Effective Strategies for Supporting Individuals with Mental Illness

This essay provides a detailed overview of mental illness and effective strategies for supporting individuals affected by it. It begins by introducing the concept of mental illness, highlighting its impact and treatability. The essay then delves into practical approaches rooted in the bio-psychosocial model, emphasizing the importance of creating a supportive environment. Key strategies include fostering open communication, avoiding judgment, and encouraging professional help. The essay also addresses challenges associated with supporting individuals with mental illness, such as inadequate social amenities, stigma, and financial constraints. Finally, the essay concludes by reiterating the significance of understanding and compassion in providing effective support. The essay cites several academic sources to support its claims.

Running Head: MENTAL ILLNESS 1
Introduction
Mental illness is a behavioral situation that causes distress or damage to the functions of
the body. Severe mental diseases are scary, although they can be treated. People who have been
diagnosed with the disease can live a perfect life after they seek the attention required to curb the
situation. There are various ways in which learning has helped to support the people who live
with mental disabilities. This is evident through the bio-psychosocial model.
The bio-psychosocial model explains one's health condition concerning mental illness, treatment
efforts, and prevention measures. This model describes several ways in which the mental ill
people can be treated.
To begin with, I should let the persons share their experiences and challenges freely. I
should also allow them to be prime or conduct their discussions at their speed. By allowing the
victims to freely share their experiences helps to promote trust and courage. The reason being I
might be the only person living with mental illness whom they can freely reach to and share their
issues (Corrigan, Druss, & Perlick, 2014).
Secondly, I should distract them while they are busy doing their activities instead of
setting some specific time for them. By doing that they feel appreciated. Mentally ill people
need attention, maximum care and treatment. By paying attention to them helps create a non-
judgmental room with no distractions (Seeman, Tang, Brown, & Ing, 2016).
I should not diagnose or guess their feelings. Trying to make assumption about what is
affecting the mentally ill people can cause fear and lack of trust. Thus, I should not judge them
according to their behaviors, but instead, I should be ready to give them the moral and
psychological support that they need (Barry , McGinty, & Pescosolido, 2014).

MENTAL ILLNESS 2
Keeping questions open-ended is another crucial way to appreciate people with mental
illness. I should ask them about their feeling in a calm manner and not attacking them directly.
For example, I should ask them, "Why can't you share with me what you going through?" but
not, "I see what you are feeling." It is advisable to offer that person a period to provide an answer
than just interrogating them with so many questions (Whiteford, Buckingham, Harris, Burgess,
Pirkis, & Barendregt, 2014).
In addition, I should talk about healthcare and health security with the mentally ill person.
The latter enables the person feel free to share the issues affecting him or her. I should, therefore,
advocate for healthy food and share the ideas that can help them guard their mental fitness and
wellbeing. I can also discuss ways that can help them reduce stress and find out whether the
ways are helpful to them. I can encourage them to avoid things that would affect their social
status (Torrey, 2014).
I should pay attention to what the person is telling me. To make sure that the person
understood, I can ask them some questions on what we had discussed. It is not guaranteed I agree
to what the person is saying but I should make them aware of my concern on their endeavors. It
proves to the person sharing her encounter that I respect their feelings (Vogt, Leone, Wang, &
Sayer, 2014).
Another way of showing support to these people is to help them in acquiring a
specialized support and getting info for them on methods to curb their condition. If the person
wants me to assist him or her in seeking medication, I can take them to the health centers that are
ideal for their condition. It would be advisable for me to assist them to get a friend or a family
member who they hold conversations. Avoid controlling them and allow them to make decisions.

MENTAL ILLNESS 3
I would give information on those administrations or persons they can reach out to (Abracen,
Gallo, Looman, & Goodwill, 2016).
I am also supposed to know my limits as I handle the persons with disabilities. It is
essential, to be honest. It is advisable to give help to the person when the condition becomes
severe. If I believe there is any danger or any arising harms that need medical attention for these
persons, I am supposed to ensure they are safe. I can also provide them with more details on how
to deal with crises such as a panic attack, feeling suicidal, among others (Drake & Whitley,
2014).
Encouraging the persons to seek appropriate professional help is also important. If they
feel hurt, I can provide them with ways on how to manage anger. At this moment, try to listen to
them without making any judgments and concentrate on what they need (Barry , McGinty, &
Pescosolido, 2014).
There are various challenges related to the provision of support to people with mental illness.
Inadequate Social Amenities for People with Disorder Issues
This is the primary concern for these people as far as education and healthcare is
concerned. Parents and guardians spent a lot of time looking for particular schools and hospitals
to accommodate their children.
Living with mentally ill persons is associated with stigma. The concerned individuals are
affected by the way their children are discriminated, mistreated, and isolated in society. The
parents are laughed at and told hurting words for their children.
Poverty is another challenge that affects the parents of the concerned patients. They are therefore
held responsible for their failure to meet the needs of the affected persons in the family setting.

MENTAL ILLNESS 4
Inability to Buy Drugs to Them, Which They Did Not Receive In the Hospital
Daily activities of the parents are very much affected by the presence of the mentally ill
person in the family. A lot of time is spent looking for the sick, and this results in parents being
unable to carry out activities such as business as intended. This led to poverty and a lack of
capital for the family.
Conclusion
Mental illness is a situation that causes distress or damage to the functions of the body.
Various ways on to which learning has helped to support these people whole live with such
disabilities as it is explained above. It also touches on multiple challenges related to the provision
of support to people with mental illness.

MENTAL ILLNESS 5
References
Abracen, J., Gallo, A., Looman, J., & Goodwill, A. (2016). Individual community-based
treatment of offenders with mental illness: Relationship to recidivism. Journal of
interpersonal violence, 10(3), 1842-1858.
Barry , C. L., McGinty, E. E., & Pescosolido, E. B. (2014). Stigma, discrimination, treatment
effectiveness, and policy: public views about drug addiction and mental illness.
Psychiatric Services, 65(10, 1269-1272.
Corrigan, p. w., Druss, B. G., & Perlick, D. A. (2014). Impact of mental illness stigma on
seeking and participating in mental health care. Psychological Science in the Public
Interest, 15(2), 37-70.
Drake, R. E., & Whitley, R. (2014). Recovery and severe mental illness: description and
analysis. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 59(5), 236-242.
Seeman, N., Tang, S., Brown, A. D., & Ing, A. (2016). World survey of mental illness stigma.
Journal of affective disorders, 190, 115-121.
Torrey, E. F. (2014). American psychosis: How the federal government destroyed the mental
illness treatment system. London: Oxford University Press.
Vogt, D., Leone, B. A., Wang, J. M., & Sayer, N. (2014). Endorsed and Anticipated Stigma
Inventory (EASI): A tool for assessing beliefs about mental illness and mental health
treatment among military personnel and veterans. Psychological Services, 11(1), 105.
Whiteford, H. A., Buckingham, W. J., Harris, M. G., Burgess, P. M., Pirkis, J. E., & Barendregt,
J. J. (2014). Estimating treatment rates for mental disorders in Australia. Australian
Health Review, 80-85.