...Nancarrow-Clark (2012) states “illness is the personal experience of one who has been diagnosed by a doctor or who does not feel well; it involves changes in states of being and in social function” (p. 198). To listen to the story of the personal experience of a person with an illness is a narrative or a story that can be written or spoken about a series of events. A narrative of illness is the story of how one experiences illness and its accompaniments. Hellman (2007) refers to it as a “basic way of organizing an experience, especially a traumatic one; of ‘making sense of it’, and giving it meaning” (p. 140). A narrative is not only an explanation of what the patient is experiencing, but also their interpretation of the illness experience,...
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...“Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions- disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior”, (Mayoclinic). People diagnosed with mental disorders reflect on their past to institute the reason being in the condition they are faced with firsthand. A diagnosis of a mental health condition is not only a fraction of the behavioral effect of the average human being’s behavior, but a dosage of daily struggles one will experience firsthand. Mental illness is a controversial issue, however society needs to understand that mental illness is not something you are born with, but solely a condition that affects the path you take, because of life events and traumatic experiences, not genetic inheritance (The Telegraph). To begin with, mental disorders are nothing to be ashamed of, these conditions associated with changes in thinking, behavior, and functional abilities, however mental illness has become a large factor in contributing to American society. In other words, being diagnosed with a mental disorder impacts the American society in various ways, such as the troubles in daily functioning, distress, and traumatic involuntary memory. In fact, organizations such as the World Health Organization issued a report that 25 percent of the American population is affected by a mental or behavioral disorder during their life (Schmidt). For example, society and individuals romanticize mental illness far too often, social media plays a large role because people aspire...
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...approach, to investigate the work experiences of people with mental illness in Malaysia. Six females and four males (aged 30-70) from a residential home for the mentally ill participated in semi-structured interviews. Three inter-relating themes emerged, namely the experience of self at work, perception of work, and experience of others at work. All participants reported problems in either work or family relationships; most of which interfered with their work. In addition, findings suggest that the participants’ self experience may be related to the extent of one’s illness integration, experience of psychosis, attitude towards illness, locus of control, and self-efficacy. Limitations and implications of the study are also discussed. Key Words: Work Experience, Mental Illness, Mental Health, and Qualitative Research Work is a major part of people’s lives, as most of our prime adult years (between ages of 25-50 years) are spent in the workplace. Besides enabling one to enjoy a higher standard of living, work is also a source of social support (Rüesch, Graf, Meyer, Rössler, & Hell, 2004). These benefits, however, may not be available to everyone, especially those with mental health problems. Four national surveys conducted from 1989 to 1998 in the United States revealed that the employment rate of people with disabling mental disorders, like schizophrenia, was between 22 and 40 percent, as compared to people without mental illness (76 to 87 percent; Mechanic, Bilder...
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...Summary According to the Mental Health and Addictions statistics of Canada, most of us will suffer from some kind of mental illness in our lives. Every family from every corner of the globe will have someone that will be affected by a mental health issue in their lifetime. Without support for the families and help keeping the family unit strong, it can crumble. When a family unit breaks down, so to does our society and for the individual, could mean becoming displaced and homeless or incarceration. We need to be supportive of the families and help them learn to cope so as to become the major caregiver of their loved ones. This paper outlines the important role of family, the impact of mental health and addiction problems on families, the needs of families, and the benefits they have in care provision and decision-making. It will state the importance of the needs for a support group in which the family members can become the greatest allies to their loved ones who suffer from mental illness and addictions. Introduction Mental health and addiction is in every corner of the globe. It is a disease that is staggering in numbers but you would not hear someone say they have a sister that is sick with bi-polar or an uncle that has the disease of addictions. It is a disease that is in some cases as serious as cancer and kills just as many. It is in every family unit and it still has a stigma that keeps people feeling shameful and makes it harder for them to accept when someone in...
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...gender usually influences people’s experience of health and illness. According to Armstrong (1980), women live about average of five years longer than men but women also suffer more illnesses compared to men throughout their lifetime. The reasons for these differences have been narrowed down to two possible explanations. First of all, difference in the biological constitutions of the different sexes which means that the two different genders experiences different type of illnesses and secondly, sometimes there are gender related actions and approaches to the concept of health and illness that differs amongst gender (Annandale, 2003). In this essay, key terms such as gender, health and illness will be discussed using essay. Also, this essay will be examined in three dimensions. Firstly, the gender differences that influence people’s health and experience of illnesses will be discussed. Secondly, using evidences, gender health inequalities will also be outlined. Thirdly, the importance and relevance of a nurse being aware of these gender inequalities and differences will also be examined. The sociological definition of gender is the cultural ideas and the distinct social expectation from male and female. This is different from sex which focuses on differences based on the biological composition of the body for example reproductive function and certain characteristics for instance breast development (Johnson, 2000). According to The World Health Organisation (WHO) (2012), gender...
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...different experiences, beliefs, mental, physical and spiritual elements, age, gender and background. When put in the context of a healthcare professional these elements have a direct effect on patient care and outcomes. When the healthcare professional understands the self it assists in providing an optimal outcome. When we are aware of our beliefs and positions in the world we can be cautious of how we approach a certain patient population and ultimately the care they receive. Professional presence, personality, mindfulness and healing environments will be discussed along with my personal response. Professional Presence Era I versus Era III As the western world has advanced in medicine Larry Dossey has identified three eras to give context to how medicine has advanced in function. (Koerner 2011). In Era I, as science was being incorporated to medicine, it was noted that health and illness was purely physical in nature and treatment. The methods of treating an illness focused entirely on the body, for example, administering medications or performing surgery. Health was understood as an absence of disease. The physical nature of the disease was all that was taken into account. The idea of consciousness was limited to the chemical, anatomic and physiological location in the brain. (Koerner 2011). Era I is very common and drives nearly all decisions made in the medical field today. This is foundational medicine, the premise of western understanding of health and illness. Era I...
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...jRUNNING HEAD: The role of psychology in the onset of a chronic illness, as well as how psychological factors are related to the experience of chronic illness. Introduction American Psychology defines Association defines chronic illnesses as those who either have symptoms that occur on a constant basis or flare up episodically. While some chronic diseases may be terminal, much more are not. While these conditions can only be alleviated, they can usually be controlled through diet, exercise, lifestyle, and medical care and may even go into temporary remission. Chronic illnesses are common; it is estimated that more than 80% of older adults suffer from at least one chronic disease. (( The Psychology of Illness). Discussion Unlike acute illnesses...
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...Kyle Zickefoose Antonette Navarro Community Service 305 Dec. 4, 2014 Final Integration Paper Over the course of this semester I have learned so much in this Community Service 305 class. In this paper I will discuss my new understanding of active citizenship, community engagement, and social responsibility. I will also share some of my personal accounts during my time doing community service, how this has been much more than a one-way relationship, and some of the social issues facing the mental health population. The last thing I will be discussing is how this experience has transformed who I am as a person and how I will integrate what I have learned into my personal life. Before I started this class, I was not looking really looking forward to it. I always assumed that community service was done by retired people or celebrities looking for good publicity, but I was definitely wrong. This class has changed the way I look at community service and I now see it as a crucial part of any thriving community. Multiple videos were shown to us in class about single individuals starting large movements by cutting there own path and not being afraid of deviating from the rest of the crowd. The one video that I remember vividly was one of young boy trying to move a huge log that had fallen in the middle of the road and was blocking traffic. The boy had no chance of moving the log by himself, but he never gave up and eventually people began to start pushing the log with him...
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...Case Study on Mental Illness Cherelle Floyd HCA/210 March 2, 2011 Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder. The good news about mental illness is that recovery is possible. Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income. Metal illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character, or poor upbringing. Mental illnesses are treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptom by actively participating in an individual treatment plan. In addition to medication treatment, psychosocial treatment such as cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, peer support groups and other community service can also be components of a treatment plan and that assist with recovery. The availability of transportation, diet, exercise, sleep, friends and meaningful paid or volunteer activities contribute to overall health and wellness, including mental illness recovery. Metal illnesses are serious medical illnesses....
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...stigma and mental illness It appears that negative views of mental illness are common with in the public. According to Overton & Medina people suffering from mental illness are often portrayed as weird, defensive, and sometimes hard to talk to. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary (1990), mental illness is defined as, “mentally distorted, mad, or crazy” (Russel, 1990). Generally, concepts about mental illness tend to be subjective, leading to difficulties in defining mental illness. Johnstone (2001) gives a broader definition of mental illness, believing that mental illness relates to the individuals spectrum of cognitions, emotions, and behaviours that damper relationships required for work, home, and in the learning facilities (Johnstone, 2001). This definition is also referenced in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders which categorizes the symptoms that are used to diagnose mental illness. 8 out of 10 people in Australia who experiences mental disorder will more like will experience stigma, stigma is a the behaviour of people toward people with mental disorders, stigma has been seen on many people, Stigma refers to negative, unfavorable attitudes and the behavior they produce. There are many people who experience mental disorders and when they newly get depression they don't go and ask for professional treatment because they don't want to be labeled and they don't want people calling them names, that is why a lot of people who get depression...
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...Compare and contrast the four main models of health in the Sociology of Health literature, and explain how each of them has influenced our understanding of the concept of health and well-being. Health is a term that is commonly debated and the definition varies from one profession to another and is a controversial term. The World Health Organisation describes health as: “A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO, 1948) This definition was formulated in 1948 and at the time was a breakthrough in the health care sector and was finally seen as a positive definition of health, rather than negative. Most definition concentrated on disease and illness. There are some criticisms that state that the model describes health as a ‘state’ rather than a process and does not put any certain boundaries on what is considered “health”. In healthcare, models are used to diagnose and explain an individual’s health. There are four main models that dominate the health care profession which are the biomedical model, social model, biopsychosocial model and the holistic model. In this essay I will discuss all four models by looking at their advantages and limitations in health care. The biomedical model is a dominant model of disease in contemporary medicine and was devised by medical scientists for the study of disease. It was created as a scientific model therefor involved a set of scientific assumptions and rules. Biomedicine...
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...2/17/2016 HLSC12O: SOCIETY, CULTURE AND HEALTH Lecture One: Introduction Introductions Teaching staff: Please check your campus unit outline Unit Outline: Learning outcomes Assessment Content Group introduction and activity Assessment tasks Assessment Task Word length Weight (or equiv) Teamwork: Student Seminar 20‐25 mins 20% Written Exam 2,000 words 40% Reflective Writing Assignment 1,750 words 40% 1 2/17/2016 Topics for Today • A sociological approach and the sociological imagination • Biomedical model • Globalisation and health After this session you will be able to..... Explain basic features of a sociological approach to health and illness Describe the key characteristics of the biomedical model Define some of the key concepts that inform a sociological approach to health and illness Consider the value of a sociological approach to health and illness for health workers. Let’s start with some questions … o Why do people stop taking antibiotics before they have finished the packet? o Why do people smoke even when they know its unhealthy? o Why are women more likely to be diagnosed with depression than men? o Why are poor people sicker than rich people? o Why do people seek complementary and alternative remedies rather than going to the doctor? o Why do migrants to Australia have more accidents at work? o Why is there a 15‐20 year life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non‐Indigenous Australians...
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...Topics 2 and 3 – Sociological Perspectives on Health and Illness Gray, D. (2006) Health Sociology: An Australian Perspective, Sydney: Pearson (Chapter 2: Theoretical Approaches to Health and Illness). http://www.csu.edu.au/division/library/ereserve/pdf/gray-d1.pdf Topic 4 – The Australian Health Care System and Medical Dominance Allsop, J. (2006) ‘Medical Dominance in a Changing World: The UK Case’, Health Sociology Review, 15(5): 444-457. http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/docview/203159309/1366604FAEF6B748988/5?accountid=10344 Benoit, C., Zadoroznyj, M., Hallgrimsdottir, H., Treloar, A. and Taylor, K. (2010) ‘Medical Dominance and Neoliberalisation in Maternal Care Provision: The Evidence from Canda and Australia, Social Science and Medicine, 71: 475-481. http://ac.els-cdn.com.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/S027795361000314X/1-s2.0-S027795361000314X-main.pdf?_tid=f431c118-1bdd-11e2-8e5b-00000aab0f26&acdnat=1350865267_a1391f139d0114a9d79046d28e270495 Topic 5 – Healthcare Workers: Nursing and Allied Health Speed, S. and Luker, K.A. (2006) ‘Getting a Visit: How District Nurses and General Practitioners “Organise” Each Other in Primary Care’, Sociology of Health and Illness, 28(7): 883-902. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9566.2006.00511.x/pdf Di Luzio, G. (2008) ‘Medical Dominance and Strategic Action: The Fields of Nursing and Psychotherapy in the German Health Care System, Sociology of Health and Illness, 30(7): 1022-1038. http://onlinelibrary...
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...PAMPHLET TO MINIMIZE STIGMA FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH A SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS A project presented to The Faculty and Staff of Saybrook University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (M.A.) in Psychology by R. Paul Johnson San Francisco, CA December 2013 Approval of the Project FAMILY PAMHLET TO MINIMIZ STIGMA FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH A SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS This project by R. Paul Johnson has been approved by the committee member below, who recommended it be accepted by the faculty of Saybrook University in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Psychology Project Committee: Theopia Jackson, Ph.D. Date Abstract FAMILY PAMPHLET TO MINIMZE STIGMA FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH A SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS R. Paul Johnson Saybrook University Individuals with mental illness have long experienced societal prejudice and discrimination, including among healthcare professionals. However, the stigma that comes from family and friends may have greater adverse impact. This project-reviewed literature on the stigmas associated with a diagnosis of a serious mental illness (SMI), as experienced by the person and family, as factors that may contribute to family/friends inadvertently perpetuating stigmas. Therefore this project integrates literature review findings and the author’s personal/professional experiences in the design of a pamphlet intended to be utilized by family and...
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