The Phenomenon of Poverty - Essay Example

Topic: Lecturer: Presentation: Introduction The phenomenon of poverty is wide-ranging, comprising of the incapacity to access basic needs, lack of power over resources, lack of access to proper healthcare and education. In the contemporary society, poverty is one of the fundamental causes of social distance and distress. It has direct and indirect effects on an individual with regards to psychological, behavioral as well as psychiatric tribulations. The poverty line is applied as a measure of poverty, with people who earn or consume less than the poverty line being considered poor. Nevertheless, among those living below the poverty line, some live in abject poverty compared to others in the group. Poverty has a significant influence on physical and mental health. This paper presents a critique of the impact of poverty on the mental health of an individual. Impact of Poverty on Mental Health of an Individual Poverty is strongly associated with social inequalities in the society. According to Nettleton (2006), unequal distribution of income leads to the emergence of a gap between different income groups yet such groups require the same basic needs. The underprivileged group suffers psychosocial anxiety that contributes to weakening health and death in case of prolonged stress. Poor social and physical infrastructures result in poor community health and mortality especially among the lowest social economic groups in such communities. In spite of stress, poor communities suffer frustration and unstable families and often exhibit tendencies towards domestic violence, criminal activities such as theft, murder and rape. These antisocial behaviors are also experienced in higher income groups but at a lower rate (Dalton et al. 2007). In one of my clinical placements I met a client named John who’s came from a poor neighborhood. He was worried about insecurity and was stressed after his daughter was sexually assaulted by three young men. Hearden (2008) argues that the poor are exposed to hazardous environments and even when in employment are engaged in stressful, unfulfilling and depersonalizing activities. For example, John worked as a casual laborer in a skin tanning firm which was the only alternative available after his shop run out of stock as a result of rising cost of living that made him use part of the goods to feed his family of six. Such people often have no access to the essentials and services of life and are also subjugated by the main stream social class that is better informed regarding mental health. The poor are among the minority groups whose mental health is at risk due to the tendency to engage in behaviors that are hazardous to their mental health such as substance abuse (Fernando, 2010). Moreover, they portray little awareness with regards to mental illness and the necessity of seeking early medical attention. There is also a tendency for the poor populations to exhibit tolerance of the resultant behavioral and social characteristics of bad mental health. As such, individuals suffering from bad mental health are allowed to co-exist with the rest of the population (Dalton et al. 2007). John’s mental health problems were considered a common abnormality that did not worry many of his neighbors. Certainly, such individuals are accepted as part of the society and stereotyped as nuts, further deteriorating their mental health and eventually leading to death. In contrast, notable signs of bad mental health among people in the higher social classes are quickly attended to and the individual offered specialized attention that facilitates recovery (Harrison & Grill, 2010). According to Norman & Ryrie (2009) a stronger correlation between alcohol and drug dependence exists among the lowest social classes than in the higher social classes. This is also associated with drug abuse related death among the poor communities. Moreover, Dalton et al. (2007) established a higher number of drug abuse related deaths among the men involved in casual manual labor than white collar permanent male employees. Nettleton (2006) argues that the poor communities are likely to find solace through indulging in alcohol and other drugs that are assumed to cause relaxation. This in turn affects mental health and increases stress levels. Cuff et al. (2006) also observed that awareness of mental health among the poor is minimal, with a large number of pregnant women indulging in alcohol abuse. Drug abuse among the poor is made worse by the fact that they are unable to access the legitimate drugs that have been tested and proved fit for human consumption. Rather, there is a greater tendency towards using illicit drugs that adversely affect the brain functions (Giddens, 2009). John’s mental health was adversely affected by the behavior of his unemployed son who used to over drink illicit alcohol as a result of frustration due to prolonged unemployment. With the exception of drug and substance abuse, Hearden (2008) established that there is high prevalence of crimes of suicide and homicide among the poor populations. Moreover, majority of the offenders in these crimes were found to suffer from mental illness. Other studies concluded that the bulk of the delinquents in homicide and suicide were people who have a poor educational backgrounds and prolonged unemployment. Others suffer from long term illness without access to proper medical attention leading to depression and ultimate suicide. (Fernando & Keating, 2009) observes that young unemployed men among the poor communities have been found to have high preference for drug overdose as a result of intense social deprivation especially among the cocaine and opiate users. Apart from the poor populations suffering from psychiatric conditions, they are also at risk of experiencing such conditions at the same time (Clarke, 2010). This indicates that an individual can experience all anxiety disorders at the same time, such as generalized anxiety disorder where by he/she experiences unmanageable fear over the day to day occurrences as well as social phobia. These may be attributed to demeaning of self identity as a result of low self esteem while comparing oneself with other people who have access to the necessities of day to day life (Giddens, 2009). Studies have revealed a strong correlation between psychological disturbance and poverty. Moreover, lack of treatment among the poor accelerates the impact of psychological stress and depression (Fernando & Keating, 2009). Psychoses results from prolonged stress that lowers concentration of the mind to reality. The social causation theory postulates that the hardships experienced by the lower social classes as a result of economic deprivation influences the development of psychoses. Psychoses conditions include behaviors that demonstrate false beliefs in the affected individual, such as believing in hallucinations. The individual may portray unrealistic optimism whereby he/she sets goals that are beyond his/her ability (Harrison & Grill, 2010). John suffered from psychoses as a result of striving to make ends meet without success. Norman & Ryrie (2009) observes that constant failure may contribute to psychoses when people are filled with anxiety regarding failure to accomplish goals. For example, the 2008 global economic crises significantly affected the small scale traders such as John who could not qualify for bank loans in the UK, yet their profit margin had decreased as a result of the economic crunch. Many of them were compelled to take unsecured loans from shylocks that were to be repaid within a short period of time. Persistent economic crunch made it impossible for the traders to repay their debts and the shylocks auctioned their stock. Some were rendered bankrupt with outstanding loans while others offered unpaid labor to the shylocks to settle their debts. This occurrence generated anxiety among the traders and significantly affected their mental health (Giddens, 2009). Cuff et al. (2006) observe that individuals in the low socio-economic categories exhibit pronounced mood disorders. The victims mainly suffer from depression which is caused by stress associated with poverty. Low social achievement has been found to influence the occurrence of mood disorder and is facilitated by low levels of education among members of the low social class (Fernando, 2010). John’s mood disorders were related to social adversity and lack of access to the necessary resources to deal with the troubles experienced in the day to day life. Norman & Ryrie (2009) argue that the occurrence of schizophrenia can be attributed to the poor living conditions that individuals are exposed to in lower social classes as a result of the rigid and inadequate ideas formed in their minds with regards to the capacity to ingeniously deal with difficult and traumatic occurrences. In other words, poverty leads to lack of confidence with regards to problem solving. Even though poverty is not the soul cause of schizophrenia, Harrison & Grill (2010) observe that the enormous stress an individual is exposed to, together with genetic susceptibility can significantly influence its occurrence. John was developing symptoms of schizophrenia although they were not significant at the time. The poor live in constant worry regarding how bills will be settled as well as where to get resources to sustain their lives. In case a family member is affected by disease, the whole family is affected by anxiety due to the uncertainties of whether death is imminent or by any chance the person may survive (Dalton et al. 2007). Even though even members of the higher social classes may find themselves in a similar situation, they have various alternatives that they can turn to such as transferring a patient to different hospitals in search of better treatment. In the case of low social class, it is almost always stated that the patient’s life could have been saved were there enough resources to provide better medical attention (Fernando & Keating, 2009). Child abuse and parental negligence are common among families in the low socio-economic class. According to Clarke (2010), poor households are also prone to emotional health problems as a result of prolonged release of stress hormones whereby they exhaust the body’s capacity to control emotions. Children who are brought up in poor families have a greater likelihood of developing emotional problems and personality disorders than those from a higher social class especially if they were exposed to child abuse or violence. They are exposed to unkind and inconsistent parenting due to constant family wrangles fueled by economic difficulties, parental mental ill health and drug abuse. One of John’s sons suffered from learning difficulties and while his daughter could not relate well with other people due to irritability. Fernando (2010) observes that there is high preference for teen pregnancy and early marriage among poor populations, which exposes the affected individuals to stress and poor emotional health. Social exclusion is a significant factor affecting the mental health of a community. It leads to stigmatization and humiliation of members of the low social class. Rapid urbanization has distanced the poor neighborhoods from their natural protection (Hinshaw, 2007). Urban centers are stratified according to income levels that signify socio-economic class, with the poor occupying the unhealthy environs in rental houses that lack the basics of a good human shelter. Unlike those in the higher socio-economic class who own houses or are able to pay for proper housing, the poor urban communities are exposed to harassment and insecurity especially due to the inconsistency of non standard labor (Clarke, 2010). For example John was offered work three days per week depending on the availability of fresh animal hides to clean. He lived in uncertainty with regards to his income sources, which adversely affected his emotional wellbeing. Conclusion There is a strong correlation between poverty and social inequalities in the contemporary society. The poor are exposed to frustration and unstable families due to lack of access for essential resources to sustain a noble household. Anti-social behaviors are common in the poor neighborhoods as inhabitants engage in activities that are deemed to relieve stress such as drug and substance abuse. Crimes of theft, rape and murder are prevalent amongst poor populations. The employment available for members of the low socio-economic class is depersonalizing and offers inadequate income to sustain the day to day needs of families. Poor people therefore live in constant anxiety with regards to paying for the costs of basic amenities such as housing and food. Abuse of illegal drugs is common among the poor drug users who can not access drugs that are fit for human consumption. Suicide and homicide are among the common crimes associated with emotional problems amongst poor populations. Members of the low socio-economic classes lack access to proper medical care and mental illness often leads to death. Failure to accomplish goals and low social achievement among the poor adversely affects their emotional wellbeing, making them to undermine their capacity to solve problems affecting their lives. Parental negligence and child abuse are characteristic of most poor populations leading to poor emotional health among children. References Clarke, A. 2010. The Sociology of Healthcare, 2nd Edition, England: Pearson Education Ltd. Cuff, E. C., Sharrock, W. W. & Francis, D. W. 2006. Perspectives in Sociology, 5th edtition, London: Routledge Dalton, J. H, & Elias, M. J., Wandersman, A. (2007). Community psychology: linking individuals and communities. 2nd edition. Belmont, Calif.: Thomson Wadsworth. Fernando, S. 2010. Mental Health, Race and Culture, 3rd Edition, Palgrave Macmillan Fernando, S. & Keating, F. 2009. Mental Heath in a Multi-Ethnic Society: A Multidisciplinary Handbook, 2nd Edition, Routledge Giddens, A. 2009. Sociology, 7th Edition, Polity Press Harrison, J. & Grill, A. 2010. The Experience and Consequences of People with Mental Health Problems, Impact of Stigma Upon People with Schizophrenia: A way forward”, Journal of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Vol. 17, pp. 242-250 Hearden, M. 2008, Coping with Differences in Culture and Communication in Healthcare”, Nursing Standard, Vol. 23, 2, pp. 19-25 Hinshaw, S. 2007. The Mark of Shame: Stigma of Mental Health Illness and Agenda for Change, Oxford: Oxford University Press Norman, I. & Ryrie, I. 2009. The Art and Science of Mental Health Nursing: A Textbook of Principles and Practice, Maidenhead: Open University Press Nettleton, S. (2006). The Sociology of Health and Illness, 2nd Edition, Polity Press; Read More