Analysis of Mental Health Services in Correctional Facilities

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Contents
Reporting...........................................................................................................................................1
Responding........................................................................................................................................1
Relating..............................................................................................................................................1
Reasoning..........................................................................................................................................2
Reconstruction..................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................4
1

Reporting
The article by Fairbanks Daily News is regarding the four mentally sick patients who
are to be sent to Oregon Asylum after the action from the Grand Jury is taken up.
Mental sickness is considered as a disorder that provides a right to the individual to
be treated equally without any discrimination. Being an accused criminal cannot take
away this right of a person to be treated with equally and with respect. In order to
promote the treatment and better care and services these individual with mental
issues are being transferred to the asylum where they will be provided with
appropriate assessment, diagnosis, services, treatment and management.
Weinstein & Perlin (2018), suggested that the individual has certain human rights
and as per these rights the individual should be treated equally without any
discrimination or prejudice. In the case of prisoners the rightful continuum of care
and services as per the normal individual is advised and granted by the legal system
as well as health and social care system.
Responding
Mental health and illness is defined as the disturbed state of psychological and
emotional wellbeing of the individual. Throughout years during the practice the cases
of mental health and illness are being evaluated by me that have helped in framing
my knowledge regarding mental health and illness values and beliefs ( O'Brien &
Cole., 2004). Working in health and social care sector it is necessary to develop an
understanding of the mental health issues and be competent in skills and knowledge
to address these issues with proper nursing interventions. I believe that mental
health is a right to every individual and is influenced by variety of social,
environmental and personal factors of the human life. Surrounding, family,
relationship status, lifestyle and values affect the mental health of the individual in
different manner. According to the Mental Health Act and Equality Act it is the right of
an individual to achieve mental health with appropriate diagnosis and care (Eckroth-
Bucher., 2010). Similarly I believe that the individual in custody and accused of a
crime are still a human being and have human rights of being treated for their health
and wellbeing. The service to the alleged criminal who requires mental health
treatment should be provided with equality and respect as to others.
Relating
2

Different aspects contribute to the understanding of the mental health and issues
related to it. These factors include the surrounding, culture, values, social media, and
health status. The knowledge of the mental health issues that is provided by the
social media helps in understanding the concept better but at times this information
is fragmented and segmented that leads to misconceptions and inappropriate
description. The mental health issue are mostly stigmatized in society that develops
the belief that mental illness is not a common disability but is related to the spiritual
and religious findings of evilness and possession. Also the social stigma and
discrimination towards the patient with mental disability makes them vulnerable
towards abuse and harm (Malla et al., 2015).
The culture, gender, ethnicity and social beliefs of the individual influence the
knowledge and understanding regarding mental issues. Female more than male are
prone to mental illness and that is why it is seen that this gender is more
discriminated based on their mental health and wellbeing status. Eventually to gather
a thorough understanding of the mental issues it is also necessary to develop an
understanding regarding the factors that influence mental status of the patient.
Reasoning
In given article the issues that are related to mental health are different than what is
understood by my knowledge of mental health till now in my practice. Mental health
as per my understanding is the state of human mind where the disturbances can
lead to inappropriate behaviour and symptoms. In this article four insane individual
were identified in the custody that were to be shifted to the asylum. Shifting these
patients to the asylum was the decision provided by Grand jury considering the
human rights of the individual to achieve best quality care and services for their
health and wellbeing. Marshal Love was the one leading the operation to shift these
individual from the custody to the asylum and this process was risky as the individual
had history of showing challenging and violent behaviour.
While Mrs Duvall’s case is being granted the permission to be shifted to asylum it is
also evident that it is a risk to the lives of the individuals handling her while the
shifting process as she is graded as insane and with history of challenging
behaviour. The mental health can be affected to serious levels and this needs
appropriate care and services to achieve better recovery (Cross et al., 2020).
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Reconstruction
The issue is significant because the mental health of the prisoner is also the
responsibility of the health and social care services and is associated with the equal
distribution of the human rights of the entire individual. I learned that providing
equality in mental health services is very important factor.
The professional health and social care practices are the ones that are well skilled
and competent in providing appropriate care and services to the individual diagnosed
with mental health illness. The professional are also trained effectively in order to
promote equal care without any discrimination and judgment (Karyotaki et al., 2017).
This situation will affect my future practice and the way I practice health and social
care in the manner that I will be more comfortable handling the mental health issues
and cases with equal respect and dignity and will not provide or let any judgment or
culture or values of my own overpower the practice. I will also try to focus on the
main aim of enhancing mental health of the individual by promoting patient centred
and oriented care. It is also essential that I would prefer the use of empathy and
compassion in my practice that are some key aspects of mental health care.
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REFERENCES
Weinstein, N. M., & Perlin, M. L. (2018). Who's Pretending to Care for Him: How the
Endless Jail-to-Hospital-to-Street-Repeat Cycles Deprives Persons with Mental
Disabilities the Right to Continuity of Care. Wake Forest JL & Pol'y, 8, 455.
O'Brien, L., & Cole, R. (2004). Mental health nursing practice in acute psychiatric
close‐observation areas. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 13(2), 89-
99.
Cross, W. M., Ryan, K., & Brebner, P. A. (2020). Mental Health and
Wellness. Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing in the Uk, E-Book, 173.
Eckroth-Bucher, M. (2010). Self-awareness: A review and analysis of a basic nursing
concept. Advances in Nursing Science, 33(4), 297-309.
Malla, A., Joober, R., & Garcia, A. (2015). “Mental illness is like any other medical
illness”: a critical examination of the statement and its impact on patient care and
society. Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience: JPN, 40(3), 147.
Karyotaki, E., Riper, H., Twisk, J., Hoogendoorn, A., Kleiboer, A., Mira, A., ... &
Andersson, G. (2017). Efficacy of self-guided internet-based cognitive behavioral
therapy in the treatment of depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis of individual
participant data. JAMA psychiatry, 74(4), 351-359.
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