Mentally Ill
The criminalization of the mentally ill is one of law enforcement's greatest challenges and tragedies. As Stephey points out, prisons have become the de facto mental health provider in the United States. That means that criminal behavior is one of the primary means by which an individual is diagnosed with mental illness. One judge claims that, "mentally ill people end up in front of her instead of receiving the services that may prevent them from landing behind bars," (cited by Hefley). As many as a quarter of all persons using the public defender system are later diagnosed with mental illnesses (Hefley). If those illnesses were recognized and treated sooner, the eruption of criminal behavior might have been easily prevented. This is a proposal to federal lawmakers, requesting a revision of the mental health system. Mental health services, like services for physical health, are highly sophisticated in the United States.…...
mlaWorks Cited
Hefley, Diana. "Mentally Ill Often Adrift in the Criminal Justice System." Herald.net. 13 Sept 2009. Retrieved online: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090913/NEWS01/709139880
Stephey, M.J. "De-Criminalizing Mental Illness." Time. 8 Aug, 2007. Retrieved online: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1651002,00.html
Mental Illness and Crime
Virginia Tech is a prestigious private university on the east coast of America that might forever be associated with the skewed actions of one man. Seung-Hui Cho was a fourth year student at Virginia Tech and was responsible for the deadliest rampage this university has ever seen. Born in South Korea in 1984, it was eight years later that Cho received permanent residency in the United States. In the wake of such extreme violence and tragedy, people can't help but ask themselves if something could have been done instead to prevent this act of violence or if these actions could have been predicted in some manner. This is particularly true given the fact that Cho was ordered by a judge to receive mental health care in 2005. This paper will take a look at the relationship between mental illness and serious crimes.
• How often are mentally ill…...
mlaReferences
Apa.org, (2014, April 21) "Mental Illness Not Usually Linked to Crime, Research Finds."
Retrieved from: apa.org, http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/04/mental-illness-crime.aspx
Anttroy Stanley
Ant Enterprise
1491 N.E. 151 Terrace
North Miami Beach Florida, 33162
Julian Castro
Secretary
Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20410
Dear Mr. Julian Castro,
RE: Maintain and Increase Support for the H.A.N.D Program
Housing and Urban Development has been working with the Housing Assistance Network of Dade (H.A.N.D) since May 9th, 2012. This has been an enormous effort that has assisted families that meet the low-income criteria and individuals who risk being homeless to acquire affordable housing to ensure that they are able to live a decent life. Your organization is currently assisting the H.A.N.D program to offer housing low-income individuals and families by giving them the rental assistance of between 3-6 months. For unemployed individuals who are currently enrolled in the job/employment program, your organization has supported H.A.N.D allowing it to offer housing for a maximum of twelve months. This is quite tremendous, and it has resulted in positive assistance for many individuals…...
Police Mentally Ill
Policing and Mentally Ill Individuals
There is a significantly higher proportion of mentally ill individuals in the criminal justice system than compared to the same proportion of the United States in the society in general. It is estimated that a mentally ill individual is about eight times more likely to enter into the criminal justice system than they are a mental hospital. These individuals, as the video and the interview illustrates, have special challenges that make them difficult to deal with. Often they hear voices and are paranoid schizophrenics that require a host of special medications to allow them the possibility of being stable. However, many of these individuals face specific challenges that make it difficult for them to access and maintain an effective treatment regimen. This paper will provide a brief overview of how this situation arose and what implications it has for modern police forces.
It is important…...
mlaWorks Cited
CIT International. (N.d.). Mephis Model. Retrieved from CIT International: http://www.citinternational.org/training-overview/163-memphis-model.html
Conan, N. (2012, April 2). A Patient's Perspective: Police and the Mentally Ill. Retrieved from NPR: http://www.npr.org/2012/04/02/149857042/a-patients-perspective-police-and-the-mentally-ill
PBS. (2009, April 28). The Released. Retrieved from Frontline: http://video.pbs.org/video/1114528522/
Torrey, E.E., Geller, J., Stanley, J., & Jaffe, D. (N.d.). The Shortage of Public Hospital Beds for Mentally Ill Persons. The Treatment Advocacy Center, 1-17.
Incarcerated Mentally Ill Patients
It may sound unbelievable, but on any given day, scholars estimate that almost 70,000 inmates in U.S. prisons are psychotic; and up to 300,000 suffer from mental disorders like depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorders. In fact, the U.S. penal system holds three times more people with mental illness than the nation's entire psychiatric hospitals (Kanapaux, 2004). Indeed one of the most telling trends, say some sociologists, is to incarcerate the mentally ill in order to remove them from society. This is sometimes the only alternative because public mental health hospitals have neither the space nor the funding to treat this special population. In fact, the very nature of incarceration tends to have a more traumatic effect on the individual, causing additional damage to their fragile psyche. omen, it appears, are especially vulnerable. These women have often been victimized during an abusive childhood and succession of relationships. Indeed,…...
mlaWorks Cited
Majority of Mentall Ill Inmates Don't Get Treatment. (2010, April 7). Retrieved October 2011, from Physorg.com: http://www.physorg.com/news189882907.html
ACLU. (2007, January 30). Solitary Confinment Called Inappropriate for Mentally Ill. Retrieved October 2011, from ACLU.org: http://www.aclu.org/prisoners-rights/solitary-confinement-called-inappropriate-mentally-ill-prisoners-indiana
American Psychatric Assocaition. (2000). Psychiatric Services in Jails and Prisons. Washington, DC: American Psychatric Press.
American Psychiatric Association. (2006, December). The Use of Restraint and Seculusion in Correctional Mental Health Care. Retrieved October 2011, from Pysch.org: http://www.psych.org/lib_archives/archives/200605.pdf
" (Finnerty, 2008) It is reported that those who suffer from co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse problems are also likely to be homeless. According to the Health Care for the Homeless Clinicians' Network (2000) "Co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse makes it more likely that people will be chronically homeless." (cited in Finnerty, 2008) Factors that are known to contribute to homelessness in those with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse include factors such as: (1) Financial problems; (2) Loss of family support; (3) Severity of symptoms; and (4) Time spent in institutions such as jails or hospitals. (runette, Mueser and Drake, 2004 in: Finnerty, 2008) Padgett and Struening (1991) state that substance abuse and mental disorders "…increase the health care needs of homeless persons, whose primary source of care is often the emergency room.
The work of Padgett et al. (2006) reports having interviewed a group of women who…...
mlaBIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Brunette, Mary F., Kim T. Mueser, and Robert E. Drake. 2004. "A Review of Research on Residential Programs for People With Severe Mental Illness and Co-occurring Substance Abuse Disorders." Drug and Alcohol Review 23:471-81.
2. Creating Homes Initiative. (2010). TN Department of Mental Health and Developmental
Disabilities. Retrieved on June 23, 2010 from http://www.tennessee.gov/mental/recovery/CHIpage.html
3. Finnerty, Jacqueline (2008) Homelessness and Mental Illness Literature Review. 30 Apr 2008. Sociological Analysis. Online available at: http://www.unh.edu/sociology/media/pdfs-journal2008/Finnerty2EDITED.pdf
For example, they should be required to complete at least 20 hours of training on brain disorders. It is ideal if consumers and family members become part of the activity and process. It must also be emphasized that, in most cases, dangerous or violent acts committed by persons with these brain disorders are the consequence of neglect, inappropriate or inadequate treatment of their illness (NAMI).
The Alliance also contends that the unpopular insanity defense should be retained and should be tested according to both volitional and cognitive criteria or standards (National Alliance of Mental Illness 2006). At the same time, the Alliance opposes the adoption of laws or position on "guilty but mentally ill. Instead, it advocates systems, which will provide comprehensive, long-term care and supervision in hospitals and the community where such individuals are found who are "not guilty by reason of insanity," "guilty except for insanity," or similar…...
mlaBibliography
1. Amnesty International. (2006). The Execution of Mentally Ill Offenders. Amnesty International Library. http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGAMR5002206
2. Anynomous. (2006). Forensic Psychiatry - Criminal. http://www.stanford.edu/group/psylawseminar/blank%20Page%206.htm
3. Fellner, J. (2006). A Corrections Quandary: Mental Illness and Prison Rules. http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/crc/vol41_2/fellner.pdf
4. Human Rights Watch (2006). Difficulties Mentally Ill Prisoners Face Coping in Prison. Human Rights Watch.org. http://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/usa1003/7.htm
Thus, an individual suffering from mental illness should be given treatment. Perhaps most important of all, the community should first make clear how the treatment can help improve the individual's condition -- that is, allow the individual to accept the fact that s/he suffers from a mental illness. Removing the stigma from the patient himself/herself, as well as from the community, is the first step towards effective treatment for mentally ill patients, which is a healthcare service that they deserve and should be provided to them (LaFleur-Sayler, 2003).
Lastly, treatment for mentally ill individuals is mandatory because as members of the community, we want to avoid the decline of physical faculties that are directly affected when an individual is mentally incapable to commit the 'correct' behavior and action. Treatment often involves prevention programs that require the individual to undergo chemical therapy (i.e., intake of drugs that alleviate the occurrence of…...
mlaBibliography
LaFleur-Sayler, S. (2003). "The Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act: Can he accomplish in death what he couldn't in life?" Available at http://www.usd.edu/elderlaw/student_papers_f2003/paul_wellstone_mental_health_equitable.htm .
Overview of Prevention." (2006). U.S. Public Health Service Web site. Available at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter2/sec5.html .
Torrey, E. And M. Zdanowicz. (1998). "We need to ask again: Why do severely mentally ill go untreated?" Treatment Advocacy Center Web site. Available at http://www.psychlaws.org/GeneralResources/Article3.htm.
However, a spouse abuser who tried to kill his wife may not fall under that classification, even if he incidentally suffered from depression, unless that depression could be causally linked to the triggering incident.
The second consideration is that not all mental illnesses are associated with the same risk of violence. The American Psychiatric Association revises its mental illnesses with enough frequency to make it clear that they are only now just beginning to understand the complexity of mental illness. Therefore, while a century ago it may have been appropriate to lock away everyone suffering from mental illness as a means of protecting society, that approach is no longer warranted. Some mental illnesses are associated with a greater risk of harming others than other mental illnesses. For example, people suffering from depression pose a risk of harming themselves, but may also pose a greater risk of harming themselves. However, while…...
Freeman's work, however, advanced the understanding of the human brain in ways that probably helped pharmaceutical companies develop pharmacological interventions for people suffering from mental illness.
Long past its mythological place in the history of mankind and medicine, epilepsy continued to be perceived by many in very medieval terms; as the possession of a person by the devil, demonic possession, and, by some, as a form of mental illness (Szasz 117). Sir John Russell Reynolds (1828-196) was one of the earliest physicians to observe and conclude that people suffering from epilepsy were not necessarily suffering from a mental disorder or even possession by demonic monsters (117-118). Many psychiatrists and mental health experts, however, continued to look at epilepsy as a mental impairment (117-119). From 1890 to 1940 people suffering from epilepsy were "colonized" into institutional settings for the mentally ill, and treated for their seizures with a variety of drugs…...
mlaWorks Cited
11 Most Endangered: St. Elizabeths Hospital, National Trust for Historic Preservation,
found online at 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2010. Web.http://www.preservationnation.org/travel-and-sites/sites/southern-region/st-elizabeths-hospital.html ,
Lawrence, Christopher and Weisz, George. Greater than the Parts: Holism in Biomedicine, New York, NY, Oxford University Press, 1998. Print.
Pressman, Jack D. Last Resort: Psychosurgery and the Limits of Medicine, Cambridge,
The best psychologists are familiar with all of the main, credible theories, and they understand how these theories work. Then, they use the theory that they believe will best help the patient. Sometimes, the theories are used in combination with one another, or parts of different theories are used to make up the whole of a treatment plan. In addition, a good psychologist should also see when conventional theories are not working, and be willing to go outside the box for a particular patient who needs help. When a psychologist is able (and willing) to use a lot of different approaches, he or she will have the best chance of actually treating - and possibly curing - a patient who would otherwise not be able to be helped based on only one type of theory or style of approach. People who need therapy or treatment may have similar problem,…...
Causes for Lack of Adequate Care: A Look at Mentally Ill Patients
The goal of this paper will be to examine the causes of inadequate care with regard to patients with mental illnesses, irrespective of the type of mental illness the patient has. Historically the care of patients with a mental illness has been minimal at best. Many patients with mental illnesses face inadequate care in today's society, particularly in the United States.
The primary causes for insufficient care of mentally ill patients include: (1) a lack of adequate healthcare coverage, (2) lack of access to sufficient and qualified healthcare professionals/providers and (3) social stigma that might prevent patients from seeking out care when needed (Mechanic, 2004; Hollingsworth, Hollingsworth & De Gruyter, 1994; Boulard, 2000). There are other reasons that patients might not receive adequate care, often associated with the primary reasons listed above. These will be described in greater detail below.
The…...
mlaReferences:
Boulard, Garry. "Forgotten Patients the Mentally Ill." State Legislatures, 26.4: (April,
2000):12.
Boulard, Garry. "Watching Out for the Mentally Ill." State Legislatures, 26.10:
(December, 2000):12.
Psychology Treatment
For most of U.S. history up to the time of the Community Mental Health Act of 1963, the mentally ill were generally warehoused in state and local mental institutions on a long-term basis. Most had been involuntarily committed by orders from courts or physicians, and the discharge rate was very low. Before the 1950s and 1960s, there were few effective treatments for mental illnesses like depression, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia, which were commonly considered incurable. Only with the psycho-pharmacological revolution in recent decades and new anti-depressant and anti-psychotic medications has it been possible for the severely mentally ill to be treated on an outpatient basis through community mental health centers. Of course, as the old state hospitals have emptied many of the mentally ill have ended up homeless, since they are unable to hold maintain regular employment or continue on a medication regimen without supervision. According to present-day state…...
mlaREFERENCES
Bacon. H. "Book Review: Jonathan Willows, Moving On after Childhood Sexual Abuse: Understanding the Effects and Preparing for Therapy in Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. (15)1 January 2010, pp. 141-42.
Bartels, S.J., A.D. van Citters and T. Crenshaw (2010). "Older Adults" in Levin, B.L., J. Petrila and K. Hennessy Mental Health Services: A Public Health Perspective. Oxford University Presss: 261-82.
Behar, E.S. And T.D. Borkovec. (2003). "Psychotherapy Outcome Research" in I.B. Weiner et al., eds. Handbook of Psychology: Research Methods in Psychology. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Carron, V.G. And K. Hull. (2009). "Treatment Manual for Trauma-Exposed Youth: Case Studies." Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry 15(1) 13 November 2009, pp. 27-38.
Homeless
The mentally ill: Mentally ill individuals often have trouble putting across their condition and fail to let others know that they actually have a mental problem. As a consequence, human services professionals need to collaborate with police officers with the purpose of making it possible for them to differentiate between individuals who are normal and individuals who are mentally ill. Similarly, professionals have the task of providing as many drugs as possible to people on the streets in order to prevent them from experiencing an unfortunate episode and actually hurt themselves or someone else.
xcitement addicts: These people fail to understand the full complexity of being homeless and think about this condition as if it were an adventure. Human services professionals thus need to intervene and instruct these people in regard to the risks that they are facing. Also, this group is vulnerable to abuse because its members are normally naive,…...
mlaExcitement addicts are typically naive and can easily become attracted by joining gangs in their neighborhood. As a consequence, human services professionals need to instruct them concerning the risks that they are taking. Also, by cooperating with the authorities, human services professionals can also effectively combat problems that excitement addicts are predisposed to.
3. The Help the Homeless program is directed at assisting individuals in a series of places, including the Washington D.C. area. "Since 1988, Help the Homeless (HTH) has raised more than $90 million for nonprofit beneficiaries in the Washington metropolitan area that serve the homeless and those at risk of being homeless" (WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA). Taking this into account, it would only be safe to assume that the institution has played an active role in assisting homeless individuals. In addition to assisting homeless people, the community also focuses on encouraging the masses to get involved in helping homeless people by adopting a series of attitudes.
4. Although human services professionals play an important role in solving social problems, they are often ignored and the masses know very little with regard to the actions that they perform with the purpose of helping homeless people and the social order as a whole. Through getting homeless people off the streets, providing them with the opportunity to eat a hot meal, or by simply helping the masses understand the desperate condition of homeless people, human services professionals practically make the world a better place. Society as a whole should look into their actions and try to reproduce them with the purpose of eventually eradicating homelessness.
Mental Illness Interview
SWK 354 Midterm Interview Assignment
FACE SHEET
Name Age DOB SS# Religion Sex Race
George Tirebiter 35 Oct 17, 1975 - Roman Catholic M. White
Current Address Phone Permanent Address
1445 Fleming Walloon Blvd. - West Roxbury, Mass.
Education Level
Employment
None currently
Current Important Activities (school, community, etc.)
Wife and family; writing poetry
Financial Sources:
Spousal support
Important Medical Information
In Case of Emergency Notify: Relationship: Worker:
Wife: Ki-Sook Tirebiter
Diagnosed schizophrenic, April 2001
Treatment Plans (Do Not Complete)
Client Identification.
35-year-old adult white male George Tirebiter (see face sheet)
Person, Family and Household, and Community Systems.
Person system. I observed that George is extremely overweight and has difficulty moving around: he ascribes the weight gain to the medications he has been on for the past decade. George describes himself as an "artist" which seems to be his emphatic way of coping with a sense of shame and loss at being unable to work or operate among those who were his social peers before his diagnosis.
2. Family and…...
Homeless affects a community in a number of ways, including social, economic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. Socially, there is a stigma associated with homelessness that implies the person is mentally ill, a drug addict, or an alcoholic. While a number of the homeless population do fall into one of these categories, there are other reasons for homelessness. It is also hard on the economy, because these people don't contribute financially to society. There is a cost to feeding them and allowing them shelter, and that cost can be a lot for a community to handle. Homeless people struggle in interpersonal and....
Forensic psychology refers to applying psychology to legal issues. Forensic psychology can be applied to civil and criminal legal cases but is most commonly associated with criminal cases.
Ten possible essay topics / titles for forensic psychology are:
Gender Matters in the Insanity Defense: Exploring the Interplay of Gender, Mental Illness, and Legal Outcomes
The insanity defense, a legal doctrine that seeks to exempt individuals from criminal responsibility due to their mental state, has long been a contentious issue in criminal justice. However, one aspect of this defense that has received less attention is the influence of gender on its application and outcomes. This thesis posits that gender plays a significant role in the insanity defense, shaping both the perception of mental illness and the legal treatment of individuals accused of crimes.
Historical Context and Gender Bias
Historically, the insanity defense....
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