taken to psychiatric facilities. This only made things worse. Community based facilities are mainly controlled by individuals and private organization rather than the state governments. This makes such institutions to be profit masking and deliver poor services. Treatment for the mental ill appears to be inadequate and lacking. Addressing these factors assist in de-victimization of the mental ill homeless populations. According to Schizophrenia (2005), Community resources such as the facilities for treatment, rehab centers, emergency homes and the general treatment are important in assisting the mental ill homeless people. Many people managing such facilities are not paying the attention to the rightful people. The emergency centers, for instance should be left for the homeless. There is need for adequate food provision, quality education, treatment and care. This will reduce the incidences of the mental ill populations committing criminal activities. Justice is vital for the victims. In cases where the mental ill people are victims of any acts, proper judicial process had to take course to make sure they receive justice. In the common populations, victimization of crime causes depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress and substance disorder (Hiday et all, 1999). In people with mental problems, victimization worsens their existing disorder; increase the chances of hospitalization and use of service. Their quality life diminishes. In addition, victimization increases the probability of re-victimization and association with violence perpetration among SMI people, similar to other populations. In SMI people, victimization of violence is prevalent that violence perpetration. Victimization of crime in the mental ill homeless people has to be addressed similar to other disparities of health. States should use the available resources and tools to minimize the consequences and risks of public health challenges. References Hiday V, Swartz M, Swanson J, Borum R, & Wagner H. (1999). Criminal Victimization of Persons with Severe Mental Illness. Mental Illness Policy Organization. Retrieved from: http://mentalillnesspolicy.org/consequences/victimization.html National Coalition for the Homeless (2009). Mental Illness and Homelessness. Retrieved from: http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/Mental_Illness.pdf Schizophrenia (2005). Mental Ill Often Victims of Crime. Retrieved from: http://www.schizophrenia.com/sznews/archives/002203.html# Read More