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Post by Admin on Jun 20, 2016 13:59:09 GMT -4
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Post by Amal Ali (MS3) on Jun 22, 2016 16:40:42 GMT -4
How to Fix a Broken Mental Health System
Most downtowns are full of homeless people on the street. Those homeless people cover many categories but prominent among them are those with serious mental illnesses. They may encounter the worst possible way the tragic nature of these terrible mental diseases and the tragic failure of health system policies to find ways to help reduce the pain and the costs in money and headaches that come along with them.
Cultural dynamics and public policy choices might make those patients’ problems much worse. These policies’ focus have been far more on less serious illnesses like anxiety and depression than on the most serious mental illnesses. The understandable concern about civil liberties has gone too far when it comes to those who either don’t recognize they are ill or have deep psychoses. For them, freedom of choice can mean homelessness, jail or worse. The commendable sensitivity to privacy also means that parents and other loved ones can be shut out of any role and knowledge of what their children, grandchildren or siblings are encountering within the system.
In a larger sense, the roots of the current problems go back more than 100 years and it is time for a change to take place. One of the signature achievements of fixing the mental health system is to establish Community Mental Health Facilities to replace horrific conditions of those with serious mental illnesses warehoused in state mental hospitals and release them and get them into community health centers, where they could get a real human treatment and in most cases be able to live in their communities with their families or on their own. The idea is to create a new environment to help those patients and save money by creating more efficient and cost effective facilities.
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Post by Jshammaa on Jun 22, 2016 18:17:09 GMT -4
I have worked in the setting of Emergency Medicine here at Dekalb Medical Center. The problem that is brought to our attention in this article is very real. People with mental illnesses always show up to the emergency room mainly needing medical attention due to having gotten in a fight or due to acts of violence in general. Most of these patients need psychiatric help but do not have access to it due to the fact that there are no places available in specialized hospitals. These patients end up getting treated for whatever brought them in, usually in a locked cell so that they do not injure themselves or anyone else, and then get released back unto the rough streets just to end up getting readmitted to the hospital.
I have seen first hand how some social workers run around trying to help these people who are in desperate need, only to have to deliver the bad news that no beds are available and the next available opening is in 3 months.
It is extremely hard for me to believe that even today, in the 21st century, something more cannot be done for these people. Yes, they are people like us, who were dealt a hand in life that we cannot even start to understand, but they are human beings nonetheless and deserve to be treated as such.
To conclude, I do not believe that people with mental illnesses should have to suffer like they do today. I believe their relatives should have a say how they get treated, especially when suffering from a condition like anosygnosia.
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Post by Jose Lobo (MS3) on Jun 22, 2016 18:42:08 GMT -4
How to Fix a Broken Mental Health System
The fact that our streets are filled with homeless people, in which a majority of them have mental illnesses, should raise a concern to our government. A life in the streets can be a harsh life and perhaps even dangerous to themselves and others. Many of these people have nowhere to go for help, and many of them end up in the emergency rooms. The unlucky ones are either discharged back into the streets or thrown in jail. Therefore, the government needs to implement a way to increase the capacity of patients in mental health facilities and/or also implement community mental health facilities, and find a cost effective way that works. Some of these patients can live functional lives and give back to the community after receiving the proper treatment with therapy, counseling, and medications. The fact that our society is having an epidemic of dangerous people with access to guns because many of these cannot afford to seek for help, or just simply do not know that they are ill can dismantle our society. The purpose is to find a solution to help these people in need.
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Post by Ali Alizadeh (MS4) on Jun 22, 2016 22:27:25 GMT -4
How to Fix a Broken Mental Health System
The author is aptly correct in his description of a scene played out across our country in regards to the overwhelming failure of America to adequately meet the needs of individuals with mental health issues. This despite the tremendous advances made in pharmacology within the last century as an effective treatment option for those in whom therapy would be inadequate. At the core, an overwhelming majority view mental illness as a taboo topic to be avoided. Even the mention of seeing a Psychiatrist carries with it a whole host of negative connotations. Perhaps this is a reflection of our primal fear that we too can fall victim at any time to these terrible diseases. Yet we proudly support those around us with ailments such as Cancer or Diabetes, leading one to believe this issue is deeply rooted in our society. The article makes light of theses issues and the need for drastic changes, all while pointing at a time in the era of JFK when such changes were actually being made idealistically, only to fail in reality from a lack of commitment. Having had the privilege to work at a psychiatric facility in Florida, I was astonished to see the gentle treatment of many of the patients brought in by police under the Baker act. Most of these officers were well versed in the patient’s mental illness as well as recognizing their symptomology. As well the author highlights the practical need for family members to step in to help loved ones under special circumstances. The not just more facilities but bed’s in those facilities, greater funding, and properly trained staff. The enormity of the task is phenomenally daunting, but I firmly believe that recovery is founded on the principle that people are provided for and supported to find meaningful roles in the community. It’s tempting to think idealistically, to dream big, but we as a society must remain grounded and not forget our past mistakes. The road to improving this system will be long and arduous, but as future Physicians, we must remember that we too can and must play an integral part in this transformation.
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Post by PoojaShah on Jun 22, 2016 22:31:44 GMT -4
The main points that the article and the replies above have made - the inadequate housing and treatment of mentally ill patients, the need for more facilities to take in the mentally ill so they are not thrown back onto the streets, and the dearth of support that is needed for the patients as well as the families of people with mental illness - are all concerning. It is quite surprising to me that the slow deterioration of the stigma of mental illness (although it is far from completely gone) has not translated to a proactive increase in mental health facilities and funding for these facilities.
The point that stood out to me the most from the article is the apathy from much of Congress on passing bills that could better the situation for hundreds of people suffering from a mental illness with nowhere to turn. The author mentioned many half-baked bills that started out with great promise and then fell into the black hole of the legislative system. The funds that are needed to go into reforming the mental health system are also severely lacking and I wonder where that money might have been reallocated in a time where it seemed like the money would be better used elsewhere. Another poignant thought brought up in the article was the link between opioid use and patients with mental illness. In mentioning the amount of homeless people with mental illnesses, I feel like it is only natural to question how many of these people are using substances either to help deal with their illness or to cope with their living situation. Either way, these circumstances are linked in some way or another, and the idea to link the two bills in order to get them passed is a great idea.
In reading this article and from personally seeing the manifestation of this problem, it is truly frustrating to see that mental illness is still not treated with the same respect and urgency as physical illness. There are clearly numerous changes to be made in order to begin to try and fix the "mental-health crisis," but I think it really needs to start with understanding how hard a mental illness can be on a person and their family. Unfortunately many times, at is the case with the author of the article, it takes a personal experience with something in order to induce change or even raise awareness of how bad a situation is.
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Post by David Vu on Jun 22, 2016 23:45:26 GMT -4
The biggest problem with mental heath institutions is its history. They started off with these large resource draining hospitals that were not suited to deal with the mentally ill. They then removed them with out putting down a proper foundation for these mental institutions. This in turn sent the ill onto the streets.
The mentally ill often do not get the proper care because as the article states the first stop is most likely jail. In order to fix this problem we must first acknowledge that it is a problem and then lay down the proper framework and funding so that these challenged people may have centers where they can go to and get proper care from trained personnel.
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Post by Heather Le on Jun 23, 2016 9:36:45 GMT -4
The author stressed many different ways to fix a broken mental-health system based on personal experience however, one of his very last line is what stood out to me the most. “We know so little, and the available treatments are often inadequate”. Many times, we often judge others and even in this profession that I have embarked on I often forget - these individuals are sick. As the author had mentioned at the beginning of the article, passerby often get frustrated and impatient when they see someone talking to themselves or having an “episode”. Perhaps, if people were more compassionate or if better education can be given, treatment can be offered sooner rather than later.
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Post by Jamila Pham on Jun 23, 2016 11:31:41 GMT -4
Homeless people everywhere are deemed as uneducated, lazy, drug seekers or “crazy.” Because of these classifications, these people are neglected and left on the streets instead of being helped. With the same perspective, the government is cutting funds for mental institutes and not giving enough mental health benefits in insurance coverage as stated by the author of the article. These people with mental issues, if given the proper care will not be a burden on society as they are deemed to be, they can go back to a normal/almost normal functioning life and partake in normal activates. In the short 2 weeks I’ve been at the PACT Atl, I have encountered situations where patients are trying to get their life back together; they have a job with insurance, but their insurance doesn’t cover mental health. Because of this unfortunate situation, the patient can only get treatment intermittently since the cost of health care is something unfeasible. The biggest thing in our society is to get the image of the word crazy out of our heads; these people are in need of help and not to be ridiculed for something that they can’t control. It’s the job of the government to step in and find solutions where everyone who is an American citizen is getting the proper care, mentally ill or not.
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Post by Aishwarya Palorath on Jun 23, 2016 12:59:27 GMT -4
How to Fix a Broken Mental Health System
This article provides a brilliant jumping-point for one of the main issues that still surrounds mental illness. As common as anxiety and depression are in our day-to-day encounters, much of the energy, funds and time are diverted towards these conditions, while those suffering with other serious, life-altering conditions, such as schizophrenia, encounter much of an up-hill battle in procuring the help they need. This is not a new revelation but it is a shame to realize that while progress in life is generally slow, the people who do get steam-rolled as our society slowly changes and adapts are the ones who do not have a voice for themselves.
Part of the problem is rooted in the fact that the loved ones of those patients tackling their inner demons are immensely restricted in their involvement and management of the situation. For those patients who do not recognize the severity of their illness, they’re easily misled to make choices that do not benefit them which can result in them being entangled in a turn of events that lead them to homelessness or jail. It’s a continuous cycle that can only be slowed down with awareness, kindness and policy changes that grant access to thorough treatment.
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Post by Jennifer Ugbede on Jun 23, 2016 15:32:32 GMT -4
According to the article there is lack of mental health treatment centers. The seriously ill end up back in the streets or jails where they don’t receive good quality care. There is still health disparities among the mentally ill. Often times people of lower socioeconomic status are affected the most by these health disparities in the communities that they live. Lack of access to mental health care often leads to more problems such as illicit drug use, crime, and alcoholism. Furthermore there is still lack of mental health treatment centers in general and priority is not being given to mental health compared to other health conditions. New policies are needed to improve access to mental health treatment centers and inpatient centers.
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Kadeem Sampath (MS3)
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Post by Kadeem Sampath (MS3) on Jun 23, 2016 15:44:30 GMT -4
It is very unfortunate that Mental illness is still a problem at large in America. Time and again, I’ve noticed that catering to Mental Illness in our society has been brought up, and then swept back under the rug. Our streets are filled with many people suffering from a wide range of Mental illnesses (Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorders, Anxiety, Mania, just to name a few) that have clearly gone untreated, and at times un-noticed. What’s worse is that many understand the problem, create possible solutions, yet there isn’t enough physical action taken to address the issue. It’s evident that greater education and awareness needs to be spread throughout our communities, but with that, action needs to be taken in order to see change. As indicated in the article, there needs to be better implementation of social assistance, access to resources, and therapies for those suffering with mental illness. Repetition creates a reputation, so instead of constantly being known to have many mentally ill patients left to fend for themselves, let’s act now to help solve the problem; we’ll repeat that, and create a new reputation.
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Gabrielle Givens (MS3)
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Post by Gabrielle Givens (MS3) on Jun 23, 2016 21:47:52 GMT -4
The author of this article was extremely accurate in his description of how many homeless are left out in the streets helpless to their condition. It’s terrible that so many people and their families must suffer due to lack of resources in the mental health realm of medicine. Being from a family that has several social workers I have seen just how lacking our system is when it comes to issues such as mental health. Too often I have heard of another health facility that caters to behavioral and mental health issues is closed down, no longer able to service those who are in desperate need of help. As other students have mentioned, it is time for our society and government to stop letting this problem fall to be picked up at a later date. Families and those suffering from mental health problems should not have to suffer as this author and their son did. It is time that we as society step up to help those in need. I think public awareness needs to gain speed, so that others can understand how desperately we need to improve care for mental illnesses.
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Post by Fenil Patel on Jun 24, 2016 12:49:37 GMT -4
The author has described the broken medical system in an extremely interesting way. It really made me think through the whole process on the medical system and its broken stings. The point that stood out to me the most from the article is the apathy from much of Congress on passing bills that could better the situation for hundreds of people suffering from a mental illness with nowhere to turn. The author mentioned many half-baked bills that started out with great promise and then fell into the black hole of the legislative system. Like we all know, many people don’t consider the mental health as a life threatening issue. Just the same way, many insurance companies don’t pay for the mental health conditions. So, the patient with the health insurance sometimes doesn’t get properly treated because the insurance companies deny to pay the money for their treatment. This is the time when we need to have a new mindset, new thought process, and an invention of the new policies to try to fix this broken medical system.
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Adaku Taylor (PA-S)
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Post by Adaku Taylor (PA-S) on Jun 24, 2016 13:12:15 GMT -4
How to Fix a Broken Mental Health System- My Thoughts.
The author starts by telling a story of the tragic loss of his son, who suffered from a mental health illness called anosygnosia (in ability to recognize you are ill). With this personal loss, Senator Roy Blunt, urges senators to pass the Excellence Mental Health Act, to better addresses the mental health issues that this country faces. It seems that steps have been taken in the past like JFKs Community Health Act of 1963, SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), and the current Medicare and PAMA act. These acts has set new requirements for behavioral health clinics to meet a range for crisis like psychiatric care, screening, and assessment for mental health and substance abuse patients, But this is still not enough. There are still a lack of beds and resources to help those suffering from serious mental health conditions. These patients typically end up homeless, in jail, prison, and resulting in tragic consequences like being abuse and killed. I agree that the Ideal reform act from congress should build more mental health facilities, allow for better reimbursement from insurance companies like Medicare and Medicaid, increase resources for more research in brain and mental health, provide trained staff, build more crisis intervention facilities, and provide crisis intervention training for police, jail guards, teachers, and common civilians, because mental health illness is a prevalent issue and can affect our loved ones.
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