Running head: VULNERABLE POPULATIONS: THE MENTALLY ILL
Vulnerable Populations: The Mentally Ill
Bethany Hesselink
Ferris State University
Vulnerable Populations: The Mentally Ill
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Vulnerable Populations: The Mentally Ill
A vulnerable population is a group of people who have similar characteristics and
tend to be at risk for poor health outcomes (Harkness & DeMarco, 2012, p. 335).
According to Harkness & DeMarco (2012), some of the shared characteristics include
socioeconomic status, ethnicity, gender, health status, and education level (p.32).
People with a mental illness are categorized as a vulnerable population, as Linden
& Kavanagh (2012) state, “individuals with mental illness are at an increased risk of
experiencing prejudice and discrimination” (p. 1359). Unfortunately people are afraid to
disclose their mental illness and seek help because of negative beliefs by the general
public and healthcare professionals (McConachie & Whitford, 2009, p. 868). People with
Schizophrenia for instance are perceived as dangerous and violent and due to these
perceptions are treated differently than “normal” people. These notions and beliefs have
lead to unequal care and treatment and therefore would be classified as a vulnerable
population (Linden & Kavanagh, 2012, p. 1359-60). They have a difficult time
functioning in society, business are unwilling to employ the mentally ill due to the
negative perceptions.
Personal Beliefs
My personal feelings toward the mentally ill would include fear, distrust, and I
would also consider them to be unpredictable and non-compliant at times because of the
possibility of psychosis. Another part of me feels sorry of them because I think they are
forgotten by society and looked down upon. I think some people don’t understand the
condition therefore they think it is all an act or that they can’t be helped.
Research
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Harris Interactive Inc. (2008) reveals that only about 24% of the general public
are familiar with Schizophrenia, which means that 76% knows little to nothing about
Schizophrenia. “More than 85% people in the general public recognize that
Schizophrenia is an illness that requires proper medical attention” (p. 7-8). Rusch, EvansLacko, & Thronicroft (2012), examined the way the general public views and defines
mental illnesses and in their discovery, about 66% to 50% strongly agreed that
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression are all mental illnesses. However 25%
believe that drug addiction, stress, or grief are mental illnesses (p.645). Linden &
Kavanagh (2012) examined experienced and student nurses’ attitudes regarding people
with schizophrenia and discovered that 70% of the participants believe that
schizophrenics are unpredictable, where as 32% believe that they should not be allowed
to move freely in society, and 92% would not willingly marry someone with
schizophrenia (p. 1360).
Rusch, Evans-Lacko, & Thronicroft (2012) conclude, “Whether members of the
general public associate certain conditions with the label ‘mental illness’ shapes their
actions and reactions, both to others with a mental illness and to a potential own mental
illness” (p. 647).
Reflection
After doing some research, I am surprised how ignorant and uneducated the public seems
to be regarding not only mental illnesses, but specifically schizophrenia. I don’t think my
personal biases changed after doing research because no matter how much education I
obtain on the specific mental illnesses, I will still be afraid of the possibility of psychosis.
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I do think I need to empathize with those who have a mental illness and try to understand
what they are going through and attempt to help instead of judge.
Solutions to Improve Policy
I think we need to educate the public about mental illness in hopes of reducing the
negative connotation of mental illness and schizophrenia especially. Linden & Kavanagh
(2012) mentions there are anti-stigma campaigns that are targeted toward the general
public and media and that might help change the public awareness of mental illness (p.
1366). Rusch, Evans-Lacko, & Thronicroft (2012) also suggest that reducing some the
stigmas associated with a psychiatric disorder may in turn eliminate the prejudice and
discrimination that is associated with mental illness. Hopefully through this help people
with mental illnesses feel more comfortably disclosing that information and seeking help
(p. 650).
Vulnerable Populations: The Mentally Ill
Reference
Harkness, G.A. & DeMarco, R.F. (2012). Community and public health nursing:
Evidence for practice. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Lippincott Williams
Harris Interactive Inc. (2008). Schizophrenia: Public attitudes, personal needs, research
and data findings. National Alliance on Mental Illness.
http://www.nami.org/Content/Microsites254/NAMI_TuscarawasCarroll_Co_/Home239/Resources132/SchizophreniaAwareness.pdf
Linden, M., & Kavanagh, R. (2012). Attitudes of qualified vs. student mental health
nurses towards an individual diagnosed with schizophrenia. Journal of Advanced
Nursing. 68(6): 1359-1368. Doi:10.1111/j.1365-2468.2011.05848.x
McConachie, S., & Whitford, H. (2009). Mental health nurses’ attitudes towards severe
perinatal mental illness. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 65(4): 867-876. doi:
10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04952.x
Rusch, N., Evans-Lacko, S., & Thornicroft, G. (2012). What is a mental illness? Public
views and their effects on attitudes and disclosure. Australian & New Zealand
Journal of Psychiatry. 46(7): 641-650. DOI: 10.1177/0004867412438873
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