Caring for Mentally Disordered Offenders - Essay Example

? CARING FOR MENTALLY DISORDERED OFFENDERS Caring for Mentally disordered offenders Introduction Mental disorder also referred to as mental illness refers to a state in which the mind of human beings fails to function as required (Lindstedt et al (2006). Mental disorder affects the usual operation of the brain and leads to behavioral change. In most cases, people suffering from this condition do things that are against the norms or the culture of a community. Studies show that, mental illness is due to interference in the normal functioning of a person’s nervous structure (Bolton, 2008). The abnormality in the brain functioning is evident in many people. World Health Organization (WHO) statistics show 33% of people living in most countries has this problem (Lindstedt et al. 2006, p.334). Mental disability leads people to commit crimes without their knowledge. Causes The main causes of mental disorder are not clear. Theories trying to explain the causes exist but the truth is that there is no one known cause. The circumstances under which people suffer from mental disorder cut across biological factors such as inheritance, psychological factors, for example, depression and the environment in which people live (Rodriguez et al., 2006). In order to control or effectively care for affected people in the society, it is essential to know the cause of the illness to the person. Understanding ones, psychology will ease the way one relates with the affected people. Therefore, it is essential to elaborate on the causes of mental illness. Biological factors Studies show that abnormal balance of some chemicals found in the brain known as neurotransmitters causes the illness (Rodriguez et al. 2006, p.413). The chemicals enable communication in the brain. Any kinds of injury to these essential devices lead to mental problems. The spread of mental disorder can pass down family generations. The passage of the disorder takes place through genes. The disease is with time triggered by factors like stressful actions, trauma or any other form of abuse to the person who has inherited the disease. Some bacterial infections affecting normal functioning of the brain, brain defects and early brain damage lead to mental disorder (Mason et al., 2008). Other factors include prolonged substance abuse and poor nutrition (Mason et al., 2008). Psychological and environmental factors When a child is growing, proper care is necessary to prevent it from any form of physical abuse or emotional. Sexual abuse may also cause problems in the future. Neglecting the children at a premature age is not recommendable as this may make them not to relate with others. The environment the people live in is crucial (Mason et al. 2008, p.122). Mental illness may arise due to stress caused by death or divorce, family wrangles and any other condition that may lead to low esteem. Having high expectations may lead to depression if the expectations are not achievable. Stress arises due to failure to fulfill the societal high expectations. During pregnancy, the mother may expose the unborn child to the risks of having mental problems in his old age (Mason et al., 2008). If the mother has exposure to stress, trauma of any hardship lifestyle during pregnancy, the effects may later cause mental illness to the child. Care for offenders Following the review of the causes for mental disorder, the care of the affected is necessary. The attendance to the victims depends on the initial cause and demand for different treatment. From the overview of the causes of mental illness, it is evident that a good number of the cases may not be the fault of the affected people (Bowring-lossock, 2006). It is, therefore, unfair to treat the offenders unfairly since they are under the effects of the illness they suffer. Studies show that most of the offenders face unfair treatment in many institutions. Implications arising from caring for mentally disordered offenders One of the areas to consider in understanding the treatment that mentally ill patients face is the focus on offenders in prison. Another area of concern showing the implication of the matter is the view on Forensic Mental Health Nursing practice, the prevention of the illness effects and focus on the available mental programs (Bowring-lossock 2006, p.782). The issues of neglect to the mentally challenged offenders are evident particularly in prisons. The neglect is due to concentration of the prisons on security issues only. Prisons service in detail Prisons are centers’ set aside for moral correction. Prisons have a number of mental illness offenders to have well guided psychiatrist assistant to regain their normal lifestyles (Bowring-lossock 2006, p.782). Unfortunately, most of these prisons lack the essential coping mechanisms to handle the increasing cases of mental disorders in the society. Most of the prisons have frequent accusations of human rights violation to the prisoners with mental problems. The prison has a unit set aside to cater specifically for people with mental problems. The government, while setting up these prisons assumed that these prisons would be the best avenue of correcting mental problems by setting out professionals in mental care. The aim of setting out of special branch in prisons was to avail professionals in trying to curb rising cases of mental disorder. In reduction mentally ill offenders, amendment of laws took place to ensure that the offenders under the influence of mental sickness avoided matter to criminal discipline. The move was to make hospital treatment closer to the affected group. The number of prisoners in this extraordinary prison increased beyond the founders expectations. The increase gave rise to difficulties in assisting the population. As time passed by, the situation or poor care worsened the initiative of caring for the inmates. The realization of the initiative’s objectives of having mental disorders prisons were difficult due to the high number of inmates served. The elevated number of inmates led to increased cost of offering the care. The government, however, started looking for alternative solutions than doing away with the idea of helping the affected group (Mason et al. 2008, p. 125). Mental Health Services in Prisons As time passed, pressure mounted for the government to provide treatment to the offenders of mental disorder. Modernization and improvement of the mental services took place to improve on service delivery to the affected people. After modernization, the health services improved. The studies carried out lead to improvement of services to the mentally sick members. A scholar, Davies determined that the care offered in prison led to increase in number of cases reported. The prison care system could not effectively offer services to the high population, and with time, the number of mental patients multiplied. One of the duties of the prison service is offering care to all inmates, but currently, mentally ill inmates cannot access the service due to their high numbers (Mason et al 2008). Originally, prisons setting were institutions for moral correction through punishments. On the other hand, health centre mainly focus on people’s welfare and care. From the two conflicting goals of prisons and health centers, it is difficult to get satisfactory results when the two institutions conflict. The changes done to the prisons to offer mental care could not effectively handle the high number of mental cases reported. Most governments, however, in most countries comprise an initiative to find lasting solutions to the problem. A number of the solutions comprise setting out ‘in-reach’ teams to deal with the mental problem policies formation of psychiatric wards inside the prisons. The professionals in prisons that help mental illness may include clinical psychologists, nurses, therapists, sociologists and lawyers (Bartlett & Mcgauley, 2009). Suggestions for improvement Health issues are a global concern and, therefore, attract many countries. In Europe, several advisory groups set to recommend on methods of improving the health of all the affected groups. (Bartlett & Mcgauley, 2009). The advisory group on hospital came up with the following suggestions: provision of local wards to cater for the less serious mental patients. In order to make this idea a success, proper planning for the resources required need consideration. The three different groups formed came up with related suggestions. The groups proposed that focus on care be in the following: provision of quality care narrowing down to individual needs. The care centers to be set inside the community from the earlier setting in institutions. Nearness to the community means that patients will be close to their families, and this will help them not to feel secluded. The other consideration is provision of high security measures in prevention of harm that may arise to the people around them and to themselves (Bartlett & Mcgauley, 2009). Community advisory group This group mainly examined the services that the community offers to the affected members of the society. The community is vital in assisting the offenders who escape facing criminal justice mechanism, those from hospitals or prison and those that are vulnerable to commit offences in the community. The above-mentioned group of patients needs proper care to help them not to become social misfits in the society. In order to empower the community, the advisors proposed that basic psychiatrist training be done to some members of the community to equip them in serving the mentally affected members (Bartlett& Mcgauley, 2009). Prison advisory group This group’s mandate was to study the effectiveness of using prisons to handle mental disorder cases (Mason et al. 2008, p.119). The group relied on the reports on medical services in prisons. The group recommended the diversification of the prisons’ mandate to offering medical care. The group suggested improvements in the staffing of prisons to include nurses with skills in handling mental health problems. The prisons were to; however, deal with extreme cases of mental offenders that above the capability of community centers. The group has a responsibility of providing timely advice to mental health nurses on issues concerning the mentally disordered offenders. Finance advisory group The directive of this faction was to review the economical implications of the proposed health improvement methods. The group made recommendations concerning planning of the services proposed. Many of the proposals adaptable were those that made use of the available resources. Collaboration with other agencies with the same objectives with the government was welcome (Mason et al 2008). The group did risk assessment of the initiatives used to improve health in the society. In the group’s assessment, the political state of the country in question is crucial in implementing the proposals submitted towards improvement of mental health (Warner et al 2009). The success of mental care is due to various factors relating to the interrelationship between the mental disorders and the community. Law and prevention Although the law recognizes the rights of the mentally challenged groups, proper prevention strategies are necessary to reduce the increasing number of mental patients. In the U.S, the prevention strategies applied include improving the parenting behaviors. In Australia, the mental health plan insists on giving priority to early childhood care. In the year 2008, the European Union started to offer incorporation of social-emotional curriculum in educational institutions (Bowring-lossock, 2006). The EU also supported early childhood care. In Canada, the local government insisted on focusing on reduction of the risk factors affecting mental ill. The government also promoted mental health in adults and in the young generation to curb future problems. Under section 37 of U.S Hospital Order on Mental Health, the court lack permission to give rules to psychiatric hospital until there is evidence (Bowring-lossock, 2006). For any patient with mental disorder, he must prove to suffer from serious mental problem that is can pose a risk of harm to people around and to himself. The court has set criteria under which a hospital order is necessary. The defendant’s offence must be within a punishable magnitude by imprisonment and not murder (Videbeck, 2011). If the offence is beyond the punishment of imprisonment, the criminal court handles it. As part of evidence that the offence is due to mental problems, at least two doctors must approve and write a statement. Failure for doctors to confirm the mental disorder in the patient, the handling of the offenses goes to the criminal court (Videbeck, 2011). The nature of the offence as per the court’s opinion is also essential in determining which law to use. The discussion on the law and the whole implications of offences caused by mentally ill people is, therefore, critical in the livelihood of all people in society. Conclusion To provide proper care for the mentally disordered persons, it is a requirement to understand their psychology. Usually, persons who commit crimes act without their knowledge due this condition. It is fundamental to understand the needs of such people and devise means and strategies of helping them. This is possible via the study of the causes and consequences of the condition. Availing stringent laws is vital in protecting the mentally disordered offenders. References Bartlett, A., & Mcgauley, G. (2009). Forensic mental health: concepts, systems, and practice. Oxford, Oxford University Press. Bolton, D. (2008). What is mental disorder?: an essay in philosophy, science, and values. Oxford [u.a.], Oxford Univ. Press Bowring-Lossock, E. E 2006, 'The forensic mental health nurse – a literature review', Journal Of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, 13, 6, pp. 780-785, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 6 April 2012. Institute of Medicine (U.S.), O'connell, M. E., Boat, T. F., & Warner, K. E. (2009). Preventing mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders among young people: progress and possibilities. Washington, D.C., National Academies Press. Lindstedt, H, Ivarsson, A, & Soderlund, A 2006, 'Background factors related to and/or influencing occupation in mentally disordered offenders', Scandinavian Journal Of Caring Sciences, 20, 3, pp. 331-338, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, EBSCOhost, viewed 6 April 2012. Mason, T, Lovell, A, & Coyle, D 2008, 'Forensic psychiatric nursing: skills and competencies: I role dimensions', Journal Of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, 15, 2, pp. 118-130, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 6 April 2012. Rodriguez, J, Keene, J, & Li, X 2006, 'A pilot study of assessed need and service use of offenders and frequent offenders with mental health problems', Journal Of Mental Health, 15, 4, pp. 411-421, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, EBSCOhost, viewed 6 April 2012. Videbeck, S. L. (2011). Psychiatric-mental health nursing. Philadelphia, Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Read More