Schizophrenia

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Recommended: Effects of mental health stigma

Life altering stressors in an individual’s life are frightening. Stressors are varied and, often, unpredictable. Obtaining medical treatment for a physical illness brings hope and perseverance in the fight for health. Losing a job with health insurance and benefits is overwhelming; however, an independent functioning person, with adequate personal and community resources, begins applying for new employment or career change. Enjoyment of life hobbies and interests will be limited, but basic needs are met and health care obtained. However, there are those who have great difficulty obtaining resources for maintaining basic needs. Persons with mental illness, those who are homeless, pregnant teens, or substance abusers are individuals of the vulnerable population. Poverty and discrimination become the way of their life. How does a mentally ill person navigate through the complex process of obtaining health care within their family or community for optimal functioning?

“A vulnerable population group is a subgroup of the population that is more likely to develop health problems as a result of exposure to risk or to have worse outcomes from these health problems than the rest of the population” (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2008, p.712). Vulnerable populations have limited access to community resources and health coverage. The mentally ill are particularly prone to the lack of support and health care due to stigma. “In the United States, approximately 40 million adults, or 22% of the population, have a mental disorder.” (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2008, p. 786). According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (2008), Schizophrenia affects more than two million Americans, but only one third of those afflicted with this illness actually obt...

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National Alliance on Mental Illness (2008). Schizophrenia and recovery. Retrieved June 14, 2010, from http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=67729

Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2008). Public health nursing: Population centered health care in the community (6th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.

Thomicroft, G., Brohan, E., Rose, D., Sartorius, N., & Leese, M. (2009). Global pattern of experienced and anticipated discrimination against people with schizophrenia: A cross-sectional survey. The Lancet, 373(9661), 408-415. Retrieved June 14, 2010, from

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