Advocacy Paper

docx

School

Central Michigan University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

100

Subject

Sociology

Date

Apr 3, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by MinisterKomodoDragonMaster462

Advocacy Paper Vicki Vowell SWK 100/Spring Semester 2024 Central Michigan University

Topic: Mental Health Inequalities Mental health is a state of emotional and mental well-being that enables people to cope with life’s stressors, realize their abilities to learn and work and also to contribute to their community. Those who face the greatest disadvantages in life also tend to face the greatest mental health illnesses and disorders. Mental health inequalities are the differences in quality, ability, and access to the healthcare system within the community and the unequal distribution of risks placed upon our mental statuses. Mental health inequalities happen among all age ranges, sexes, genders, education level and socioeconomic levels. A lack of socioeconomic resources can lead to low income and limited access to employment thus lead to higher rates of mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and other psychological stresses in daily life. Disparities in education caused by immigration status, ethnic and racial status can contribute to mental health inequalities. A lack of educational resources can lead to a lack of employment exacerbating mental health illnesses such as depression and anxiety, which can also lead to social inequalities. Discrimination and racism lead to negative emotions, which often leads to feelings of social isolation. Mental health care access for different races and minority groups is often inferior quality and results in delayed treatments. Considering intersectionality of race and gender when thinking about mental health is important. For example, African American men are more likely to experience social isolation, experience certain aspects if discrimination to their specific group, have higher arrest rates and are perceived more often as being dangerous, which could lead Black men to higher rates of mental health illnesses, over white men simply due to their experiences. Geographic location can lead to mental health inequalities. Spatial disparities such as where one lives, spends most of their time, where they can and will receive the majority of

their resources and education will all play a roll in the ability for people to access mental health services and thus impact and exacerbate mental health inequalities if services cannot be accessed adequately. Gender and sex inequalities exist as well. Women are twice as likely to than men to be diagnosed with depression disorders, while men are three times more likely to be given a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder. For much of history there have been disparities and inequalities in mental health illnesses cast upon the people who suffer, the inequalities often come from a lack of mental health services and knowledge. In medieval times abnormal behaviors were often viewed as a sign a person was demonic or possessed, often enduring exorcisms, holes drilled in their skulls to release the demons, eternal imprisonment, or execution. By the 18 th Century people who were considered odd or unusual often suffered from mental health disorders and were placed into asylums ostracizing them from society rather than treating the disorders. In 1954 antipsychotic medications were introduced in treating mental disorders and in 1963 federal funding and support was implemented for community mental health centers. This started the process to deinstitutionalize the mental health community allowing them treatments in outpatient programs and allowing them to stay within their communities for treatment locally. The WHO (World Health Organization) implemented the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan (2013-2030) which aims to improve mental health by stretching governance, providing community-based care, implementing promotion and prevention strategies, and strengthening the information systems and research programs. A Special Initiative for Mental Health Coverage has also been initiated to ensure access to affordable and quality mental health care for twelve countries. The initiative aims to improve services for mental, neurological, substance use disorders and more in low-income areas.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Mental health inequalities are often due to large disparities in health insurance. I believe ways to improve mental health equity need to come from vast overhauls and changes to the insurance companies, who can receive and how people receive insurance. Beneficial mental health programing in low-income communities would be a way to make services available to a population that is less likely to seek out services from other areas. We need to make services for mental health widely available for those who are least likely to seek help and most often cannot afford the help they need and deserve, from minority groups to the young and old of our communities. Other ways to advocate or help eliminate mental health inequalities are to talk openly about mental health, educate yourself about mental health and the system, be empathetic and compassionate for those living with and around mental illness, stop spreading the stigma that having a mental health disorder/illness is bad, and become and advocate or a voice for mental health reform. Experience Summary I chose this topic because I feel very connected to mental health overall. My sister and my husband both suffer from bipolar disorder, thus causing all connected to them to experience daily occurrences of mental health illness, my daughter suffers from an anxiety illness and my son suffered from severe depression disorders that ultimately resulted in him committing suicide, due to a lack of knowledge and ability of him to receive service and resources for his mental health disorders. The mental health system is one of the least noticed systems that often comes last in conversations and is also one of the most important systems we need in all our communities. The mental health system needs severe upgrading, increased and intense funding, and needs to be the biggest priority in advocacy groups moving into the future. The mental health of our country and

communities depends upon our awareness and knowledge, as well as our ability to improve the system thus allowing us to improve our communities and improving society as a whole. My level of passion for this topic and the advocacy I place upon this topic are moderate to high. I have an elevated level of passion but tend to not advocate or do as much as I want and feel I need to be doing. I did feel that advocating and “stepping out” was a bit uncomfortable. I did a social media post and although I am passionate about this topic, I know it is a sensitive one and people can become offended easily. I work in a career where your outward impressions reflect back on my employment and employer, so as I was going about creating the social media post I had to keep some of my feeling in check so as to not offend people outright and cause concern for my employer and career going forward. I feel fine advocating for this group in the future going forward as I deal with mental health issues and illnesses daily both in my home and work environments. I do plan to continue to advocate for easier access, more funding, and better mental health services for all ages, races, sexualities, education levels, socioeconomic statues, and every community overall. Advocacy is vital part because it is a fundamental aspect of social work. A social worker is to be the voice of the community and the members of that community, so they are not forgotten or treated poorly. Social workers’ primary goals are to promote human dignity while striving to achieve equality and social justice in our underserved communities.

Resources World Health Organization. (n.d.). Mental health . World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health#tab=tab_1 Doughty, B., & Burton, J. (2023, October 9). Inequality of mental health - world mental health day 2023 . MQ Mental Health Research. https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/inequality-of- mental-health/ Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (n.d.). 16.1 mental health treatment: Past and present - psychology 2E . OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/16-1- mental-health-treatment-past-and-present

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Related Documents

Ch. 1 Study Guide, LO's, Concepts.docx

week 5 discussion social psych.docx

Annotated Bibliography.docx

Ken__Fulkroad_HIS_200__Applied_History_8_2_Module_8_Short_Responses.docx

Module One Journal.docx

socio-image noon before KKIDS.docx

SOC 112 Module One Worksheet (4).docx

SOC 112 Module Three Worksheet.docx

CJAD330ROLEOFSCIENCE.docx

CJAD495CapstoneCourse_PaperRequirements(4) (3).docx

Sexualities Paper 1.docx

WS8 - Human Demographics.pdf

Recommended textbooks for you

Social Psychology (10th Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780134641287

Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers

Publisher:Pearson College Div

Introduction to Sociology (Eleventh Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780393639407

Author:Deborah Carr, Anthony Giddens, Mitchell Duneier, Richard P. Appelbaum

Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company

The Basics of Social Research (MindTap Course Lis...

Sociology

ISBN:9781305503076

Author:Earl R. Babbie

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Scien...

Sociology

ISBN:9780134477596

Author:Saferstein, Richard

Publisher:PEARSON

Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach (13th Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780134205571

Author:James M. Henslin

Publisher:PEARSON

Society: The Basics (14th Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780134206325

Author:John J. Macionis

Publisher:PEARSON

SEE MORE TEXTBOOKS

Recommended textbooks for you

Social Psychology (10th Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780134641287
Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Publisher:Pearson College Div
Introduction to Sociology (Eleventh Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780393639407
Author:Deborah Carr, Anthony Giddens, Mitchell Duneier, Richard P. Appelbaum
Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company
The Basics of Social Research (MindTap Course Lis...
Sociology
ISBN:9781305503076
Author:Earl R. Babbie
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Scien...
Sociology
ISBN:9780134477596
Author:Saferstein, Richard
Publisher:PEARSON
Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach (13th Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780134205571
Author:James M. Henslin
Publisher:PEARSON
Society: The Basics (14th Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780134206325
Author:John J. Macionis
Publisher:PEARSON