Question

3. You are discussing the issues facing mentally ill homeless clients with another student. Provide an argument for and against the following statement: Current mental health laws are inadequate and do not provide the most therapeutic environment for people with mental illness. List and describe the barriers that prevent homeless individuals from receiving care. What are some specific healthcare concerns of homeless mentally ill individuals?

Answer 1

In olden days there were no specific treatments for mentally ill patients. The reason was the cause for mental illness were not clearly identified. However with technological changes and surplus research various treatment modalities have been adopted.

Mental illness is increasing in an alarming rate worldwide.Beginning in the early 80 s, studies have reported that nearly one-third of the homeless population has been found to be affected by schizophrenia, mood disorders and depression . Then after the people with serious complicated mental illness were measured to be increasing more likely than the general population which paves way for them to get segregated from families .When no one is there to be supportive, the mental illness increases.

The barriers that prevent homeless individuals from receiving care are

• Lack of permanent residence
• Inflexible appointment procedures and location
• Lack of support from family
• Unwilling to accept the healthcare
• Trust issues on the healthcare personnel
• Lack of willingness to maintain medication
• Lack of health insurance and other financial resources
• Lack of ability to continue therapeutic interventions

Healthcare concerns of homeless mentally ill individuals are

• Lack of cleanliness.
• Alcohol and drug abuses
• Victim of Sexual abuse
• Insect bites , communicable diseases may affect
• Traumas, untreated hypertension or uncontrolled epilepsy or any other degenerative brain disorders.