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The psychology of racism essay
The psychology of racism essay
Socioeconomic factors that affect mental health
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Structural competence
One of the things I like about this class is that I got to understand what structural competence is. On my view, structural competence refers to the trained ability of understanding how structural factors affect the wellbeing of an individual. These factors can be systematic, physical, political or even founded on beliefs and language. Structural competence is also about understanding and distinguishing the difference between structural forces and individual factors. For example, a doctor that is structural competent will not only see a person’s illness outside of his control, but will look at his socioeconomic status, like his environment or place of dwelling. Moreover, structural competence also capacitates people
Being a psychology major, I know the effects and consequences that mental health can carry for individuals. However, after taking many psychological classes at Berkeley, I found that the psychological definition on mental illness barely represent or fulfill to what people experience in the United states. In other words, I found that psychologists in America tended to emphasize on the biology of people, without focusing on their upbringing or their society. In addition, I also notice that instead of removing stigmas, many psychology and psychological research aggravated the problem by diagnosing people on the accounts of race, gender or status. That said, I found that structural competence pushed me to take the political aspect of mental illness. For example, I envision myself, not only advocating for the rights of people with mental illness, but also stopping with stigmas and discrimination. In fact, especially in the US, stigmas on the mentally ill can be dangerous because the more people that suffer from stigmatization, the less likely they will find a home, a job or achieve personal good health. In particular, stigmas can be worrisome to people suffering from mental health if the criminal justice gets involve because people gets incarcerated into prisons for having a mental illness instead of getting the treatment they need. Thus, I envision myself making political statements about people managing
The social security program is part of our social insurance model that provides people with disabilities, retiring or without employment with cash and other in kind- benefits. Thus, I think that this policy is effective in promoting wellness in our society because it’s a stable framework, it is not means tested and tries to provide for the welfare of people without running on a private or neoliberal agenda. In other words, because the social security is universal and its run by the government, the OASIS program makes sure that all people, at least those qualify, get the means to survive. On the other hand, the social assistance program is not as effective as the social insurance model because it is means tested, its unstable and created many bureaucratic red tapes for people in need of assistance. One policy especially that affected me is the Medicaid. The Medicaid is a social assistance program that tries to provide free universal healthcare to people that are low- income, with disabilities or under the age of 21. However, the program instead of promoting wellness to low-income people, they put them through inefficient services and inadequate health care system that only affects low income people at the long run. For example, just to get an appointment, I had to enrolled myself in a waiting list that took 1 month for me to get check out. In
The stigma and negative associations that go with mental illness have been around as long as mental illness itself has been recognized. As society has advanced, little changes have been made to the deep-rooted ideas that go along with psychological disorders. It is clearly seen throughout history that people with mental illness are discriminated against, cast out of society, and deemed “damaged”. They are unable to escape the stigma that goes along with their illness, and are often left to defend themselves in a world that is not accepting of differences in people. Society needs to realize what it is doing, and how it is affecting these people who are affected with mental illness.
First of all, through this assignment, I have learned that a theory is an interrelated set of concepts and propositions, organized into deductive systems that explain relationships among different aspects. It is an overall explanation of the person in environment configuration, and helps explain why a problem is occurring. It will also provide a social worker with a set of ideas that will help the social worker get a better understanding of the problem. In addition, there are many different theories, and perspectives that are used in the social work field to empower people and to promote a positive society for all. This particular case is associated with bio-psychosocial approach
That is, looking at a person holistically in order to determine what skills, networks, or resources a person might have in order to face a challenge. In this instance, Charo’s strength outweighed her weakness. Even though her husband tried to break her down and she was mandated as if she wasn’t the victim; in which the student thinks that feeling was ineffective to the client. It made her feel more of how she was already feeling, like a victim. Charo still remained strong and cooperative for her children; to seek some help to get out of her domestic relationship. As stated in the reading, “She continued to attend the group sessions for support and found new friends who had become a support network for her. She also completed a financial empowerment program, which further taught her how to manage her finances” (Plummer & Brocksen, 2014). This implies strength in Charo to be able to turn her life around and gain the support she needed, because without her strength and willingness to get help none of this would have been
The media in American society has a major influential impact on the minds and beliefs of millions of people. Whether through the news, television shows, or film, the media acts as a huge database for knowledge and instruction. It is both an auditory and visual database that can press images and ideas into people's minds. Even if the individual has no prior exposure or knowledge to something, the media can project into people's minds and leave a lasting impression. Though obviously people are aware of what they are listening to or watching, thoughts and assumptions can drift into their minds without even realizing it. These thoughts that drift in are extremely influential. The massive impact it can leave on America's perception leads to generalizations, assumptions, and stigmas. The media influence is not always negative, however. In most cases it has beneficial and positive aspects. Without the media, people would be drastically less informed and conscientious about major issues in the world around us. In some cases, however, the way the media portrays an issue can twist one's perception, leaving an assumption instead of a factual concept. Mental illness is one of the biggest concepts that the media has distorted due to the majority of portrayals the media presents. Mental health is extremely important and plays a key role in every individual's life. Yet it is also has millions of misconceptions. Mental illness is more common that one would like to believe. In reality, one in five Americans will suffer from a mental disorder in any given year. Though that ratio is about equivalent to more than fifty-four million people, mental illness still remains a shameful and stigmatized topic (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.). The taboo of mental illness has an extensive and exhausting history, dating back to the beginning of American colonization. It has not been an easy road to say the least. Due to the endless efforts and research of certain foundations and individuals, the ideas and functions of mental health have improved significantly. The advancements made in the field are impressive and without them humankind would not be the same. Yet then why do only fewer than eight million people who are in need of help seek treatment? (National Mental Health Association, 2001). The history, stigmatization, and perce...
...erational social insurance program” (Sloan, 2010). To transform it into some sort of massive investment club instantly gives an advantage to higher-income people over lower-income people as “they won’t need immediate retirement income and can wait out markets” (Sloan, 2010) should the market be in one of its periodic downturns. On the other hand, Social Security, structured as it is, “favors lower-income people-as it should” (Sloan, 2010). And that is a sentiment I share.
Stereotypes and stigmas promote a dangerous, single-minded perspective. These incomplete or half-truths are often far more duplicitous than lies, as they are more difficult to detect. When these perspectives remain unchecked, they can result in far-reaching, adverse consequences. It is the individual’s duty to refuse to perpetuate this single story perspective. Due to misinformation presented by the media, the stigma surrounding mental illness has created a discriminatory single story perspective; however, through honest and open dialogue, particularly with those suffering from these diseases, these stereotypes can be abolished.
The discussion of mental health is slowly being brought to the social surface to create a more inclusive society for those dealing with a mental illness. However, those with a mental illness are continuously being affected by stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination by those who simply don’t comprehend the complexity of the human brain (Glaser, G.2017). As more people become mental health activist, they are exposing the plethora of issues surrounding the overall mental and physical stability of those who are negatively affected by the social construct of what it means to be normal.
Throughout her presentation, she explains how public stigmas, once again, cause label avoidance pushing many who need help away from treatment. She then goes on to explain how these stereotyped behaviors cause discrimination towards people with a mental illness from employment to housing which only leads to the creation of more stigmas. Finally, she states how the impact of stigmas is associated with the reduction of self-esteem, overall poor health, and problems with interpersonal relationships (Willits). By using this presentation I am able to connect what we have learned about mental health stigmas to my article. First off, for example, Morris explains how psychiatric units invoke people to imagine a frightening place where insane patients are strapped down and poked and prodded for care (Morris). This stereotypical idea relates to how Willits described general stereotypes associated with mental illness such as crazy and dangerous (Willits). On top of that, Willits explained how these stigmas have negative consequences for patients (Willits). This relates to Morris’s explanation on how the stigma around institutions has caused these units to shut down forcing many people to be homeless or live in jail
I have concluded that there are five major problems within our American government assistance system. One, the welfare system is too generous. There is evidence of this within the article because it states that government assistance spending has more than doubled since 2008. It also states that in poor countries people only have the choice to work or starve. They choose to work long hours and we choose to not work and receive benefits. There is definitely a problem with our assistance system if a single mother could receive more money in benefits than a secretary who works. Two, the welfare system becomes a crutch and acts as a government safety net. It creates idleness and comfort with people who rather receive a generous amount of benefits than work. Three, one-third of people claim disability are actually able to work. Four, states have significantly differen...
Welfare programs are an important part of American society. Without any type of American welfare, people will starve, children will not receive the proper education, and people will not receive any medical help simply because they do not have the resources available to them. Each of the three aspects of the American welfare system are unique in their own ways because they are funded differently and the benefits are given to different people. While support for these welfare systems has declined in the more recent years, the support for it when it was created was strong. There are three aspects of the American Welfare System that include social insurance programs, public assistance programs, and private or sector welfare.
Mental illness is a disease that is misunderstood, miscommunicated, and viewed as predominantly negative in our society. Even in ancient times, anyone thought to be mentally ill was locked away in a facility for fear that they were a danger to others. Sometimes, the mentally ill person was even thought to even be possessed. The public’s view on mental health has improved with time and education, but the mental health stigmas still exist. Being someone who works full time within a behavioral health unit, my perception of mental health and the public’s perspective of mental health significantly differ.
There are many ways in which the mentally ill are degraded and shamed. Most commonly, people are stated to be “depressed” rather than someone who “has depression”. It is a common perception that mental illnesses are not a priority when it comes to Government spending just as it is forgotten that most mental health disorders can be treated and lead a normal life if treatment is successful. The effect of this makes a sufferer feels embarrassed and feel dehumanized. A common perception is that they should be feared or looked down upon for something they have not caused. People experience stigma as a barrier that can affect nearly every aspect of life—limiting opportunities for employment, housing and education, causing the loss of family ...
Lutz, S., & Huitt, W. (2004). Connecting cognitive development and constructivism: Implications from theory for instruction and assessment. Constructivism in the Human Sciences, 9(1), 67-90. Retreived from: http://www.teach.valdosta.edu/whuitt/brilstar/chapters/cogdev.doc
Parish (2008) advised, “Find the connecting thread that can link the strength, skill or gift to areas of employment, leisure, or basic
Competence is a contested concept, the meaning of which is shaped by those who use it (Chappell 1996). Proponents of CBET promote it as a way to improve the correspondence ...