Working with Severe and Enduring Mental Health Problems - Essay Example

?Working With Severe and Enduring Mental Health Problems Service User Jack Jack is an alcohol addict. He is an African American aged 34. Jack started drinking at the age of 12. Both his parents were heavy drinkers. They would always have some beer, wine or keg in the house. He grew up seeing his parents drink and often they would allow him have a taste of the drink at the tender age of 10. Jacob grew up in the city, in a poor neighborhood. His friends in school were mostly people who took alcohol or smoked cigarettes. As a result of interacting mainly with drunkards and smokers, he became very addicted to alcohol. Another factor that contributed to his addiction was that he felt that he was being discriminated against in school and in the neighborhood like his fellow African Americans. He could not perform well in class due to several social problems including poverty and racial discrimination prompting him to seek something that he could take to get relaxed, less nervous, to cheer up, and as a pass time activity. Jack admits to taking, on average, 500mls of spirit every day. Due to his drinking habit, he dropped out of college. He opted to get money to drink by doing odd jobs. Whenever he gets a job, usually casual, he starts well and shows a lot of dedication. However, every time he is paid, he loses focus taking time to drink and absenting himself from work. In the end, he has nothing to survive on leading to his stress and depression. Jack’s story is quite similar to that of many other alcohol addicts struggling with their addiction. He has relapsed countless times in his attempt to overcome addiction. In his current state, Jack is suffering from depression. He is often bored, tired, anxious, and feels sad. His concentration is low and his social life pathetic. Whenever he does not take a drink, Jack gets extremely nervous and experiences headache, his body shaking. Even without taking a drink, he hallucinates and walks as though he will drop with the very next step. People tend to avoid Jack and treat him harshly for being an addict, leading to his stigmatization. For him, getting a job is a nightmare; he seems weak with blood shot eyes that make others feel others a little uncomfortable in his presence. Coupled with his racial background Jack feels greatly marginalized and disfavored. The community in which Jack lives is predominantly white. Although people sympathize with Jack’s situation, many feel that they can do very little, almost nothing to help him. Some people ask him to quit drinking at once, others ask him to reduce his consumption gradually. A few people have taken time to counsel him advising him to take responsibility and decide his destiny. Others, however, opt to buy him more alcohol especially when they need him to perform an odd job. While many people treat him with contempt and disrespect, a few consider him and treat him with dignity. In an attempt to help Jack overcome his addiction, I have encouraged him to do some physical exercises and to ensure that his mind is always occupied as suggested by Nash (2010). By exercising, his body will experience improved blood flow making him more relaxed and receptive to positive thoughts. I have encouraged him to pursue his desire for a changed life, free of alcohol-related bondage. I have also encouraged jack to join an online support network so as to build his social life. I have also asked him to develop an interest for various activities of his choice so as to keep himself occupied. So as to avoid temptation, I have asked jack to avoid keeping alcohol at home. Instead, he should program himself to drink on plan, not as often as he feels like. In addition, I have introduced Jack to a self help group that caters for the needs of alcoholics and drug addicts. The potential barriers to Jack’s recovery include the attitude of the society regarding alcoholics and drug addicts. This goes hand in hand with discrimination, and stigma connected to mental sickness, which is certainly a value judgment as noted by Weinstein (2010). In some cases, Jack lives in denial. He feels like his problem may be a result of other factors, not his lifestyle or upbringing. He states that sometimes he feels that he is bewitched. Service User 2: Jim Jane, a young woman aged 25 is a cannabis addict. Jane suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. Her father, she says, shows the same symptoms as she does. Jane started showing signs of the disorder at the age of 20. She has disordered thoughts, and hallucinates. Her emotional responses are far from normal, her social life, poor, and is little motivated. While Jane has completed her studies in college, she has been in and out of employment due to her condition. Often, her employers find her work output below standard and feel that she cannot cope with the pressures associated with the work environment. Often, her concentration is poor and her anxiety high in most cases. Jane has few friends, often preferring to be alone. She makes herself happy by taking cannabis and alcohol. These she says do her great good and help in eliminating her stresses. The drugs help her overcome boredom, loneliness and make her get relaxed. Jane grew up in an urban setting with her parents. Her parents often disagreed and fought about anything and everything at home. They gave her little attention, her father especially preferring to stay away from home until late at night. At school, Jane always preferred to be isolated and maintained company only if it was absolutely necessary. She was laughed at by her peers who considered her to be abnormal. She knew where to get cannabis in her neighborhood and decided to try it out. Jane has been subjected to a lot of discrimination and stigma by members of society. Very few people like to associate with her as she appears shaggy to the look under normal circumstances. She is treated like someone insane by many people. Whenever she goes to some places, she is sent away and treated harshly. As a result, her situation worsens and she opts to take more of the drug and alcohol. Since she has tried in vain to find a job lately, she feels stressed up and prefers to stay in the company of drug addicts who encourage her to take more drugs and take life easy. In a bid to help Jane recover from her situation, I have counseled her, encouraging her to give up drug abuse and take charge of her personal life. I have also asked her to join a network of friends who can help her. I have specifically introduced her to a self help group which I believe will be very supporting of her. I have given Jane antipsychotic medication in the past and she seemed to be responding positively. In several occasions, Jane has relapsed into drug abuse after fairing on well for some time with treatment. Some of the barriers that may hamper Jane’s recovery include stigmatization, and discrimination by members of the public as noted Sayce (2000). Jane sometimes fails to stick to her commitments to engage in treatment. She is forgetful and therefore goes without taking her medication or engaging in program activities as scheduled. Her friends, most of whom are drug addicts often laugh at her attempts to stop taking the drug making her feel ridiculous. Many mental health patients face a lot of stereotyping from the society (Nash 2010 15-34). In most cases, the kind of stereotypes applied are those which lower their dignity and respect. This makes these people less socially accepted thereby affecting them psychologically. All these social exclusions of the mentally challenged have hindered to a great extent the recovery process. This is true of Jane’s case. Gamble and Brennan (2010 p. 24) note that social inclusion is about giving mental health patients the chance to participate in various activities like normal citizens. It concerns value, rights, and opportunity. This entails having the chance to do things they want to do, being respected and valued as citizens alongside other citizens, and having similar rights as other citizens. Members of society should be encouraged to understand those suffering from mental disorders and treat them with as much dignity as possible. Discussion The mentally challenged in the society just like other people suffering from mental illnesses need care and support from members of their family and society at large. This is because these individuals also have a role to play despite their illness. However, research reveals that to a large extent this has not been the case, particularly in Britain. Instead, the mentally challenged are being subjected to stereotyping, stigmatization and discrimination (Lynch and Trenoweth (2008 p. 44-79). Llewellyn, Agu and Mercer 2008 p.288-302) note that due to a mix of stereotyping, discrimination and stigmatization, adults are one of the most vulnerable group that is most socially excluded in the society. Even though, majority of those experiencing enduring mental illness argue that meaningful employment would help change their status 21 % has no form of employment and even fewer are in well-paying jobs. The study also reveals that the cost of the economy with regard to missed employment opportunities amount to €23 billion annually and the summary cost of premature death, care and economic loss amount to €70billion annually. Employment discrimination is evident from the fact that less than 50% of individuals who are sent home for more than six months in Britain are considered dismissed. In most cases, a majority of employers who argue that they may not have the sense to reason and make informed decisions once diagnosed of mental illness (Nash 2010 15-34) considers these individuals incompetent. In fact, persons diagnosed of mental illness are three times more likely as opposed to the rest of the population to experience debt problems, to be in the provision of social housing and to be divorced from their partner. This shows a high level of social discrimination within the British society regarding mentally challenge individuals. With regard to stigmatization, it is reported that most people tend to stigmatize people with mental illness. This denies them the prospect to socialize with others in the society (Gamble and Brennan 2010 p.25-28). In fact, some families go to the extent of sending them out of their home. This is because many people perceive them to be possessed by the devil or taint the image of the family members. This leads to these individuals being left out in the street to fend for themselves. Those who are lucky end up being taken to the rehabilitation facilities to take care of them and provide them with treatments. This in deed hinders the healing process for this people. Others face a lot of stereotyping from the society (Nash 2010 15-34). In most cases, the kind of stereotypes used is those, which lower the mentally challenged dignity and respect. This makes these people less socially accepted thereby affecting them psychologically. All these social exclusions of the mentally challenged have hindered to a great extent the recovery process. However, some communities recognize the fact that these people also deserve respect and dignity just like other people in the society (Sayce 2000 p.66-85). In this case, they offer them all the moral support that is needed. Some societies have gone to the extent of establishing a rehabilitation center where professionals administer proper care for the mentally challenged. The support also entails proving food, shelter, and clothing which are vital to anybody in the society. For instance, Gamble and Brennan (2010 p. 24) notes that social inclusion is about giving these individuals a chance to participate fully as equal citizens. It concerns value, rights, and opportunity. This entails having the chance to do things they want to do, being respected and valued as citizens alongside other citizens and having similar rights as other citizens. Conclusion In conclusion, individuals suffering from severe and enduring mental illness just like other people in the society deserve respect and dignity. They deserve social inclusion, which is about giving these individuals a chance to participate fully as equal citizens. It concerns value, rights, and opportunity. They also need to be given a chance to do things they want to do, being respected and valued as citizens alongside other citizens and having similar rights as others. It is important to state that for this to happen, the society must be able to break out of the barriers toward recovery by changing their attitudes towards mental illness. References Gamble C. & Brennan G. (2006) Working With Serious Mental Illness: a manual for clinical practice (2nd edition) London: Bailliere Tindall. Llewellyn, A., Agu, L., & Mercer, D. (2008). Sociology for social workers. Oxford: Polity. Lynch J. & Trenoweth S. (2008) Contemporary issues in mental health nursing. Chichester, England ; Hoboken, NJ, J. Wiley. Nash M. (2010) Physical health and well-being in mental health nursing: clinical skills for practice Maidenhead : Open University Press. Repper J. & Perkins R. (2003) Social Inclusion and Recovery: a model for mental health practice London: Bailliere Tindall. Sayce L. (2000) From Psychiatric Patient to Citizen: overcoming discrimination and social exclusion MIND/MacMillan, London Weinstein J. (2010) Mental health, service user involvement and recovery London; Philadelphia : Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Read More