Should mental illness remain a National Health Priority in Australia? What is mental illness? A mental illness is an issue that affects one’s behaviour, emotions, thoughts and ability to interact with others (Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing 2007). Common mental illnesses in Australia include anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, eating
(2) Disparities between the health of persons with mental illness as compared with that of those without, or (3) disparities between populations with respect to mental health and the quality, accessibility, and outcomes of mental health care ( Safran, M. A., Mays Jr, R. A., Huang, L. N., et al.,2009). Elderly immigrants are among the nation’s most vulnerable minority groups due to their limited health literacy ( Cordaso, Asch, Franco, & Magione, 2009) and serious health disparities, with many experiencing significantly worse health outcomes as compared to other groups. The term elderly immigrants refers to individuals 65 years of age or older who were not born in the United States (Leach,
Elder Suicide Throughout the years suicide rates have increased and is a significant public health issue. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. However, suicide rates are high among the elderly, yet research on suicide prevention in older
Mental Health Reform: What It Would Really Take In today’s society there is a greater awareness of mental illnesses. With this greater awareness one might assume that there would be a substantial increase in government involvement or funding in the area of mental illness treatment. Unfortunately this isn’t the case
Introduction: Alarming statistics project that by the year 2050, an estimated 115 million people globally will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In 2011, the cost of Alzheimer’s care in the United States exceeded $130 billion (Trivedi, Bijal, 2012). Approximately 90% of older nursing home residents are estimated to have
Abstract: The article highlights the problem and the barriers that associated with recruiting older minority populations into mental health research studies. The main focus of this research is to inform the administrators and policymakers, the best way to care for the mentally ill and how to improve mental health service
What is the prevalence of mental health disorders in community-dwelling older adults? Describe mental healthcare that nursing is able to provide in the home.
In the United States, mental illness is a topic that is severely neglected. Many individuals who suffer from illnesses including, but not limited to, schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder are routinely ignored and often do not receive the treatment needed for them to lead functional lives. According to Richard Frank and Sherry Glied, Harvard Medical School professors and co-authors, the severely mentally ill are “among the most gravely disadvantaged and stigmatized groups in the United States” (3). According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), those who are fortunate enough to have family or friends that aid them in seeking help, or those who recognize themselves that they need help and seek it on their own, often have a lot of trouble finding long-term services that can do more for them than simply provide medication
An aspect of aging that I have often grappled with is the increased incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease that we have seen in the last 20 years. I remember vividly, as a psychiatric nurse that started my mental health in an inpatient geriatric facility, we often had patients that were admitted in our facility that either suffered from bipolar, schizophrenia and lastly older people that were depressed either due to loss of a spouse and were grieving.
About 43.8 million people are diagnosed with a mental illness per year in the U.S. Mental health treatment has become an important subject due to events of criminal cases, such as shootings, which are led by individuals who show signs of mental illness. Mental illnesses are as serious a condition as any physical health condition, however, they aren’t covered as such. There are many promising features about a mental health reform, however, it is difficult to present them when they are also opposing arguments. The policy towards a mental healthcare reform has been emphasized throughout America, though, there is yet to be a solution.
ABSTRACT Mental disorders among geriatrics are one of the most costly public health dilemmas. Depression, suicidal behavior, and Alzheimer’s are just a few common mental illnesses the elderly suffers from. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention the number of older adults with mental illnesses is predicted to
There are many issues surrounding mental wellness in older adults. For instance, as Qui (2010) reports, some of these adults have a difficult time leaving the house, which can take a toll on them, as this population tends to have more mental and physical issues (p. 2423). Additionally, Zanjani (2012) notes that mental health issues are often erroneously thought of as normal in this population (p. 193), and these can include dementia in the form of Alzheimer’s disease, depression, alcohol abuse, and paranoia (Qui, 2010, p. 2425). As such, Zanjani (2012) notes that these mental health issues are often not noticed by others (p. 193). This would naturally mean that they would not be properly treated, so they could potentially lead to a myriad of other problems, perhaps other comorbid issues, or in the case or neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, continued degradation and even death. In sum, each of these factors can potentially occur, but this population is particularly vulnerable due to the ill effects of aging and lack of psychoeducation about what is normative for this population.
Underdiagnosed and Undertreated: A Look at Mental Illness in the Elderly Kourtney Bercheni American Public University System PART I Mental health as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, work productivity and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to the community” (Chaves, et al., 2014). Mental health in the elderly is a growing concern. Many elderly do not seek or receive proper treatment for their mental illness. This is, in part, due to several barriers that prohibit the elderly from seeking help. Mental illness in the elderly is brought up by several different factors, including
What would you do if your loved one just forgot you completely? All the memories,emotions, talks that you had with each other just completely forgotten. This is the case with Alzheimer's. It is defined as a progressive mental illness that can occur in middle or old age, due
According to the American Psychiatric Association “Studies show that seniors are at greater risk of some mental disorders and their complications than younger people, and many of these illnesses can be accurately diagnosed and treated.”(American Psychiatric Association, 2015, para. 1). Although many of the illnesses can be treated, many go undiagnosed due to the fact that many individuals do not understand mental illnesses and some seniors are reluctant to seek psychiatric care due to being ashamed or believing that their symptoms are a part of aging that everyone experiences. It is not just the seniors and their family or friends that fail to recognize symptoms of mental illness, even their doctors may mistake a symptom of mental illness for another illness or problem associated with older adults.