Poverty And Mental Health

In particular, the study reviewed in this paper is a sequential research study which was conducted by Santiago, Wadsworth and Stump (2011). It examines how low-SES, living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, experience poverty-related stress associated with psychological

African-American women have a triple jeopardy status, which places them at risk for developing depression (Boykin, 1985; Carrington, 1980; Taylor, 1992). One whom live in a majority-dominated society that frequently devalues our ethnicity, culture, and gender. In addition, one may find themselves at the lower spectrum of the American political and economic continuum. Often one is involved in multiple roles as one attempt to survive economically and advance ourselves, and our families through mainstream society. All these factors

Mental illness is nondiscriminatory, can affect any person and transcends all social boundaries. As a result, the issues surrounding mental illness have become common discussion pints among policymakers dedicated or required to formulate solutions around providing the long-term care needed by many patients. Healthcare reforms and changes to the systems that provide services to those living with mental illness and funding for services to the facilities providing care have become major social issues (Goldman, Morrissey, Ridgley, Frank, Newman, & Kennedy, 1992). The reason for this is primarily how it can affect a market economy and how much of a burden diseases of the mind can be in a country such as the United States. According to the 1991 Global Burden of Disease study conducted by the World Health Organization mental health burden accounted for “more than 15% in a market economy such as the U.S.” (The Impact of Mental Illness on Society, 2001). The study also states that for individuals over the age of 5, varying forms of depression are the leading cause of disability. A more recent study indicates that mental illness in general is found in more than 26% of the United States adult population, of which 6% are severe and limit the patient’s ability to function (Martin, p. 163. 2007).

Poverty, a common problem in the US and yet, something that people consistently overlook. We are often unaware of the magnitude of poverty in the U.S and sometimes even disregard it. People living in destitution are at greater risk for behavioral and mental problems. Children or Teens who live in poverty are prone to poor academic achievements, become school dropouts , or grow subject to abuse or neglect. People in poverty also occasionally show signs of anxiety and depression.

As discussed in class, little advancement has been made in the field of mental health care over the past two decades. Rates of mental illness continue to be high especially among certain subgroups, but progress has been stunted by stigma and social environmental issues. Mental health disparities, like many other health disparities, are embedded within a trend of socioeconomic differences (Miranda, McGuire, Williams, & Wang, 2008). Racial and class disparities exist among those afflicted

People living in poverty think about what their next meal is or how they are going to feed their child. Poverty makes a person mentally stress causing them to have depression. The depression then leads to drugs or alcohol which is bringing them down. “Poor black men won't support their families, won't stick by their women -- all they think about is the street, dope and liquor, women, a piece of ass, and their cars. That's all that counts” (). Poverty impacts the individual’s health because they can’t afford the healthy food because it is expensive. The individual will purchase the white bread because it is cheaper but, they know it is not that healthy. People living in poverty might not buy that many fruits and vegetables. Not eating healthy leads to being obese or other health problems. “Poverty and illness together make people much more vulnerable and needy at all stages of their lives, and even more so in old age. Mental health is often both a cause and a consequence of poverty, compromised education, vulnerability, difficulty accessing housing, health-care and employment, and lack of access to welfare, social security, and community public

This essay will use the Johnson family. The Johnson household includes a 35 year old single mother of a 15 year old son. Mother, Yvonne, completed a bachelor degree in the marketing field. Yvonne after graduation was unable to find a marketing job locally instead she works full-time as an administrative assistant for a larger company. Yvonne is currently unsatisfied with her position as she feels overworked, over qualified, and underappreciated at her current company. Yvonne’s 15 year old son, Randall is a grade 10 athletic, who had been accepted as a starting position on the high school baseball team. In-between school and extracurricular activities, has a part-time job. Randal’s have regular contact and visits with his father and step-mother as they live in a neighbourhood nearby. The health and well-being of the Johnson family has to do with economic and social conditions known as social determinants of health (Kozier et al., 2014, p. 132-133). This paper will discuss three major social determinants of health that has affected the Johnson family which includes stress, and illness; employment and working conditions, and Health Services.

Mental health disorders remain continually disregarded in minority communities. Even more so, a few minority individuals report symptoms of mood disorders that are under-diagnosed as a result of cultural differences. (“Health Care Reform”, 2014.). This insufficiency in accurate mental health care diagnoses establishes a need to eradicate the differences in health care when it comes to treating minorities, as each group report different symptoms. Furthermore, these minority groups tend to be excluded from mainstream research as a result of lack of formal health care, including underreported visits to mental health facilities. Additionally, now there are more significant amounts of research,

Attempting to make ends meet, those who are living in poverty are more likely to suffer from financial stress and mental health issues, as well as physical health

Some women falter to their low self-esteems and anger, and make decisions to be sexually promiscuous and binge on drugs and alcohol, while some are infuriated by the prejudice against them and work tirelessly to repeal it. Racial discrimination has been highlighted as a contributing factor to health disparities that Black women face. In regards to health, black women in the United States are more prone to experience more chronic physical and mental health conditions than those of other racial identities (Jerald et. Al, 2017). Although several factors cause these health disparities, racism and sexism plays a significant role, and these phenomena are further spread by overarching stereotypes.

Children who have socioeconomically disadvantaged families have more risk of developing mental illness. In other words, poor children have more mental problems than wealthy children. There are three theories that McLeod and Shanahan studied about the relationship between poverty histories and children 's mental health trajectories. First hypothesis they tested “children 's mental health problems may remain at a stable, high level even when economic circumstances improve”. Second hypothesis is that “children whose poverty continues into the future may experience stable or increasing

This paper will draw on the inequalities on the basis of socio-economic position; gender and ethnicity have on mental illness. Firstly, most consistent finding across studies is that shown that disadvantaged levels of socioeconomic groups have a greater amount of associating with mental illness. The reason for that above is that there is two explanation which is Social causation and social selection theory explain that socioeconomic is associated with risk of psychiatric disorders. Dorhrenwend et al, 1992 investigated the relationship between social class and psychiatric disorders .Social selection is the idea that an individual health influence their social mobility and hence, their position in the social hierarchy (D.Blane et al...2014).

The author of Poverty And Mental Health: How Do Low-Income Adults And Children Fare In Psychotherapy? Writes about the effects of poverty on adults and children’s mental health. Families who are struggling with poverty may not receive the same education and they are not able to afford the same type of health care as someone who is well off. If you are not able to see a doctor due to financial problems then your mental/physical issues go unchecked/cured. I plan on using this source as a tool to reflect on the husband of the young woman. It could be used in a theoretical view into his motives as to why he kills and continues to kill. This source is a build off of the first source

This paper will explain how poverty and mental illness go hand in hand. Mental illness seems to be a cause and effect situation. Sometimes mental illness causes poverty and other poverty causes the mental illness. This paper will also give possible solutions for the problem.

One common cause of depression that can be found no matter where you are in the world is poverty. In “What’s Behind the Gender Gap in Depression”, reporter Gretchen Cuda looks at how major depression is developed in both sexes, focusing mainly on women and their day-to-day struggles with the illness. “Being poor brings many types of stress, not the least of which is a feeling of loss of control over your life. That, in turn, can lead to negativity, passivity and lack of self-esteem--- and all those feelings increase the risk of depression.” (Cuda). Although Cuda focuses her report on women and depression, poverty is a factor that can lead to depression no matter what gender. The importance of financial stability and the stress that comes with worrying about money can take a toll on one’s physical as well as psychological health. Certain situations can occur in either gender but what occurs in the mind as well as methods of coping are what make the risk of depression differ for males and females.