Running head: VULNERABILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH

Vulnerability of Mental health disorders

Rachel Fox
Ferris State University

VULNERABILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH

Vulnerability of Mental health disorders
Our nationwide healthcare system has tremendous obligation to deliver upstanding,
quality care to numerous populations whose needs differ greatly. From newborns to elderly, and
many in between; an ongoing challenge remains to provide equal care in a timely fashion to all
United States citizens. It is an unfortunate circumstance that many vulnerable populations fall
into areas of need that are often discounted. Closing gaps in care and eliminating these health
disparities remains a great challenge for our healthcare system.
Factors leading to Vulnerability and Personal views
One population who remains in a vulnerable state with many unmet needs is those with
mental health illness. Despite significant prevalence nation and world-wide, psychiatric disease
is much less likely to be treated than physical illness, and remains the leading cause of disability
(Harkness & DeMarco, p. 441, 2012). It is important to identify what makes this population as a
whole susceptible to vulnerability and health disparities.
As an emergency room nurse in inner city Flint, Michigan serving many vulnerable
populations, I interact with the mental health community on a daily basis. There are different
levels of disability and many diagnoses that affect this population and may lead to its
vulnerability. Some characteristics I have see include: lack of value/understanding on personal
health management or hygiene, difficulty concentrating or remembering, difficulty finding crisis
relief/disease management help or resources, lack of family or social support systems, difficulty
understanding how their mental disease/behaviors affects physical health, tendency towards
alcohol/substance abuse, and tendency towards unemployment/homelessness. Each of the above
mentioned characteristics leads an individual with mental illness into an even further vulnerable
state. They often find outcomes such as homelessness, unemployment with no income, and

VULNERABILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH

addiction to alcohol or illicit drugs. Furthermore, a lack of healthcare benefits leads to a
narrowed resource pool available to offer help or relief and an increased feeling of helplessness
as the disease progresses.
Demographics
There are a significant number of people who battle mental health disorders on a daily
basis. Shockingly, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in four adults
(approximately 61.5 million) Americans experience mental illness in a given year (Duckworth,
2013). It is clear that a large portion of the nations population may struggle with some form of
mental health disease within their lifetime.
It is known that the effects of mental illness may span from mildly interfering, to severely
disabling an individual (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d). For those who may end up
disabled by a severe mental illness, they must rely on other programs and resources to help
support them daily. Because of this, it is estimated that serious mental illness accounts for $193.2
billion in lost earnings each year. Furthermore, mental health disease may lead to other outcomes
including incarceration and homelessness. It is estimated that 46 percent of homeless adults
staying in shelters struggle with severe mental illness and/or substance use disorders
(Duckworth, 2013). Additionally, approximately 20 percent of state prisoners have a recent
history of a mental health disorder (Duckworth, 2013).
Influence of research
The research I have found further solidifies my personal opinion surrounding mental
health illness. The statistics presented reinforce the extent of homelessness, substance abuse, and
the lack of healthcare of this population. Because of this, I still identify strongly with the position
that gaps in access to care of mental health disease need to be narrowed and eliminated.

VULNERABILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH

Furthermore, measures to empower individuals with mental health disorders may lead to
increased compliance in care and ultimately, a better outcome for the individual.
Knowledge of Bias affecting healthcare delivery
According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, there may be long delays from the
time a person shows signs of mental illness to when people first receive treatment (Duckworth,
2013). There may be several reasons to explain this delay in care. As mentioned, access to
healthcare becomes difficult for those who may be homeless without coverage or access to care.
Furthermore, substance abuse disorders may continually prevent a person from seeking the
treatment they may need due to denial or inability to recognize the extent of a problem.
Additionally, the stigma associated with mental health disease may play a strong role in delaying
treatment. An individual may recognize that they are struggling, but refrain from seeking
treatment in fear of being labeled or viewed differently.
Because fear of judgement may be a reason those with mental health disease delay
treatment, educating nursing and other disciplines in this regard may be beneficial. A nonjudgmental, open approach when working with this population may help them feel more
comfortable. Furthermore, an educated nursing workforce can help advocate for an increase in
resources within their community. Increasing the available resources for this population could
lead to a decrease in homelessness and substance abuse as a result of mental health disorders.
Conclusion
It is clearly identified that a large portion of the U.S population struggles with some form
of mental health illness. Because these disorders range in severity, some individuals may become
more disabled than others. Those who suffer from severe mental illness often fall vulnerable to
healthcare disparities and gaps in access to care. As a nurse, acknowledging personal beliefs or

VULNERABILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH

views surrounding mental health disorders may help to advocate for increased resources in the
future. Setting aside personal biases is necessary to deliver equal, quality care for those with
mental health disorders.

VULNERABILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH

References
Duckworth, K. (2013). Mental illness: Facts and numbers. Retrieved from www.nami.org.
Harkness, G. & DeMarco,R. (2012). Community and public health nursing: Evidence
for practice. (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
National Institute of Mental Health. (nd.). Any Mental Illness (AMI) among adults. Retrieved
from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/any-mental-illness-amiamong-adults.shtml