Over the last couple of years, the world has seen some progress in the management of persons with mental health issues. Innovative and effective treatment modalities are being developed from clinical trials and research. The present approach does not focus on treating the mental illness, but hope to ensure that the person lives a full and maximally fulfilled life.
Unfortunately, the challenges concerning mental health services and advocacy have not changed much over the years. These impedances, in fact, make it look like no progress is being made. Stigmatization and the fear of stigmatization are chief of these challenges. Many patients and families still hide in the shadows in due to the condition. Even worse, people do not open up to or commit to treatment early enough until it becomes unbearable and more difficult to treat.
The following are some of other problems outside mental health stigmatization:
There are a lot of preconceived notions about people with mental health challenges. People automatically set limits to how much these people can learn or do. Studies have shown that tutors of autistic students would generally teach below the standard of the curriculum even when autism and cognitive disability are mutually exclusive. This environment generally would not favor the motivation of persons living with mental challenges or allow them to thrive well as they are under a substandard quality of education.
We should define people by their strengths and not by their weakness. That way, we can focus on the strengths of people with mental differences like autism and find a place for them in society and the labor market. This would help them lead a more independent life, be a relief to the government, and have a sense of fulfilment in their lives. People with mental health challenges could be motivated to improve themselves, put in the extra work, be creative, and be helped to achieve their full potential.
One difficulty is that there are too many bureaucratic layers between seeking and obtaining mental health support in our health system. This has, unfortunately, screened some people out from obtaining a service that could be of great help to them. Removing these layers would make more people show up early and get treatment promptly.
There was a time people with mental illnesses were forcefully placed behind bars in mental facilities. Now, we have recognized that such treatment was mostly overzealous and virtually ineffective. However, many correctional facilities still hold more persons with mental health issues than hospitals. Many such individuals have escalated alcohol and drug abuse, which are predisposing factors to mental health challenges. Both the jails and health sectors complain of financial constraints in mental health care. This means that a significant percentage of those that need help do not get it.
As mental health services are gradually shifting from prescription-based models to outcome-based ones, there is the need for the integration of people living with mental issues into the world by making a place for them. More advocacy is also necessary to eliminate the accompanying stigmatization that has forced many to hide in the shadows. Structures and policies have to be put in place to ensure that persons in the court systems to gain access to mental health services.
The following are some of other problems outside mental health stigmatization:
- Inadequate funding
- Limited insurance coverage
- Lack of mental health services in schools
- High incidence of alcohol and drug abuse; which are predisposing factors to mental health challenges
There are a lot of preconceived notions about people with mental health challenges. People automatically set limits to how much these people can learn or do. Studies have shown that tutors of autistic students would generally teach below the standard of the curriculum even when autism and cognitive disability are mutually exclusive. This environment generally would not favor the motivation of persons living with mental challenges or allow them to thrive well as they are under a substandard quality of education.
We should define people by their strengths and not by their weakness. That way, we can focus on the strengths of people with mental differences like autism and find a place for them in society and the labor market. This would help them lead a more independent life, be a relief to the government, and have a sense of fulfilment in their lives. People with mental health challenges could be motivated to improve themselves, put in the extra work, be creative, and be helped to achieve their full potential.
One difficulty is that there are too many bureaucratic layers between seeking and obtaining mental health support in our health system. This has, unfortunately, screened some people out from obtaining a service that could be of great help to them. Removing these layers would make more people show up early and get treatment promptly.
There was a time people with mental illnesses were forcefully placed behind bars in mental facilities. Now, we have recognized that such treatment was mostly overzealous and virtually ineffective. However, many correctional facilities still hold more persons with mental health issues than hospitals. Many such individuals have escalated alcohol and drug abuse, which are predisposing factors to mental health challenges. Both the jails and health sectors complain of financial constraints in mental health care. This means that a significant percentage of those that need help do not get it.
As mental health services are gradually shifting from prescription-based models to outcome-based ones, there is the need for the integration of people living with mental issues into the world by making a place for them. More advocacy is also necessary to eliminate the accompanying stigmatization that has forced many to hide in the shadows. Structures and policies have to be put in place to ensure that persons in the court systems to gain access to mental health services.
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