Merely treating the symptoms of their present condition.

18 hours ago
Ricardo Torres
Influencing Social Change Initial post by Rick Torres Influencing Social Change Rick Torres Walden University Psychopharmacologic Approaches to Treatment of Psychopathology 6630 Dr. Stanton April 27, 2020 Influencing Social Change Influencing Social Change Mental health problems
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Rick Torres

Walden University

Psychopharmacologic Approaches to Treatment of Psychopathology

6630

Dr. Stanton

April 27, 2020



Influencing Social Change

Influencing Social Change

Mental health problems occur in a psychosocial context. Social dimensions significantly impact psychiatric practice and research(Prasad, Angothu, Mathews, & Chaturvedi, 2016). The twenty-first century has seen dramatic urbanization, globalization, rapid advances in technology, and communication. These among several other social changes, such as nature and shift in family systems, newer patterns of relationships, migration, and social mobility will bring about novel challenges for diagnosing and managing mental health problems; nevertheless, this may at the same time throw newer means and opportunities to intervene, particularly with the advancements in technology (Prasad et al., 2016). There is likely to be greater awareness about mental health problems. The rights-based and recovery-oriented approaches will change the way psychiatry is practiced; Many of these changes will positively impact the policies of the government and access to care (Prasad et al., 2016). Psychiatric mental health is being recognized now more than ever as a serious health concern. However, there is still a stigma and discrimination towards people who have mental health conditions/illnesses. There are millions of people around the world who suffer from some type of mental illness and/or knows someone does (Levenson, 2020). Many people are ashamed/embarrassed to seek/accept treatment due to the negative view society has about mental illness (Prasad et al., 2016). There are two types of stigmas associated with a mental illness called the social stigma, which involves the prejudiced attitudes that others have around mental illness; and self-perceived stigma, which involves an internalized stigma that the person with the mental illness suffers from. the promotion and maintenance of mental health as well as disease detection and restoration of health (Caddell, 2019). With a focus on mental health teaching, mental health promotion and prevention, nursing has the potential for providing an essential, holistic, now missing, link in the delivery of mental health services.

Holistic Roles

The expanded role of the nurse in social psychiatry involves building upon the conventional role of the nurse to include a focus on health promotion and prevention as well as on the detection and treatment of illness. Nursing is strategically located and uniquely prepared to take on such a challenge. Nursing has long recognized the holistic nature of families and communities. Nursing assumes that families have rights and responsibilities which include participation in the solution to problems which they helped to create. Nursing has been sensitive to the interrelationship between social expectation and dysfunctional behavior. In the expanded role, nurses have accepted the mandate to transform society, to act as social change agents, as family advocates, as champions of minorities, and as facilitators of mental health. I myself have practiced meditation for some years and can provide insight to some of my clients. In the midst of this, I have learned Reiki and plan to utilize energy practice at some point in the future. Holistic Nursing refers to a kind of nursing practice that focuses on treating the patient as a whole as opposed to merely treating the symptoms of their present condition.

As a future nurse practitioner, I will become a social change agent for psychiatric mental health through education. There are so many misconceptions about mental illness that is likely due to lack of education such as people with mental illness are all violent, unpredictable/should be feared, are in control of their illness, and don’t need as much help as those with physical illnesses. Education provides information so that the public can make more informed decisions about mental illness so that those with a better understanding are less likely to endorse stigma and discrimination (Dell, Vidovic, Vaughn, & Sasaki, 2020). Most importantly I want to advocate for change within my own community by providing education and encouragement to the clients I treat and their love ones on whatever mental illness they may have, with hopes of building their confidence/self-esteem and make sure they understand they deserve adequate health care services/assistance just like those who have physical illnesses. People with mental illness often internalize society’s beliefs about them such as they are incompetent, irrational, and untrustworthy and that can lead to distress that’s sometimes worse than the mental illness itself (Levenson, 2020).



References

Caddell , J. (2019, June 21, 2019). Understanding the Stigma Around Mental Illness. very well mind. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/mental-illness-and-stigma-2337677

Dell, N. A., Vidovic, K. R., Vaughn, M. G., & Sasaki, N. (2020, March 16th, 2020). Mental Health Provider Stigma, Expectations for Recovery, and Perceived Quality of Care Provided to Persons With Mental Illness. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=6&sid=3f394678-336a-43d2-a552-eb85061f8368%40sessionmgr4008

Levenson, J. L. (2020, Dec 2020). Psychological factors affecting other medical conditions: Clinical features, assessment, and diagnosis. UpToDate (Wolters Kluwer). Retrieved from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/psychological-factors-affecting-other-medical-conditions-clinical-features-assessment-and-diagnosis?search=mental%20illness&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1

Prasad, K. M., Angothu, H., Mathews, M. M., & Chaturvedi, S. K. (2016, 3-Nov-2016). How are social changes in the twenty-first century relevant to mental health? National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, 32(3), 227-237. Retrieved from http://www.indjsp.org/article.asp?issn=0971-9962;year=2016;volume=32;issue=3;spage=227;epage=237;aulast=Prasad

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