MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT

Factors That Obstruct Mental Health Treatment

Table of Contents

Introduction1

Stigma2

Barriers to Access2

Religion3

Attitude and Beliefs4

Real life situations (the decision process)5

Conclusion6

References7

Factors That Obstruct Mental Health Treatment

Introduction

There are different forms of mental health treatment including psychotherapy, prescription drugs, inpatient stays, medication management, rehabilitation counseling and residential care. General medical doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers all provide mental health treatment in a broad array of settings. Sometimes patients fund their mental treatments themselves. Local, federal and state governments, as well as employers, provide funds for administration of these treatments. Mental health treatments can also include treatments to improve behavior which link with the mind's functioning. Research has proved the efficacy of mental health treatments and behavioral health treatments.

People treated for mental health issues represent only a small percentage of the patients who need attention and services. A few reasons for this are cost of treatment, denial of mental problems, the attitude towards seeking a mental treatment, society's attitude towards those seeking treatment or under treatment, role of loved ones, religious beliefs towards utilization of mental health treatment, the stigma associated with mental illnesses and end of care for life (Breitbart, 2011).

Moreover, emotional distress is one the most general health illness. The patient sometimes does not even know that he requires help in terms of counseling, management or any other form of treatment. Hence, the treatment is either delayed or never sought. As of 2007, out of the 4 million people who required a mental health treatment, merely 10.9 million were under administration (Saporito, 2007).

Stigma

The society, in general, has negative attitudes toward any mental illness and towards those seeking mental health treatments, and indicating willingness to seek treatment. The service gap is because of tens of thousands of people who do not want to seek mental illness intentionally. One of the major barriers to seeking mental health treatments is stigma (Saporito, 2007). Social stigma means that a person is different. In some cases, the individual gets treatment as a social outcast. Rejection and discrimination towards the stigmatized individual make part of the stigma. People consider those suffering from mental illness as worthless and incompetent. In some cases, they also regard them as dangerous and responsible for their own troubles.

The discrimination can be seen in the social as well as work life. Individuals diagnosed with any mental illness are usually unemployable. A person who is emotionally distressed is hesitant to share the reason of their distress. Sometimes it is because he suffers from low self esteem and blames himself for his circumstances, standard of living, loss of something material or a person etc. Sometimes the reason is very intimate but considered foolish by the society in general. For instance, the break-up of a long term relationship is the primary cause of suicide among teenagers suffering from depression but unwilling to acknowledge they have a problem.

The ones who seek treatment never go to a professional counselor. Psychologically traumatized, they turn to their family, friends or someone they trust for ...