Cell Phone Distractions: Undermining Academic Success and Well-being
Nowadays, technology is really common and is used by everyone, everywhere. It can be really useful in some cases, such as hospitalization and organization, but it also has negative impacts on humans. The majority of students in schools around the world have access to the most common technology: cell phones. The question is, are cell phones useful in classrooms at school? Definitely not, simply because they can be a big source of distraction, increase the risks of cyberbullying, and decrease physical education and activities (social life at school).
Firstly, cell phone use in classrooms is not useful simply because it can lead to distraction during lessons. For example, when the teacher explains a lesson to the whole class, students usually take out their phones and occupy themselves by watching videos, playing games, texting, etc. This distraction can lead to more stress because they won’t be on time with the lessons and homework and won’t understand properly the assignments that have been given, which can cause a big workload. According to researchers, 49% of students who took a survey claimed that it distracted them in classrooms. “It was a constant distraction for kids, and what it became is a constant discipline issue” (Robin Kvalo).
It is humongously insane! Because of this, students won’t be able to get a better sleep schedule from the amount of charge and anxiety by catching up on their work, which can be really bad for their health. According to scientists, teenagers who have a bad frequent sleep schedule have a higher chance of getting heart attacks in the future, strokes, diabetes as well as mental illnesses. In brief, all of these side effects can lead to failure not only in school grades but, most importantly, health.
The Dark Side of Connectivity: Cell Phones and the Surge of Cyberbullying
Secondly, cell phone use in schools isn’t useful because it can also cause cyberbullying. Since teens are predominantly at their cell phones, they have a greater chance of provoking other students by threatening them with texts. The problem with this is that the teachers around them don’t realize since the action is not physically committed. According to several mental health professionals, more than 59% of students are victims of cyberbullying and have never reported it. On top of that, since cyberbullying is very common in schools, there is, therefore, a greater chance that the rate of suicide and depression will increase rapidly.
According to researchers, about 1 in five students, which is the same as 21%, had committed suicide because of that. They had difficulty sleeping, concentrating (which caused more stress because of the lack of patience to complete school tasks), etc. Other studies discovered that 34% experienced cyberbullying in general around the world. This concludes that cell phone use in schools can cause cyberbullying, which leads to death.
Cell Phones vs. Real-World Interactions: The Erosion of School Socialization
Thirdly, cell phone use in schools isn’t necessary because the socialization between students and their teachers will decrease (physical education as well as activities). Being on cell phones during class at school wouldn’t really help students with their social lives. We will always be on social media, playing games, instead of actually having fun with friends and doing school activities (enjoying the moment). About 68% are addicted to phones and aren’t really socializing with peers.
Socialization is a really important thing, especially for teenagers, because it reduces anxiety, suicide, and depression levels. Instead of living in real life and listening to birds sing outside, they get addicted to a fake world. It is a pretty ugly habit that’s frequently committed. Studies show that principals are worried about students in classrooms at school (with cell phones) because the latter will bring not only cell phones but other devices, such as Chromebooks, iPads, etc., in order to occupy themselves and “leave” the real world to have fun in their fictional one.
Scientists claim that socialization is extremely important because those interactions will give humans a chance to explore different things from people, and fitting into the larger world will make them learn how to communicate with others as well as share thoughts and feelings, which makes them feel better, healthier and more open. It will stabilize the society. Let’s take the example of the COVID-19 pandemic; ever since it started, a lot of people got separated and stopped interacting with each other. A poll recently showed that about 90% of the human population around the world wasn’t feeling as happy as they used to before the pandemic hit, simply because of the lack of interaction. That’s what causes bad mental health.
In conclusion, cell phones are definitely not essential in classrooms at school because they can be a source of distraction, can increase the risk of cyberbullying, which can lead to death, and can also decrease the amount of socialization between people. What if we look on the positive side? There are times when cell phones can actually save lives.
References
Anderson, J. (2022). “The Digital Distraction: How Cell Phones Impact Student Performance.” Educational Psychology Journal.
Kvalo, R. (2023). “Mobile Madness: Cell Phones in the Classroom and its Impact.” Education Today.
Thompson, L., & Patel, P. (2021). “Sleep Deprivation in Teens: A Public Health Crisis.” Journal of Adolescent Health.
The development of technology and the evolution of mobile phones have revolutionized the world. Nowadays, people use smartphones for a variety of tasks other than calling or exchanging messages with a friend. In particular, teenagers and children have become active phone users over the recent decade. Technology enables communication, provides access to the internet and social media, as well as offers entertainment and gaming applications. At the same time, a widespread belief is that too much screen time contributes to high rates of anxiety and depression among adolescents (Popper). This essay aims to discuss the connection between phones and teenagers’ mental health and explain why the use of smartphones is merely a reflection of problems that children would face either way.
Main body
Generally, there are two sides to the phone use argument. Some people believe that screen time causes anxiety, depression, stress, and mental problems in teenagers. As a result, many parents treat technologies with fear and suspicion since they are worried about the negative effect on their children. Others see no apparent connection between smartphone use and adolescents’ health issues. Parents supporting this belief consider the positive opportunities that phones offer for communication, learning, and development. Personally, I agree with the idea that smartphones do not cause high anxiety and depression rates in children; however, they might aggravate the existing problems. According to Popper, excessive screen time can affect such vulnerable groups as adolescents with mental health problems. It is essential to control the time spent on the phone and include other activities in the daily routine. Balance is vital for teenagers and children, as well as adults, in this regard.
However, I agree with the statement that there are broader and more urgent problems associated with depression and anxiety in adolescents. For instance, the stress related to studies, future choices, student loans, and other important matters can add to sleep deprivation in a more significant way than phone use. Similarly, there are numerous social problems that contribute to the mental burden of teenagers, including climate change, discrimination, inequalities, and other issues. In this regard, the use of phones as a means of communication and a source of knowledge and valuable information can support children in their worries. It is essential to prioritize major challenges instead of supporting beliefs that are not evidence-based.
In this regard, there is a case study in the article presented in this module that appeals most to me. In particular, the article mentions the debate over the harmful effect of phones which is supported by many parents. My family is sometimes worried about the amount of my screen time as well. However, I must mention that I view my smartphone as a valuable source of information, data, and useful functions. For instance, I can research various subjects and reach out to other people via social media. It is challenging to balance screen time, but I have not noticed anxiety or depression signs caused by the device itself. Instead, there are other real-world issues that contribute to my worries, irrespective of phone use.
Summary
To summarize, there are two opposing opinions with regard to the effect of phone use on children and teenagers. It can be concluded that there is a widespread belief supporting the idea that the real cause of anxiety and depression in the youth is found outside smartphones. Indeed, real-life problems can be more alarming than the use of technology, requiring more attention. At the same time, balance is still important, and screen time should be limited.
Work Cited
Popper, Nathaniel. “Panicking About Your Kids’ Phones? New Research Says Don’t.” The New York Times, 2020, Web.
Mental illness is entrenched with definite connotations that impede health-seeking behavior in a similar way that it was in the earlier centuries. Despite scientific advancement and advocacy, the remnants of these connotations are still prevalent. When individuals suffering from mental health problems elect to seek health services, most fail to adhere to the treatment regime, while others terminate the services altogether (Conner et al. 2010, 56).
Stigma is one of the major factors behind this phenomenon. It is one of the most significant impediments to progress in mental health services and providing timely help to the patients. This paper focuses on stigma, how it affects mental health-seeking behavior and utilization among ethnic minorities.
The Definition of Stigma
It is imperative to examine the concept of stigma to understand its impact on behavior fully. There are several constructs that are related to stigma. First, stereotypes, defined as characterizations of groups that are developed from some truth, are rigid and global in nature (Murry et al. 2011, 1119). Second, prejudice, defined as attitudes and preconceived opinions, castigated against a social group without their knowledge. Third, discrimination, which refers to treating one group differently from one another by limiting benefits to one group. These constructs are cognitive (stereotypes), affective (prejudice), and behavioral (discrimination).
Stigmatization encompasses these constructs but also includes negative characterization to the ‘outer group’ ( Sue at al. 2012, 532). In conclusion, we can say that stigmatization refers to ‘marking’ an individual group as inferior by the majority of a social group. Stigma can either be public or internalized. Public stigma refers to misconceptions and attitudes ingrained into the general public that lead to stigmatization against people with mental illness. In contrast, the internalized understanding of the concept of stigmatization refers to devaluation resulting from the application of negative stereotypes on self. Stigmatization of persons with mental illness is prevalent in the US. (Lindsey, Joe and Nebbitt 2010, 35).
Stigma and Health Seeking Behavior in Patients with Mental Illness
The correlation between stigma, ethnic minorities, and health-seeking behavior can be best described using the ‘double stigmatization’ approach. Members of ethnic minority groups experience discrimination in all segments of their life. The history of the US is awash with prejudice and discrimination against people of ethnic minorities, such as Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, African Americans, Native Indians, and Alaska natives.
Historical discrimination against minority ethnic groups has resulted in poverty and low educational levels in these populations. As such, the utilization of mental health services is low as compared to Caucasians. In addition, discrimination is rife that limits social and economic opportunities in these communities. Studies such as Tuskegee increased distrust between care providers and ethnic minorities. Low educational levels, little trust towards healthcare providers, poverty, inadequate health services, and prejudice has reduced the ability of these groups to access medical services. These factors can ‘overlap’ and exacerbate stigma in ethnic minorities (Merikangas 2011, 35).
Individuals with mental problems in these communities experience two forms of stigmatization; stigma arising from being a member of a minority group and stigma as a result of suffering from a mental condition. This problem is further exacerbated by the lack of awareness among members of an ethnic group and lack of cultural competence on the part of health care providers (Villatoro, Morales, and Mays 2014, 353).
Ethnic minorities have a higher stigma towards individuals with mental illnesses as compared to Caucasians, although these results are not consistent. Various studies point out that the level of stigma among Asian and African Americans against people with mental illnesses is higher than in Caucasians. In addition, the two groups view persons with mental illnesses as dangerous. Latinos are less likely to stigmatize individuals with mental illness as compared to Caucasians. As such, the disparity in health-seeking behavior among Caucasians and ethnic minority groups can be attributed to double stigmatization (Villatoro, Morales, and Mays 2010, 9).
Studies on the barriers that impede African Americans’ ability to seek psychotherapy help show that cultural barriers, financial barriers, lack of awareness, alternative resources, and stigma are the primary factors. The number of individuals with medical insurance among black Americans is low as a result of historical marginalization. In addition, racism in healthcare organizations is rife that limits ethnic minorities’ ability to seek for medical help (Lindsey, Joe, and Nebbitt 2010, 35).
The number of culturally competent professionals providing services for individuals with mental illnesses is low ( Keyes et al. 394). Moreover, the number of practicing individuals from these groups is low. As such, there are numerous barriers that continue to perpetuate disparities in the provision of health services in general. These factors, combined with stigma, means that a person from an ethnic minority group will experience double stigma ( Keyes et al. 394).
History of discrimination, maltreatment, and economic marginalization has resulted in the current disparities in the provision and access to general health care. Current statistics suggest that morbidity and mortality among ethnic minorities are higher than among Caucasians. Moreover, current literature points out individual life, dies, or gets sick depending on their ethnicity, age, race, and socioeconomic status. Socio-economic determinants include income levels, occupation, and educational level. American minorities belong to the lower social class, and thus they have lower educational levels, low-income, and mostly get menial jobs. As such, they are less likely to ‘afford’ proper mental care. With less education, psychiatric care is severely compromised (Andrinopoulos, 2014, 12).
Conclusion
A review of the literature shows that there is low empirical evidence of A review of the literature shows that there is low empirical evidence of ‘intersectionality’ between stigma and ethnic minorities. The body of literature is narrow. Current research focuses on the impact of stigma on mental health-seeking behavior. As such more research should focus on the relationship between ethnic minorities, stigma, and mental health behavior.
Despite the limitations, the research has shed light on stigma and its impact on health seeking behavior minority groups. Disparities in health-seeking behavior between ethnic minorities and Caucasians cannot be attributed to levels of stigma, but one must also consider factors such as level of income, quality of care and cultural competence (Hunt and Eisenberg, 2010, 4). The level of stigma among ethnic minority groups is a significant impediment to the access of care.
Individuals with mental illnesses in these communities experience double stigmatization, first from the members of their communities, second from Caucasians. As such, objective approaches to solving the problem of health seeking behavior of individuals of minority groups should be directed at bridging the socio-economic gaps between the Caucasian and ethnic minorities.
Bibliography
Andrinopoulos, Katherine, John Hembling, Maria Elena Guardado, Flor de Maria Hernández, Ana Isabel Nieto, and Giovanni Melendez. “Evidence of the Negative Effect of Sexual Minority Stigma on HIV Testing among MSM and Transgender Women in San Salvador, El Salvador.” AIDS and Behavior (2014): 1-12.
Conner, Kyaien O., Valire Carr Copeland, Nancy K. Grote, Gary Koeske, Daniel Rosen, Charles F. Reynolds III, and Charlotte Brown. “Mental Health Treatment Seeking among Older Adults with Depression: The Impact of Stigma and Race.”The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 18, no. 6 (2010): 531-543.
Hunt, Justin, and Daniel Eisenberg. “Mental Health Problems and Help-Seeking Behavior among College Students.” Journal of Adolescent Health 46, no. 1 (2010): 3-10.
Keyes, K. M., Martins, S. S., Hatzenbuehler, M. L., Blanco, C., Bates, L. M., & Hasin, D. S. (2012). “Mental Health Service Utilization for Psychiatric Disorders among Latinos Living In the United States: The Role of Ethnic Subgroup, Ethnic Identity, and Language/Social Preferences.” Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 47(3), 383-394.
Lindsey, Michael A., Sean Joe, and Von Nebbitt. “Family Matters: The Role of Mental Health Stigma and Social Support on Depressive Symptoms and Subsequent Help Seeking among African American Boys.” Journal of Black Psychology (2010).
Merikangas, Kathleen Ries, Jian-ping He, Marcy Burstein, Joel Swendsen, Shelli Avenevoli, Brady Case, Katholiki Georgiades, Leanne Heaton, Sonja Swanson, and Mark Olfson. “Service Utilization for Lifetime Mental Disorders in US Adolescents: Results of the National Comorbidity Survey–Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A).” Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 50, no. 1 (2011): 32-45.
Murry, Velma McBride, Craig Anne Heflinger, Sarah V. Suiter, and Gene H. Brody. “Examining Perceptions about Mental Health Care and Help-Seeking Among Rural African American Families of Adolescents.” Journal of youth and adolescence 40, no. 9 (2011): 1118-1131.
Sue, Stanley, Janice Ka Yan Cheng, Carmel S. Saad, and Joyce P. Chu. “Asian American Mental Health: A Call to Action.” American Psychologist 67, no. 7 (2012): 532.
Villatoro, Alice P., Eduardo S. Morales, and Vickie M. Mays. “Family Culture in Mental Health Help-Seeking and Utilization in a Nationally Representative Sample of Latinos in the United States: The NLAAS.” American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 84, no. 4 (2014): 353.
My chosen issue is “Prisons as mental health institutions.” This topic is essential for me and society as a whole since correctional workers and prisoners themselves are often subjected to violence. Violence, stress, and other factors in such an arrangement of affairs can negatively affect a person’s mental state, which is vital for studying.
The social advocacy group
My advocacy group is engaged in legal assistance to people subject to excessive violence and stress in prison, so their psyche has suffered. The following list contains the group’s goals:
Identification of the cause of unfavorable circumstances;
Resolution of legal disputes regarding the perpetrators;
Help the victim to improve their living conditions;
Achieving the payment of a fine and bringing the perpetrators to criminal liability.
The given ultimate goals of the group are intended to eradicate existing and (or) prevent new cases of mental disorders caused by prison conditions. Thus, this social problem is consistent with the goals in such a way that these goals are intended to improve the social life of prisoners or prison employees.
The sources related to this topic area
According to Lerman et al. (2021), conducted social surveys show that many correctional officers are subjected to violence, which is a consequence of the negative effect on mental health. There is a strong relationship between violence and symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and the risk of suicide (Lerman et al., 2021). Durcan and Zwemstra (2019) describe how prison conditions negatively affect a person’s mental state. Factors such as overcrowding, various forms of violence, lack of personal space, forced loneliness, and others contribute to the development of stress and induce mental disorders (Durcan & Zwemstra, 2019). What is more, nationwide, about 15% of prisoners—compared to 4% of the general U.S. population—have a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (Ford, 2017). According to Ford, nearly all prisoners with mental illness experienced childhood abuse, poverty, homelessness, or chaotic personal relationships. In addition, they are more likely to serve longer sentences than their fellow inmates without mental illness because they are abused and made to feel guilty. Moreover, prisoners with mental illness are more likely to commit suicide due to constant moral pressure and bullying (Ford, 2017).
Preliminary position statement
Most prison staff and prisoners themselves are subjected to violence, which produces the stress hormone, which encourages mental disorders to develop. Our advocacy group considers this an unacceptable manifestation in a tolerant, democratic society and has as its primary goal the prevention of these mental disorders through the protection of victims.
Stereotypes related to the issue
One of the stereotypes is that people consider prisoners of low social status do not need (deserve) legal assistance. Moreover, there is a stereotype among prisoners that it is shameful to receive legal assistance to develop a mental disorder due to prison conditions.
Further exploration
Given the current prison conditions, if work is carried out in prison with psychologists or psychotherapists, it can become a place where mental disorders can be detected for the first time, not because of its influence. When a person is sent to jail, the psychiatric service, working with the police or the court, relays information to the prison medical service to ensure continuity of care (Durcan & Zwemstra, 2019). Find out information about the health of these services, their functions, legal regulations, and responsibilities.
References
Durcan, G., & Zwemstra, J. C. (2019). Mental health in prison. WHO/Europe. Web.
Mental health issues have become a topical problem for contemporary society. The incidence rates of various conditions are alarmingly high, and the issues continue to affect new groups of population on a more profound level. In addition to objective difficulties caused by their conditions, people with mental health issues experience ostracism and discrimination from the rest of society. In order to address the issue, it is necessary to assess the current perception of people with mental health issues by the general public. This study proposes a quantitative survey design, which provides statistical data, which would reflect the current state of the problem. Based on the data, it will be possible to design effective interventions in the spheres where it is most necessary.
Introduction
Mental health is an essential concept, which has been receiving increased attention in recent decades. Unfortunately, despite considerable medical and scientific progress, the percentage of people with such conditions remains high. At the same time, the perception of such individuals by other members of society is often negative. This attitude is usually conditioned by stereotypes and prejudices embedded in the social landscape, and most of them are hardly ever related to the actual situation. Furthermore, the stigmatization of people with mental health issues further aggravates their problems, preventing them from proper socialization and impeding the recovery. These individuals already have to battle serious conditions, and ostracism prevents them from reaching their full potential and earning the deserved position in society. Evidently, modern values promote inclusiveness at all levels, but, despite significant progress, the amount of work to be done remains considerable. This proposal outlines an envisaged study, which would assess the current perception of people with mental issues within society while suggesting potential means of improving it.
Aim. The purpose of the proposed study is to evaluate the current level of public perception of mental health issues in order to establish the most promising points of improvement.
Research Question. What can be done to reduce the negative perception of people with mental issues?
Literature Review
Considering the acute nature of the matter at hand, a considerable amount of prior research exists in the academic community. These studies have the potential to provide a solid evidence-based foundation for the project and further discussions. Within the framework of the current proposal, reputable academic research databases were examined in the context of the discussed issue. The selection criteria served to determine studies, which are relevant to the topic and provide up-to-date information. Therefore, the selection process focused on articles that relate to the topic of mental health issues, their perception, and potential means of improving them. Furthermore, the studies were supposed to be published in English, i.e., available to the global academic community, within the past five years. The selection process resulted in an array of 20 articles, which were studied, and categorize based on the overarching topic.
Mental Health Issues Prevalence
The first set of studies is expected to outline the grave nature of the problem in the current society. Park-Lee et al. (2017) report that nearly 15% of American residents seek mental health treatment annually, and there is also a number of people who do not address their problems. Research suggests that current studies focus on mental issue prevalence within specific, previously non-targeted groups (Hanley et al., 2019). Trinh et al. (2019) observe significant disparities resulting in higher levels of mental issue prevalence among racial and ethnic minority elderly. Furthermore, mental problems are on the increase among the younger population, as well (Cain, 2018). Cage et al. (2018) state that the students’ mental health is a matter of serious concern for universities. This idea is supported by Evans et al. (2018), who refers to the matter as a crisis in graduate education. Ventriglio et al. (2020) trace the surge in mental health problems to the growing urbanization rates, which contribute to social alienation. It causes new issues and aggravates the existing ones.
Mental Health Issues Perception
The aforementioned data suggest that a large portion of the world’s population is affected by a certain degree of mental health issues. The further set of studies aims to investigate the perception of such people within society. A systematic review conducted by Coleman et al. (2017) has revealed the presence of structural discrimination against people with mental issues. Smith and Applegate (2018) state that the negative perception of the matter creates barriers preventing patients from seeking proper help. Additionally, when mental health challenges co-exist with another issue, such as substance abuse, the combined stigmas of both are accumulated (Birtel et al., 2017). Furthermore, disorders, which require the use of opioids, are seen as an equivalent of drug use by many (Kennedy-Hendricks et al., 2017). The alienation increased during the Covid-19 pandemic when socialization was further challenged, and mental issues became aggravated by lockdowns (Aqeel et al., 2020, and Tang et al., 2021).
Mental Health Issues Representation and Improvement
The way mental health issues are represented is to be evaluated in order to determine further intervention plans. Robinson et al. (2019) state that online media, which is the leading source of content for the younger generation, is generally characterized by the negative representation of such challenges. The problem is especially acute for LGBT communities, which experience double misrepresentation and discrimination (Strauss, 2020). Nevertheless, Bowen and Lovell (2019) observe a positive tendency in this regard on the Twitter platform. Neto et al. (2017) show that traditional media represents mental issues more positively, whereas treatment procedures are mostly covered from a negative perspective. Evidently, the problem is to be addressed on various levels in order to improve representation and eradicate the consequent discrimination. Marwood and Hearn (2019) suggest that one of the first steps would consist of increasing the level of mental health literacy among students. According to Browers (2020), eliminating the gap in the public’s knowledge is essential in addressing the issue properly. Bryan et al. (2018) refer to effective management programs, which contribute to the process in the workplace. Overall, a comprehensive effort is required to sustain the existing progress.
Table of Sources
Source
Reason for Inclusion
Article by Aqeel et al. (2020)
Topical discussion of the issue in relation to the Covid-19 situation
Article by Birtel et al. (2020)
Description of the issue in relation to other problems, which may aggravate the effect
Article by Bowen & Lovell (2019)
Analysis of positive developments in relation to the discussed issue
Article by Brouwers (2019)
Proposed intervention via educating the public on the issue of mental health perception
Article by Bryan et al. (2018)
Effective management interventions in the workplace in relation to the discrimination against people with mental health issues
Article by Cage et al. (2018)
Outline of the issue among graduate students
Article by Cain (2018)
The article introduces the increasing focus on younger population’s issues
Article by Coleman et al. (2017)
The article outlines the nature of structural discrimination against people with mental health issues
Article by Evans et al. (2018)
The article describes a mental health crisis in higher education
Article by Hanley et al. (2019)
The article outlines the current directions of relevant research
Article by Kennedy-Hendricks et al. (2017)
Overview of the discrimination against prescribed use of opioids
Article by Marwood & Hearn (2019)
Proposed intervention via increasing the health literacy of medical students
Article by Neto et al. (2017)
Analysis of traditional media representation of people with mental health issues
Article by Park-Lee et al. (2017)
Relevant statistics regarding the prevalence of mental issues
Article by Robinson et al. (2017)
Analysis of social media representation of people with mental health issues
Article by Smith & Applegate (2018)
The article describes societal barriers imposed on people with mental health issues
Article by Strauss et al. (2017)
Description of the additional factors, which worsen the situation for LGBT communities, such as double discrimination
Article by Tang et al. (2021)
Topical discussion of the issue in relation to the Covid-19 situation
Article by Trinh et al. (2019)
Racial and ethnic minorities statistics
Article by Ventriglio et al. (2018)
Insight into the factors, contributing to the development of the problem
Methodology
Questionnaire Design
The proposed questionnaire comprises ten questions with yes/no variants of answers. The purpose of these questions is to encompass various spheres of general human activity. The range of areas would include the primary situations in which people with mental health issues could experience discrimination. First, questions will concern regular personal interaction in the mundane setting. Next, the evaluation of professional workplace communication will be conducted. An alternative to this section would include the educational environment if the respondent is still a student. Finally, the third section comprises questions related to close, even intimate relationships. This way, it will be possible to observe the tendencies regarding the public’s view of people with mental issues in a variety of most common settings.
Reliability and Validity
These concepts imply that the results of the study can be considered accurate and utilized in research for further reference. The reliability of the study will be ensured by its very design. Considering the current situation in terms of the Covid-19 pandemic’s restrictions, the questionnaires will be distributed via the Internet. However, access to the questionnaire will be granted only after the completion of a simple yet necessary registration procedure. Potential respondents will be familiarized with the design and the aim of the study. They will also need to fill several forms, which will provide information regarding the study sample’s demographics for further statistics. This way, all subjects will be aware of the study’s purpose and participate in it voluntarily and knowingly.
Integrity
The notion of research integrity means that the study will rely on honest methods of data collection, analysis, and evaluation. It also implies that the possibility of personal bias influence on the outcome is to be reduced to a minimum. This proposal is based on the quantitative method of research, and all results will be presented in the form of numbers and statistics, thus alleviating the possibility of misinterpretation. Furthermore, all participants will be aware of the study design and informed of all relevant aspects. At the same time, they will be able to remain anonymous, which is likely to prompt honest answers.
Ethical Issues
The topic itself implies a certain degree of potential ethical issues. The concept of mental health is highly delicate for both people who experience issues with it and the general public. In this regard, considerable attention was devoted to the phrasing of all questions in order to avoid any unintentional offense. Additionally, all answers are to be recorded anonymously, and only relevant demographic data (age, gender, ethnicity, and occupational status) will be considered.
Sampling Method
The idea of the study is to reflect the general public’s perception of people with mental health issues. Accordingly, it will not focus on a specific social group in order to encompass the diverse population of the country will take all its variables. Sampling will be randomized in that the registration procedure for the online survey will comprise the only requirement, which is being over 18 years of age. This way, the project will be able to reflect the current situation in regards to the research question in an objective manner.
Participants
As mentioned before, the survey will be distributed via an online form with a short registration procedure. The study will not focus on a specific group, so the primary recipients of the questionnaire link will be from the researcher’s range of acquaintances (extended family, friends, and peers). However, to broaden the sample and obtain more objective data, the survey link will be later posted to one of the local social media communities.
Conclusion
Overall, the proposed study design is expected to yield relevant results in terms of potential points of improvement. Contemporary society is highly complex and multi-faceted, and each of its aspects requires a specific intervention plan. In fact, it would be inefficient to devise an action plan without a complete understanding of the current state of the problem. The proposed survey can provide insight into the current perception of people by the general public due to its randomized design. This way, it will be possible to determine whether immediate action is required in a particular area of society. Therefore, further studies can be targeted at specific environments and demographics, enabling precise intervention plans.
References
Aqeel, M., Shuja, K. H., Abbas, J., Rehna, T., & Ziapour, A. (June 1, 2020). The influence of illness perception, anxiety and depression disorders on students mental health during covid-19 outbreak in Pakistan: A web-based cross-sectional survey. Research Square. Web.
Birtel, M. D., Wood., L., & Kempa, N. J. (2017). Stigma and social support in substance abuse: Implications for mental health and well-being. Psychiatry Research, 252, 1–8. Web.
Cage, E., Stock, M., Sharpington, A., Pitman, E., & Batchelor, R. (2018). Barriers to accessing support for mental health issues at university. Studies in Higher Education, 45(8), 1637–1649. Web.
Cain, J. (2018). It’s time to confront student mental health issues associated with smartphones and social media. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 82(7). Web.
Coleman, S. J., Stevelink., S. A. M., Hatch, S. L., Denny, J. A., & Greenberg, N. (2017). Stigma-related barriers and facilitators to help seeking for mental health issues in the armed forces: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative literature. Psychological Medicine, 47(11), 1–13. Web.
Evans, T. M., Bira, L., Gastelum, J. B., Weiss, L. T., & Vanderford, N. T. (2018). Evidence for a mental health crisis in graduate education. Nature Biotechnology, 36, 282–284. Web.
Marwood, M. R., & Hearn, J. H. (2019). Evaluating mental health literacy in medical students in the United Kingdom. The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, 14(5), 339-347. Web.
Park-Lee, E., Lipari, R. N., Hedden, S. L., Kroutil, L.A., & Porter, J. D. (2017). Receipt of services for substance use and mental health issues among adults: Results from the 2016 national survey on drug use and health. NCBI. Web.
Strauss, P., Cook, A., Winter, S., Watson, V., Toussaint, D. W., & Lin, A. (2017). Mental health issues and complex experiences of abuse among trans and gender diverse young people: Findings from trans pathways. LGBT Health, 7(3). Web.
Tang, S., Xiang, M., Cheung, T., & Xiang, Y. T. (2021). Mental health and its correlates among children and adolescents during COVID-19 school closure: The importance of parent-child discussion. Journal of Affective Disorders, 279, 353–360. Web.
Trinh, N. H. T., Bernand-Negron, R., & Ahmed, I. (2019). Mental health issues in racial and ethnic minority elderly. Current Psychiatry Reports, 21, 102. Web.
Ventriglio, A., Torales, J., Castaldelli-Maia, J. M., De Berardis, D., & Bhugra, D. (2020). Urbanization and emerging mental health issues. CNS Spectrums, 26(1), 43–50.
African American women are one of the most stereotyped demographic groups in modern society and culture. Ranging from the infamous Aunt Jemima “mammy” stereotype that has its roots in slavery to the modern media portrayal of an aggressive or sassy black woman, these stereotypes have grown to dominate the cultural and social discourse regarding this race. Based on these stereotypes along with internal racial perception, there is an inherent social perception in a place of a strong black woman, which faces her problems head-on and does not show signs of weakness. This paper seeks to explore the origins of the strong black woman stereotype and its cultural portrayal and discuss the tolls of mental health and struggles that affect highly marginalized African American women in the context of this social perception.
Cultural Portrayal
As mentioned, the cultural portrayal of African American women varies. There is the ‘mammy’ stereotype, most commonly a maid or nanny, a heavy woman that takes care of her own or employer’s family. Such characters played important roles in films such as “Gone with the Wind” and “The Help” and can be seen in advertisements or commercial products such as Aunt Jemima’s breakfast products. A ‘Jezebel’ stereotype represents a cunning, foxy, usually tall and sexualized black woman. It is the rarest of the stereotypes, commonly seen in the film. Finally, there is the ‘Sapphire’ stereotype of the sharp-tongued sassy black woman that always speaks her mind. It represents a manipulative woman that emasculates her male partner (Biakolo et al.).
In every way, each of these media or cultural portrays contributes to the social perception of a strong black woman. A ‘mammy’ is always there to support others and puts aside her own desires. Jezebel exerts influence over men with her sexuality and remains an object of foreign desire. Meanwhile, a ‘Sapphire’ always gets her way and never backs down from her position. There is of course the ‘strong black woman’ trope itself, a struggling woman either from an impoverished family or difficult background having to fight her way in this world. Black women are portrayed as unbreakable, immovable, with a strong moral compass, but also being a natural nurturers, self-sacrificing, and oftentimes the backbone of the family or household (Manke). This portrayal has dominated the media and cultural portrayal in recent decades.
Reality
It can be argued that this stereotype is not bad, in all things considered, where black women have been historically disenfranchised and abused, it is empowering. However, it is done for the wrong reasons and sets unrealistic expectations. First, the strong black woman trope is pressuring African American women to act relentless and almost ignorant of the pressures of race and gender-based discrimination that will experience in their daily lives, after all, it is their burden (Manke). Second, black women are human too, with a wide depth of emotions, fears, and personalities. The expectation that they will be emotionless and have a strong standing in a society that puts up so many barriers, is unrealistic. The stereotype ends up hurting black women much more than empowering them.
Black women exist at a crossroads of race and gender-based discrimination and violence, faced with judgment and harassment from all sides, black men, white women and anyone in between. The tropes are dangerous because they imply that young black girls do not need as much nurturing and protection meanwhile the general indication that black people are not sensitive to pain is sometimes a matter of life and death in the context of recent police brutality (Samuel).
While yes, there are black women who are strong and dominating that have been key in the culture of modern American society such as Serena Williams, there have those that are kind and nurturing, such as Oprah, and then there are also those that are gentle and highly intelligent the likes of Michelle Obama. However, despite their inner strength and high-profile achievements, these women are diverse in their own unique ways. These women have also publicly shown their weaknesses and fears, in interviews or crying on camera. They are human, they are inherently imperfect. Serena Williams, arguably one of the best athletes of all time has not only overcome adversity and pushed the boundaries of professional sport, but also got involved in many scandals throughout her career, notably struggling with anger management and depression (Clarke, 2018).
Oprah, the cultural TV personality of a generation, has opened up about her depression. While these are cultural icons and famous people, this applies to all black women, and the trope is wrong in so many ways. These women strive to draw and find strength for their families in time of need, oftentimes not to fulfill the trope or character trait, but to survive. However, ranging from everyday women to celebrities, because of these stereotypical cultural tropes, many do not see that these people need help and support just as much as anyone else.
Definition of the Group
Taking into account all described above, being a black woman is challenging in many ways. Society is not going to be opening doors for us, but rather we have to open these for ourselves. While many of the stereotypes are racist, there is some truth, in that black women are strong both physically and spiritually, truly serving as the foundation for our loving families and communities. Black women also often do not meet the expectations of society and media of beauty, but many of us are so beautiful and it is ok, as it pushes us to overcome the media’s racist and unhealthy perceptions. Despite being strong, black women are not invincible, so help should be sought, especially in terms of mental health to prevent the suffering and depression that many experiences. Success is not guaranteed but it is deserved, and black women should not feel ashamed of their achievements in professional or personal circles. Finally, the positive aspect which I personally feel unites black women is that we are kind and supportive, especially to each other. Throughout my life, at times of difficulty, no matter where I was, there was a black woman that supported me, pushed me to be better, and helped me find a solution to my problems. We are a united, tight-knit community, each trying to make their way and push the world to be a bit more accepting.
Mental Health Crisis
In the first week of June of 2021, Naomi Osaka, a young black female tennis player of mixed heritage withdrew from one of the most prestigious and important tennis tournaments citing mental health. In weeks prior, she announced that she would not be participating in mandatory press conferences as they felt abused and detrimental to her wellbeing. Naomi was fined for her conduct and threatened with expulsion from the tournament and future tennis majors by the organizers. She then made the decision to withdraw herself, revealing publicly her long-time struggle with depression and anxiety as a professional athlete and woman of color (Blinder). The optics around the situation were horrible, with many in the media ‘crucifying’ Osaka for being self-righteous and avoiding professional responsibilities. After all, she is an athlete getting paid millions, she can withstand a few mean questions from the press. It was surprising to many because of the absolutely calm, cold, and concentrated demeanor that Naomi is known for in her matches and public persona – once again, a portrayal and expectation from society that the black woman identifies with that trope.
Conclusion
Depression and mental health are serious topics and affect a prevalent number of black women and Americans in general. Minority women are twice as likely to experience an episode of major depression and only half as likely to seek help (Richards). After all, depression is seen as a weakness, and it does not fit the cultural expectations, particularly at the highest levels of athletic performance like Naomi Osaka or Serena Williams. Mental health is not a priority for many African American women, while it should be. It is detrimental to their long-term well-being and requires self-care and work. If more people in society, and even in their own community, would recognize the struggles and mental health issues that black women may encounter, then the world would be a much more inclusive and accepting place for these individuals who strive to remain strong based on a racist, sexist stereotype despite being flawed humans just like the rest.
Although social incorporation is associated with mental well-being in a population, this affiliation needs exploration for people curbed in total institutions. Prisons, in particular, are a representation of exceptional conditions with the potential to change the customary correlation between mental health and social ties. This paper surveys the role of peer social relations upheld by jail prisoners based on self-reported behaviors in the targeted prison unit. Using different methodologies, this study aims to establish whether social interactions can positively or negatively affect the mental health of individuals. Several studies have constantly established that favorable exchange in a unique social environment impacts mental health and well-being. Therefore, this research proposal aims to review previous studies and conduct research on the effects of social integration on mental health and general well-being in a criminal justice system. Isolation and social ties in prison settings are shown to increase mental health disorders among prisoners.
Introduction
The sharp rise in the rates of imprisonment in America over the previous four decades has encouraged studies focused on life imprisonment’s negative social concerns. This research aims to evaluate how social interaction affects mental health and well-being in criminal justice. Owing to the de-institutionalization of United States mental well-being hospitals over the past fifty years, the jail system has observed a rise in the quantity of those having mental disorders with studies suggesting that there are ten times more persons in jail or prison having mental health disorders compared to those admitted in mental hospitals.
Significantly, every assessment of imprisonment and its relationship to health relationship has typically depended on comprehensive examinations to compare the mental wellbeing of short-time prisoners and those sentenced to life imprisonment. Generally, the lack of social interaction has been closely linked to stress-related disorders. However, Haney (2018) shows that these undesirable effects vary depending on prison subgroups. Therefore, the relationship amid alienation/isolation with mental health disorder is well recognized in general health works, with the vigorous relation between social support, social integration, and individual health (Clear et al. 2017). Because of limited data, mostly omitted from imprisonment and health studies are the deficiency related to life behind bars, including isolation, alienation, and high stress levels.
Finally, imprisoned individuals’ chances to control their access to anticipated physical and mental health resources and their environment are very narrow. Although, these features enable inmates to shape their social and health relationships, the likely hood of retreating the positive relationship between health and social incorporation found in several social backgrounds (Kreager et al. 2017). Determination of whether it is healthier for inmates to be friends with each other or to be isolated has consequences not simply for the social philosophy but correspondingly to the prison policy and prisoners’ reintegration efforts.
Literature review
An increasing research body has verified that feeble social ties and low-slung social integration are related to mental and physical health issues. Haynie et al. (2018) show that few relationships that are of poor quality are associated with cardiovascular illness, depression, impaired immunity, and depression. Conversely, robust social associations may reduce stress physiological response, hence social exclusion and isolation are linked strongly to poor health results in a general population as well as untimely death, according to Haney (2018). These researchers agree that a positive association of health and social incorporation is definitely extended to the inmate groups. Just as family and friends maintain ties outside prison, for example through visitation is connected to enhanced prisoners’ well-being and mental health.
Notably, the mental and physical health significances of weak or strong peer relationships may be increased in the prison environment. Sugie and Turney (2017) found that mental health deteriorates in prison settings since conservative ties to friends and family members are not allowed. These results prove that the deprivation of social connections is strongly related to the high prevalence of mental disorders.
Additionally, researchers recognize that the social integration health benefits may differ by context. According to Clear et al. (2017), more or less relationships may jeopardize health and social integration. In settings such as prisons, where inmates are unwillingly brought together with other peers who are high risk, social integration promotes relatively risky healthier behavior through mechanisms of peer influence, as shown by Haney (2018). Evidently, prisoners have worse mental and physical health compared to the non-imprisoned, and some negative behavior influences may worsen this condition
The influence of social ties in the prison setting has also been evaluated. Sugie and Turney (2017) found that inmates with lesser equal finish may have a better alteration and the resulting health than individuals who develop strong social ties to other prisoners. Certainly, outcomes from prior two studies that researched the inmate social integration in association with mental health discovered little confirmations to support health-promoting influences of social integration in jail. The first research by Haynie et al. (2018), found that the lack of social support in a prison setup, is not connected to lower inmates’ depression and anxiety levels. However, these findings may have a gender perspective linking alienation to different mental conditions among male and female prisoners.
In reference to the role of prison relationships in facilitating better mental conditions, a negative correlation has been found. The research on male inmates by Leonardi et al. (2017), showed that social integration of peers was not connected to the better mental health of the inmates. Moreover, inmates who placed their trust on fellow prisoners have a greater possibility of distress compared to detainees without believing fellow inmates (Kreager and Kruttschnitt 2018). Hence a conclusion that the relationship amid mental health and general well-being with peer integration might reverse confinement environment. Since, trust placed in inmates who are also crime convicts supports health-risk behaviors it results to deteriorating mental health.
Inmate Subgroups and Health
Most researchers’ discussions are focused on the relationship between social integration and inmate mental health. Nevertheless, Kreager and Kruttschnitt (2018) argue that attitudes and health conduct differ transversely across groups of prisoners so that the relationship between health and sociality is dependent on the content and structure of peer clusters. Dependable with differential and subcultural social organization theories of crime, prominent sociologists suggest that prison society has multiple, mostly competing clusters exhibiting different value orientations, demographics, and behavior.
Inmate subgrouping may result in repressive group customs which will eventually extend to mental health and general well-being. According to Anon (2017), an inflow of drug dealers or offenders complementing America’s fight on drug abuse may result in amplified marginalization and clustering of substance users in the States’ prisons. Clear et al. (2017) confirm that these subgroups will eventually be characterized via other drug use correlated health challenges like communicable illnesses. Similarly, for inmates’ clusters organized about health-promoting initiatives, like religious exercise or involvement, may progress mental health and physical well-being (Haynie et al. 2018). Indeed, ethnographic studies highlight correlations with spiritual peers as significant in maintaining and establishing spiritual distinctiveness and coping with imprisonment pain.
This study surveys how social interactions affect mental health and general well-being based on criminal justice. As a result, it promotes an understanding of how inmate clusters are related to a set of demographic, conduct, and mental health attributes, as advanced by Karim et al. (2019). Different from previous researches, this study approaches the presence of clusters inductively via a social network method, similar to that applied by Sharma, Madaan, and Petty (2020). The approach identifies clusters through consideration of patterns of links among inmates rather than a priori tasks for prisoners in groups based on common attributes.
Methodology
Sample
This study will use data in the second level of security custody, that is; the minimum security component of a medium men’s prison. All unit prisoners will be requested to participate in a self-report assessment which will be administered in a face-to-face interview for about an hour using an online interviewing channel. The selected eligible unit inmates will then take part in the survey as long as they manage to provide well-versed consent. The survey lasts approximately three weeks. In addition to that, it is also required that prisoners with extreme mental health disorders be exempted from participating in the survey.
Secondly, inmates will be asked to account on numerous health-related perceptions and behaviors. Smoker will identify those who will answer affirmatively to the question “Do you smoke currently?” expected answer is a yes or no. Therefore, mental health grades will be weighed by means of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), which consists of 20 items to measure how repeatedly respondents having depression symptoms answer questions.
Eventually, a summary is created to measure the inmates’ mental health by combining the results from all tested health variables into a combined score depending on each variable score. For example, for the above smoker variable, inmates will be assigned marks of 1 or 0 depending on the response they will give and depending on the number of questions, a cumulative score will be accorded. For instance, if the variable questions are five then the total highest cumulative score will be five. Hence the higher values will reveal a well self-reported health result.
Social network information will be collected by asking such questions as ‘Who do you get along with in the unit?’ Social integration will be operationalized using in-degree, which will assess inmates’ social circles. Therefore, analyses will comprise of numerous control variables, that is requests will be made to access the prisoner’s records such as the type of cities and states they were living before conviction, their years of completed schooling, their religion, race or ethnicity which will be based on self-records at the time of the arrest. Additionally, age is also a constant measure centered on the date of birth.
Analytic Strategy
To examine the connotation between inmate mental health and social integration, a multi-step technique will be adopted. This will begin by presentation of numerous simple procedures of the relations of health and the social integration. Hence, bivariate correlations examination between health measures and in-degree will be done, to evaluate whether inmates who get along show similar behaviors health-wise then the two results of autocorrelation in network is calculated. Given that both results have the advantage of homophily measurement that is relative to arbitrary chance prospects where relationships are randomly assigned.
Secondly, this study will examine the same network-health link, controlled for a substitute technique that will spuriously induce such associations. Specifically, this study will use an exponentially random graph model, where the predicted health measures will exhibit a linking between two prisoners. Therefore, the ERGM treats dyad effectively as a unit of analysis hence the ability for an individual attributes and dyadic characteristics to be controlled (Anon 2017). Thus this paper will examine the association amid social network and mental health and well-being while controlling numerous factors which can create such patterns.
Discussion
The results of this study will prove the assertions made in current literature on the negative impacts of isolation on mental health. The CES-D scale will indicate the prevalence of depression among inmates. On a scale of 1-60, 75% of the inmates will record a score of 16 and above. This shows that three-quarters of inmates suffer from depression while a quarter show less stress-related disorders. In-degree results show that, based on the inmates’ responses, those who are involved in social ties within the prison setup are mentally healthier than those who live in isolation.
To this point, the study should measure directly the prisoners’ peer relationship structure together with integration-health connotation. Most inmates will confirm that they get along with those having similar behavior patterns. At least 80% of inmates will confirm having been positively or negatively influenced by their friends within the prison environment. Male respondents will show a stronger link between depression and isolation than female inmates. The responses are expected to prove the differential impact of social interactions on mental health and wellbeing in relation to gender.
However, it is beyond this research to elucidate the origin of the analyzed prison systems. The majority of the research papers on prison society have focused on whether prison endogenous deficiencies or the inmate exogenous characteristics are crucial for establishing the prison structure and culture. Therefore, the evidence from this research will be interpreted whether to support both arguments or not. These findings are expected to enable individuals to delve into the finest details of how social interactions impact the mental health and well-being of inmates in criminal justice.
Conclusion
Concrete scientific proof demonstrates that social interactions influence a wide range of health conclusions, which includes physical health, mental health, well-being, and mortality risks. Sociologists have frolicked a significant role in establishing how all this relates and in the discovery of the social variations at the population level and context, which in this case is the criminal justice system. This research’s approach of sociology offers a scientific policy to recommend how lawmakers may upsurge population health through the promotion and protection of the people’s social relationships.
References
Anon. 2017. “Dyadic Analysis Using Grid Sequence Methods: Inter-Dyad Differences In Intra-Dyad Dynamics.” The Gerontologist 56(Suppl_3):210-210.
Clear, Todd R, Michael Dean Reisig, Carolyn Turpin-Petrosino, and George F Cole. 2017. American Corrections in Brief.
Haney, Craig. 2018. “Restricting the Use of Solitary Confinement.” Annual Review of Criminology 1(1):285–310.
Haynie, Dana L., Corey Whichard, Derek A. Kreager, David R. Schaefer, and Sara Wakefield. 2018. “Social Networks and Health in a Prison Unit.” Journal of Health and Social Behavior 59(3):317-317.
Karim, Fazida, Azeezat Oyewande, Lamis F Abdalla, Reem Chaudhry Ehsanullah, and Safeera Khan. 2019. “Social Media Use and Its Connection to Mental Health: A Systematic Review.” Cureus, 12(6)
Kreager, Derek A., and Candace Kruttschnitt. 2018. “Inmate Society in the Era of Mass Incarceration.” Annual Review of Criminology 1(1):261–83.
Kreager, Derek A., Jacob T. N. Young, Dana L. Haynie, Martin Bouchard, David R. Schaefer, and Gary Zajac. 2017. “Where ‘Old Heads’ Prevail: Inmate Hierarchy in a Men’s Prison Unit.” American Sociological Review 82(4):685–718.
Leonardi, Rebecca, Hannah Buchanan-Smith, Gill McIvor, and Sarah-Jane Vick. 2017. ““You Think You’re Helping Them, But They’re Helping You Too”: Experiences of Scottish Male Young Offenders Participating in a Dog Training Program.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 14(8):945.
Sharma, Ashish, Vishal Madaan, and Frederick D. Petty. 2020. “Exercise For Mental Health.” Journal of clinical psychiatry, 8(2), 106-107.
Sugie, Naomi F., and Kristin Turney. 2017. “Beyond Incarceration: Criminal Justice Contact and Mental Health.” American Sociological Review 82(4):719-743.
Today, suicide has become a major public health concern, accounting for around 1.4% of deaths worldwide (Brådvik, 2018). Brådvik (2018) reports that up to 90% of suicides are related to psychiatric conditions, depression, substance abuse, and psychosis. Other conditions such as anxiety, personality-, eating-, and trauma-related disorders also put a person at a higher risk of suicidality. This essay explores suicide statistics in the United Kingdom, especially in criminal justice settings, and outlines the limitations of statistical data.
The Office for National Statistics (2019) defines suicide as death from intentional self-harm for individuals over ten years old. The definition also includes deaths from an injury or poisoning with an undetermined intent for persons aged 15 and older. 2018 was marked with a total of 6,507 suicides registered in the UK, which is an 11% increase from 2017. The suicide rate in the UK is around 11.2 deaths per 100,000 people. However, overall, the Office for National Statistics (2019) observes a downward trend starting in 1981.
Despite some improvements on a larger scale, some categories of people continue to be more prone to suicidal behaviour. For instance, suicide deaths among males are a significant public health concern. It is men who commit 75% of suicides, with a rate of 17.2 deaths per 100,000 male populations. What is more, the suicide rate among men is on the rise while for females, it remains stable and relatively low (5.4 deaths per 100,000 female populations).
Lately, the UK has seen a surge in the number of suicide deaths in prison. Two-thirds of UK prisoners suffer from personality disorders and 15% – from anxiety and depression. Since mental disorders are associated with suicidality, especially in a setting with reduced access to health services, the increased suicide rate is explicable. PA Media (2019) reports that the number of suicide deaths rose by 6% in 2019, with the majority of them being drug poisoning. It raises concerns regarding mental health care in prisons and access to lethal drugs.
There are still barriers to collecting accurate and reliable data regarding suicide rates in the United Kingdom. The Office for National Statistics (2019) states that there has been a change in the standard of proof employed by coroners in England and Wales. Previously, coroners were using the “criminal standard” to determine that a death was indeed caused by suicide beyond all reasonable doubt. Now, however, they calculate the balance of probabilities as per the established “civil standard.” The Office for National Statistics (2019) predicts that said change will result in an increased number of deaths classified as suicide, which might create a discontinuity in national data.
Apart from that, there are registration delays that also complicate data collection. The Office for National Statistics (2019) explains that in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, all unexpected deaths are due to be investigated by a coroner. The process, referred to as an “inquest” in professional circles, can be quite time-consuming. In some cases, the proper investigation takes months if not years to complete. It creates a gap between the date of death and the date of death registration or a “registration delay.” However, the official institutions take into consideration only the date of death registration. Thus, some deaths that are registered this year might have happened last year, which surely skews the picture.
As the case study of Marcus Tommy, an aging Native American male, demonstrates, social welfare policies and the relevant efforts must be geared toward collaboration between local, culture-based mental health support systems, such as Tribal Support Counselors, and healthcare experts. Addressing the mental health needs of indigenous populations represents a major challenge for healthcare practitioners and social workers due to the cultural gap between them and their patients. Specifically, the lack of cultural competence regarding the needs of indigenous people leads to an inevitable failure to cater to the needs in question (Ormston, 2005). As a result, the efficacy of the relevant services drops, causing the target audience to continue experiencing distress.
Social Welfare Policies
In order to enhance collaboration between healthcare experts on a cross-cultural level and introduce opportunities for traditional and spiritual health practices along with the established Western healthcare framework, changes must be made on a policymaking level. Namely, social welfare policies for improving the quality of indigenous people’s lives must be designed. The policies in question will have to promote active cooperation between tribal healthcare authorities, such as Tribal Support Counselors, and healthcare professionals representing Western approaches to mental health management.
The policies in question must reflect the needs of indigenous people directly, primarily, by establishing a connection between their spiritual, mental, and physical health. Furthermore, specific factors that affect the mental well-being of minority groups, such as the prevalence of alcohol misuse among Native Americans, must be taken into account as well (Clark, 2006). Thus, proper guidance will be provided for mental health experts.
Services Received through the Tribal Mental Health Service and the Ability to Achieve a Better Quality of Life
Furthermore, when addressing mental health concerns of indigenous people, particularly members of the Native American community, one must examine the phenomenon of tribal mental health specifically. Defined as the set of practices designed within tribal communities for the purpose of addressing health concerns while allowing patients to maintain their spirituality, the specified practices represent a crucial part of the healing process (Kirmayer et al., 2000).
Though from the Western perspective, the practices in question might seem irrelevant, they bear crucial significance for Native American people, which is why they must be incorporated into the framework for managing Native American people’s health needs (Kirmayer et al., 2000). Particularly, the available evidence shows that the specified options contribute to patients’ social well-being and enable them to develop coping mechanisms that lead to better health sustenance (Chandler & Lalonde, 1998). For this reason, the concept of tribal mental health must be actively introduced into the relevant healthcare practices and the associated health policies.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
In the case at hand, legal and ethical considerations regarding the subject matter must be incorporated into the policymaking process. As the case indicates, the current legal framework for addressing the needs of people belonging to ethnic minorities and indigenous populations are extremely lacking (Bay, 2006).
Namely, the absence of guidelines for cross-cultural collaboration among mental health experts of the indigenous population and the Canadian health services is glaring. Thus, among the legal considerations, repercussions for causing a patient harm or, in the worst-case scenario, a fatal outcome will cause health experts to be legally liable and, therefore, subject to the relevant legal punishments, including the possibility of a jail sentence (Bay, 2006). Likewise, the ethical repercussions of failing to promote cross-cultural collaboration among experts will lead to healthcare professionals bearing moral responsibility for adverse and fatal outcomes among indigenous people. Therefore, appropriate measures must be undertaken to promote collaboration among healthcare experts on a cross-cultural level.
Especially, in the case under analysis, the patient displayed a rapid and unmanageable decline in his physical health status despite the evidently sensible interventions provided by members of the healthcare services. In turn, the intervention of the tribal mental health experts has contributed to an immediate improvement in the patient’s health status. The observed phenomenon can be ascribed to the intuitive understanding of the intricate nature of the sociocultural and socioemotional needs of Native American people among their healthcare authorities (Bay, 2006). The case illustrates that, unless the support of the tribal mental health expert had been introduced, a fatal outcome could have been a possibility, which further proves the need for cross-cultural collaboration within the mental healthcare system.
How Do the Various Acts and Legislations Presented Affect You?
The presence of acts and legislations related to the management of indigenous people’s needs is indicative of legal authorities recognizing the issue, yet there is an evident gap in the understanding of the needs in question. Particularly, as Marcus, one might be affected by the acts and legislations under analysis since they tend to prioritize the use of standardized healthcare strategies as opposed to focusing on patient-specific needs associated with the patient’s cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The current regulations overlook the importance of spiritual practices associated with the management of health-related issues within indigenous and especially Native American communities (“A practical guide to mental health and the law in Ontario, revised edition,” 2016).
Indeed, reports point to the lack of insight into culture-oriented practices in the current legal standards (“A practical guide to mental health and the law in Ontario, revised edition,” 2016). Additionally, there is a deplorable absence of emphasis on collaboration between healthcare officials and tribal healthcare experts representing the community in question (“A practical guide to mental health and the law in Ontario, revised edition,” 2016). Therefore, immediate changes must be introduced into the specified context to advance the efficacy of care and ensure that patients are provided with the necessary support and care.
Impact of These Acts and Legislations on the Family
The existing legislation affect the family of Indigenous people to a significant extent. Namely, due to the lack of consistent communication and cross-cultural exchange, families are forced to choose between their belief systems and the proposed interventions. Without the required health awareness and health literacy among most general audiences, the specified choice becomes exceptionally complicated (Bill 68, Mental Health Act, Health Care Consent Act, n.d.). Therefore, there is an active need for families to remain in contact with both local healthcare experts practicing traditional health strategies and official healthcare authorities that promote innovative, research- and evidence-based care (Bill 68, Mental Health Act, Health Care Consent Act, n.d.). Thus, the adverse effects of the current legal standards will be minimized, whereas the positive aspects of cooperation between the two cultures will be enhanced.
Legal and Ethical Constraints
As a mental health worker, I will have to comply with essential ethical and legal provisions when offering Marcus and his family members the relevant services. Clearly, the case under analysis features an instance of a geriatric patient’s health concerns being addressed. Therefore, the issue of consent and the appropriate assessment of Marcus’ mental health should have taken place according to the existing legal standards (Bill 68, Mental Health Act, Health Care Consent Act, n.d.). In turn, the specified measures were not taken, which indicates the lack of concern for the needs of indigenous populations within the Canadian healthcare service.
In addition, the case features several ethical issues that should have been addressed, the problem of misunderstanding and the healthcare expert’s failure to ensure clarity in communication being the prime example. The case details that, due to the daughter’s misunderstanding of the healthcare provider’s description of the case, namely, the choice of words such as “overwrought,” she could not infer the proper course of action to be taken to assist her father. In turn, the doctor’s failure to clarify whether the daughter as Marcus’ prime caregiver could understand the instructions correctly is illustrative of the healthcare expert’s poor ethics.
Explaining to the Government Funding Body That Successful Treatment and Follow-Through Depends upon Meeting the Needs of the ‘Identified Patients’ as Well as Family Needs
Therefore, I will have to draw attention to the issue of miscommunication between healthcare providers and indigenous communities. The failure of the current healthcare policies and the relevant legal provisions to reinforce the importance of meeting indigenous people’s needs should be isolated as one of the core concerns to be addressed in the nearest future. Furthermore, I will need to enhance cultural safety by introducing adequate strategies for encouraging the dialogue between indigenous populations and healthcare experts.
In addition, the specified communication must be maintained on several levels, namely, between official healthcare authorities and community healers; healthcare officials and patients; and healthcare experts and patients’ family members. The specified communication framework will allow for a comprehensive approach toward identifying core health concerns among members of indigenous populations, isolating cultural barriers to health management, and introducing tools for overcoming the barriers in question while offering patients the required support.
Most importantly, the role of cultural safety must be introduced into the framework for addressing the needs of indigenous people as one of the principal standards of care. Currently, the notion of cultural safety is integrated into the healthcare policies associated with managing the needs of indigenous populations, yet the specified standard lacks proper reinforcement (Bay, 2006). Particularly, as a healthcare provider, one must ensure the patient’s and the patient’s family participation in the treatment process, therefore, maintaining active collaboration with the specified stakeholders and encouraging the development of health literacy in the population in question. At the same time, the process in question must promote active cultural exchange, implying that healthcare providers will also receive relevant information regarding the nuances of health management for specific vulnerable minority communities, such as Native Americans.
Plan of Care
With the specified information in mind, I must incorporate strategies geared toward building a rapport it the patient and his family into the plan of care for Marcus and allow him to embrace his culture and traditions while accepting the proposed treatment. The specified process will be split into several crucial steps. First, I must build a conversation with the tribal healthcare experts, namely, the Tribal Support Counselors. The specified step will allow identifying Marcus’ essential spiritual needs, as well as those of his family, and structure the intervention accordingly. Afterward, a rapport between Marcus and me as a healthcare expert, as well as me and Marcus’ daughter, will have to be established.
The specified step is vital in promoting trust as the basis for successful treatment. With the enhancement of trust, the patient and his family members will be significantly more cooperative, which, in turn, will increase the probability of successful treatment. Furthermore, the described change will help me promote patient education more actively, therefore increasing Marcus’ and his daughter’s understanding of the rationale behind the choice of specific treatment options.
Next, the therapy session will start, with me encouraging Marcus to recognize his current mental health issues. Specifically, the trauma of losing his wife, as well as the substance misuse disorder, will have to be acknowledged as the core concerns to be managed. The therapy process will be geared toward supporting Marcus in identifying his emotions through talk therapy (“Harm reduction policies and programs for persons or Aboriginal descent,” n.d.).
The specified approach will help him reconcile with his trauma by recognizing it and accepting his emotions, primarily those of pain and guilt. Afterward, during the therapy process, I will have to focus on helping Marcus relieve himself of the feeling of guilt and introduce a healthier mechanism for managing negative emotions. For this purpose, active communication with his family members, particularly his daughter, will have to be introduced as a way for Marcus to heal emotionally and mentally.
Additionally, Marcus’ family members will also have to be provided with appropriate guidance and support. Pointedly, Marcus’ daughter will be offered the relevant therapy and counseling opportunities in order to overcome the trauma of losing her mother. Furthermore, given my understanding of the specifics of Native American culture, particularly the role of family connections in it, strategies for helping her to reconnect with her father and rebuild the rapport between them will be incorporated into the treatment process. The specified changes will have to take place with the supervision of the Tribal Support Counselors, who will offer spiritual support for Marcus and his family. Thus, the case under analysis will be resolved, Marcus and his daughter are overcoming the pain of losing a family member and developing the ability to support each other.
To address the needs of indigenous people, active collaboration between local mental health support systems, such as Tribal Support Counselors, and healthcare experts will be required. The emphasis on cooperation between experts will help build the cross-cultural dialogue needed to combine indigenous and Western practices, thus achieving the best outcomes for the patients. The proposed framework will allow them to meet their spiritual needs along with health-related ones, therefore improving their well-being and creating prerequisites for faster recovery.
References
A practical guide to mental health and the law in Ontario, revised edition, 2016. Web.
Chandler, M. J. & Lalonde, C. (1998). Cultural continuity as a hedge against suicide in Canada’s First Nations. Transcultural Psychiatry 35(2), 191. Web.
Clark, R. L. (2006). Healing the generations: Urban American Indians in recovery. In T. M. Witko (Ed.), Mental health care for urban Indians: Clinical insights from Native practitioners (pp. 83–99). American Psychological Association.
Harm reduction policies and programs for persons or aboriginal descent. (n.d.). Youtube. Web.
Kirmayer, L., Brass, G. M. & Tait, C.L. (2000). The mental health of Aboriginal peoples: Transformations of identity and community. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 45(7), 607-616.
Ormston, E. F., (2005), Mental Health Court in Ontario. Visions Journal (2)8. Web.
Psychological health of sex workers has quickly become an essential public health concern.
Linked issues are stigma, alcohol and drug use, discrimination, lower education levels, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Iaisuklang and Ali, 2017).
Importance of the Topic
There are numerous secondary factors affecting health of sex workers.
Prevalence of mental health issues could be addressed in a relevant way.
Further policy-making could be generated with the help of increasing mental health awareness.
Vital Statistics
Almost 98% of sex workers report significant difficulties when trying to find a more common job (Ma, Chan and Loke, 2017).
Most of sex workers return to their initial occupation (Puri et al., 2017).
There are financial needs that make the sex work industry one of the “to-go” choices for young adults in need of money (Lyons et al., 2020).
At least 30% and 20% of sex workers experienced physical abuse during childhood or before the age of 18, respectively (Rayson and Alba, 2019).
Most Common Sex Worker Risks
There are numerous high-risk behaviors such as fear, threats, substance use, and customer violence (Sawicki et al., 2019).
Higher unemployment rates and worsened socioeconomic conditions serve as the follow-up (Lyons et al., 2020).
Reasons for Becoming Sex Workers
Most individuals involved in sex work do not see it as exceptionally dangerous or damaging (Rayson and Alba, 2019).
A ‘career’ in the field of sex work could be an attempt to escape the external negativity (Ma, Chan and Loke, 2017).
Poor interpersonal relationships and a family history of abuse and neglect contribute to the person becoming a sex worker (Ranjbar et al., 2019).
Working Conditions as a Predictor of Poor Mental Health in Sex Workers
There is a lack of social support (Mo et al., 2018).
The overt violence that revolves around sex workers defines the future of this profession (Aldridge et al., 2018).
Identifying Sex Workers With Mental Health Issues
It could be crucial to review the local market and assess all the possible extrapolations (Rayson and Alba, 2019).
Even though sex work is legal in some countries, it does not reduce the burden or predisposition to mental health issues (Sawicki et al., 2019).
Are All Sex Workers Affected by Mental Health Issues?
Not all sex workers are affected by psychological distress (Lyons et al., 2020).
Some workers might encounter several mental health issues but they would never report them to anyone (Mo et al., 2018).
How Could We Improve the Environment?
Complex transformations might be expected to approve of the fact that sex workers actually exist and have to struggle in order to restore their image within society (Ma, Chan and Loke, 2017).
Without strong administrative measures, the government is not going to change the environment (Tschoeke et al., 2019).
Conclusion
Mental health issues truly exist and cannot be treated as a momentous health transformation;
Mental health interventions yet have to be developed in order to create a prolonged list of possible ways of improving the existing state of affairs;
Mental health of sex workers has to be researched longitudinally in order to gain more insight into causation and validate the possible improvements in the area.
References
Aldridge, R. W. et al. (2018) ‘Morbidity and mortality in homeless individuals, prisoners, sex workers, and individuals with substance use disorders in high-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis’, The Lancet, 391(10117), pp. 241-250.
Iaisuklang, M. G. and Ali, A. (2017) ‘Psychiatric morbidity among female commercial sex workers’, Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 59(4), p. 465.
Lyons, C. E. et al. (2020) ‘The role of sex work laws and stigmas in increasing HIV risks among sex workers’, Nature Communications, 11(1), pp. 1-10.
Ma, P. H., Chan, Z. C. and Loke, A. Y. (2017) ‘The socio-ecological model approach to understanding barriers and facilitators to the accessing of health services by sex workers: a systematic review’, AIDS and Behavior, 21(8), pp. 2412-2438.
Mo, P. K. et al. (2018) ‘Threats during sex work and association with mental health among young female sex workers in Hong Kong’, AIDS Care, 30(8), pp. 1031-1039.
Puri, N. et al. (2017) ‘Burden and correlates of mental health diagnoses among sex workers in an urban setting’, BMC Women’s Health, 17(1), p. 133.
Ranjbar, F. et al. (2019) ‘Mental health status among female sex workers in Tabriz, Iran’, Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 22(3), pp. 391-397.
Rayson, J. and Alba, B. (2019) ‘Experiences of stigma and discrimination as predictors of mental health help-seeking among sex workers’, Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 34(3), pp. 277-289.
Sawicki, D. A. et al. (2019) ‘Culturally competent health care for sex workers: an examination of myths that stigmatize sex work and hinder access to care’, Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 34(3), pp. 355-371.
Tschoeke, S. et al. (2019) ‘A systematic review of dissociation in female sex workers’, Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 20(2), pp. 242-257.
