Inequality In Mental Health

The provision of mental health services in the U.S. is a social justice issue that affects vulnerable populations in a variety of ways, including: limited access to quality mental health programs, especially in rural areas; the stigma associated with seeking mental health help; and discrimination against those with mental health issues. The far-reaching implications on our current system and policies of mental health care mean that it is a pervasive issue in the United States. According to the Scientific American, “Mental health care is one of the biggest

Over forty million Americans suffer from a mental health condition; and, unfortunately, fifty six percent do not receive any treatment at all. “Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in thinking, emotion and behavior”(Psychiatry.org). People live with their conditions even though their quality of life and personal relationships may be negatively affected. When one lives in a state of denial about having a mental illness, they are cheating themselves out of living life to their fullest potential and will achieve true freedom only when they face the illness head on and seek recovery.

Lack of access to mental health care and treatment is one of the top ten reasons that many mental health conditions go untreated. Many private and group health insurance plans only include minimal mental health care coverage or do not incorporate mental health care coverage at all. Over half of adult citizens of the United States of America, who possess a mental illness, do not obtain mental health care treatment. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one out of every five adults in America have endured their own mental health difficulty, and one out of every twenty-five American adults suffer from a severe mental illness, such as major depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder. (Top 5 Barriers to Mental Healthcare Access, Social Solutions.com, 2017)

Studies have shown that low socioeconomic status (SES) has a high associated with morbidity, more disability, and poorer access to health care. According to Funk, Drew, and Knapp (2012), individuals with mental disorders are more likely to be unemployed or partly employed, and one third are more likely not to have graduated high school (p.166). People living in poverty also have a higher rate of drug and alcohol abuse. Access to proper education is a big issue among people with low income. When compared to non-disable peers, only 5 percent of children with mental disorders receive proper education and complete primary school. People with little to no education have a harder time obtaining and sustaining employment. If employed they earn less than the rest of the population, they

Evidence based research shows that “mental disorders are highly disabling for all the world 's populations” (Druss, Marcus, Rosenheck, Olfson, Tanielian, & Pincus, 2000). However, the reason for disparity within lower social class can be attributed to unmet mental health needs possibly due to lack of insurance. This group may be less likely to seek treatment and when they do, they have less access to adequate healthcare. By not receiving effective and timely treatment, this contributes to increased mental health issues. Exposure to risk factors and less access to adequate care contribute to stress and life predicaments that put children at higher risks for psychological disorders.

As it is, there exists a strong link between poor social, economic conditions and mental illness in many countries. Poverty which is indicated by low levels of education, poor sanitation, debt, abuse of substances and violence are positively linked to poor mental health (Funk et al. 2012). When diagnosed with mental illness, the affected together with family members face challenges associated with high costs of healthcare, low productivity, and poor health. On the other hand, children and adults that live an impoverished life have an increased risk of experiencing trauma, and this is linked to mental disorders (Collins et al., 2010).

The correlation between poverty and mental illness has been shown through numerous studies dating back to the 1930s, but the nature of the relationship is complex and not fully understood (Kuruvill, et. al., 2007). The mentally ill are at an increased risk of becoming and staying poor; conversely, the impoverished are at a greater risk of becoming mentally ill. In fact, the poor are twice as likely to have a common mental disorder (WHO, n.d.). This paper will consider the effects of poverty on the development of emotional problems and how the mentally ill can slide into poverty. Lastly, the paper will analyze the effectiveness of social policies designed to deal with mental illness and poverty and make recommendations for improvement.

Mental illness, although not greatly publicized, is a very common disorder that affects multiple people worldwide. On its own, mental illness accounts for 4 out of the 10 leading causes of disability, depression being the leading cause worldwide (CITE). 1 in 5 U.S adults have a mental illness yet out of those, 60% did not receive treatment or mental health services (cite). Compared to white Americans, other racial groups such as Hispanics and African Americans are less likely to use mental health services and are reports to use them at ½ the rate of whites and Asian Americans ate 1/3 the rate (cite). This is widely due to the lack of access and the social stigma that is attached to mental illness in certain cultures. Low-income countries are

It is very obvious that people who suffer from mental illness are severely stigmatized by society for conditions that they cannot help but have. I believe both inequalities are a result of victims suffering from ‘sick roles’; a role in which a person explains an ill persons particular rights and responsibilities. Consequently, mental illness is a lifelong disorder many have to battle. Nevertheless, suffers are most often immediately placed into this role because of this. It is especially prominent when it comes to employers with a bias against the mentally ill; they immediately assume that patients suffering from neurological disorders renders themselves as helpless.

That seems to be true all over the globe. In a 2010 review of 115 studies that spanned 33 countries across the developed and developing nations, nearly 80 percent of the studies showed that poverty comes with higher rates of mental illness. Among people living in poverty, those studies also found, mental illnesses were more severe, lasted longer and had worse outcomes. Although mental illness is never caused by just one thing. Poverty can be a strong factor. So far, the strongest evidence suggests that poverty can lead to mental illness, especially in cases of disorders like depression.

From the birth of fundamental economics to the present day, poverty has been, for the most part, an unstable anomaly affecting the social, political, cultural, and economic domains in most countries if not all at some point. Within these domains, mental health is one of many elements that is heavily influenced by poverty and has been a problem for quite some time. It is important to measure, monitor, and address the problems of mental health that arise from poverty because it not only directly affects the poor and the people around them, but also affects the society’s economy, well-being, and standards of living. Unfortunately, there is no single or absolute answer to this issue because poverty holds a very strong influence across various age groups, genders, races, ethnicities, and nationalities. Each group in any given location requires different amounts of care and attention in different aspects of the economy, so a solution that works well in one location won’t necessarily operate the same way in another.

Mental health is often regarded as the well being of an individual socially, emotionally, and psychologically that is dynamically influenced by physical, social, and environmental factors (World Health Organization). When studying the prevalence of mental illness, recent research has indicated varying patterns among various social classes. Because of this, researchers were able to connect poverty and mental health, indicating that individuals living in low socioeconomic or homeless conditions pose a greater risk for developing a mental illness.

There is a correlation between the effects of poverty and mental illness. What is the impact poverty can have on children? Can it cause mental illness? Poverty is defined as a lack of economic resources for a person or family to maintain a minimum of living (Giffords, 2014). For example, for a family of 4 to be considered in poverty the annual income would be 24,250 dollars (Crossen- Tower, Cynthia, 56). This paper will discuss the children living in poverty already having a mental illness and how poverty can affect that illness, as well as how children whose parents have mental illness are at a higher risk of being born with a mental illness. Children who rely on their parent’s income living in poverty and living with a mental illness makes it nearly impossible for the child’s needs to be met. Being in poverty may mean choosing between food and medicine or doctors visits. As most people would do they would rather their child eat, meaning their child’s mental illness unfortunately takes a back seat. The term mental illness is defined as disorders that affect a person’s mood, thinking, and behavior. This definition is very vague and spans over a wide spectrum. Mental illness spans from eating

What is the relevance of mental health for economic development in low and middle-income situations? Why do you think we should think about mental health when we talk about poverty? Is there any connection between mental health and poverty? There is a consistent pattern that, despite varieties in the way in which poverty is defined, there is a consistent truth that people who live in lower economic situations and in poverty have increased risk for mental health problems. This doesn't mean that all poor people have mental health problems neither does it mean that the rich don't have problems, but what it does mean is that the risk for developing a mental health problem is much greater in people who are poorer. The social and economic risk factors combined with genetic risk factors to lead to the creation of a mental illness in a particular individual.

While studying the relationship between mental illness and poverty, researchers have found substantial evidence supporting the predisposition among children in low-income households. Researchers found that children of low-income families demonstrate high levels of conduct