Introduction
Though human health is critical in societal growth, human development has been facing insistent challenges for a long time. For instance, HDR (2015) accentuates that unending poverty, inequalities, climate change, and challenges resulting from the lack of environmental sustainability significantly hamper human development. Eventually, employees fail to give their best in their workplaces, thus leaving their potentials unutilized. Many youths, women, and persons living with mental disorders are disadvantaged, consequently turning out to be an eminent setback in human development. If all human potential is fully tapped and earnestly utilized using efficient approaches and procedures, human life would be bettered and eventually heighten the fight against human development challenges. WHOQOL-BREF, McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire-Expanded, Mental Status Examinations, and Clinical Interviews effectively assess the mental health status. Judiciary, government, medical and religious institutions play a significant role in assisting people living with mental disorders.
The working environment plays a significant role in the improvement of human life. For instance, workers in risky workplaces are susceptible to being abused, losing their lives, losing identity and autonomy (HDR, 2015). Though technological advancement has brought about various achievements in society, it has attracted an equal measure of disadvantages such as reduction of workers, short-term contracts, thus adversely affecting the mental development of human beings. According to WHO (2013), mental health is a crucial part of the healthy development of a human being. Health encompasses the mental, social and physical status of a human being and does not necessarily focus on the absence of diseases. Mental health is highly affected by different socioeconomic aspects that need concentration for improvement, prevention, treatment, and healing. It is worth noting that human development cannot isolate the mental well-being of human beings since the former plays a significant role and needs adequate attention.
Consequently, the aspects and parameters entailing the patient’s mental status in San Antonio, TX, are considered. Different evaluations to determine the risk and severity the patient has on mental disorders are carried out. Telemedical services were done using Zoom and psychiatric services provided by Doxy healthcare. The whole exercise calls for direct, indirect, and observable approaches that amount to more effective mental health development and recommendation to the client.
Summary of Experience
The patient participated in the assessment voluntarily. The evaluation of the patient entailed the use of WHOQOL-BREF, which involved the subjective examination based on the cultural, environmental, and social perspectives. The WHOQOL-BREF was applicable since it gives an exhaustive review of a patient’s quality of life. However, the approach can occasionally be tedious owing to its practicability due to its length. The tool was effective since it could help provide comprehensive results based on the patient’s domain levels. The questions remained in the order they appeared in the original WHOQOL-BREF. Instructions and headers were to remain unaltered too. The WHOQOL-BREF yearns to help medical practitioners to make the right judgments on the aspects of the disease.
The Wesley was requested to fill in a McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire-Expanded (MQOL-Expanded), which had eight items that were significant in giving more information about the patient for better assessment. The response of the patient was anchored on an 11-point scale that ranged from 0 to 10. The MQOL-Expanded was admissible since it could also give a holistic identification of the quality of life of a patient who has a mental disorder. The assessment also evaluated primary life domains (feelings such as the burden, healthcare, cognition, and environment) and their relationship with the commonly considered ones (spiritual or existential, social, psychological, and physical).
The patient was also subjected to a mental status exam by Doxy healthcare. During the assessment, focused questions and observations were used to establish the health status of the patient. Though the results could have occurred in the context of a mental status examination, the whole process was such that it painted a clear picture of the patient based on appearance, cognition, thinking, and emotions. Indeed, information from a mental status exam can be combined with that of family and individual historical background help in the establishment of timely assistance to be accorded to the patient.
Mental Health Action Plan
Principles Guiding the implementation of Health Action Plan
People with mental disorders deserve medical attention regardless of their social status. According to WHO (2013), persons with mental challenges deserve essential medical and social services. The services offered to these people must not be based on their race, ethnicity, age, gender, or status in society but must be in line with the principles of equity. People with disabilities must be allowed to access medical services without being exploited. Still, the community must give them opportunities to recuperate and attain the highest possible levels of health improvement. Wesley, who happens to be grappling with a mental disorder, needs to be given access to medical and social attention without looking at his daunting background.
Furthermore, Wesley feels worthless because he has nobody to call a parent and only depends on a meagre salary from his accounting job. Services accorded to Wesley must not be based on his financial status since his salary cannot sustain him and still cater for his medical services. Social services rendered to him must not be dependent on his racial group bearing in mind that he is of an African American race. Wesley, a divorcee, has the right to access medical services now that he is still trying to come to terms with his broken marriage. The church leaders are doing their best to ensure that Wesley feels well accommodated among the church members and workplace and is under continuous monitoring by the church pastor and manager. The psychiatrist, from Doxy Medicare, offering services to Wesley, is conscious that medical services rendered to the patient are not supposed to be based on the patient’s socioeconomic status but with equity. The church, workplace, and psychiatrist are doing their due diligence in ensuring that Wesley gets the necessary support regardless of his daunting background.
Human Rights
As a person with a mental disorder, Wesley must access all human rights under the dictates of the laws protecting people with disabilities. The medical and social interventions accorded to Wesley must be as per the Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (WHO, 2013). Wesley is in dilapidated health status and is unconscious of his rights as a patient with a mental disorder. Wesley must be given medical attention without being discriminated against based on his medical situation. The patient must get the necessary assistance to help him live independently in society by offering necessary help without discrimination. Wesley has a right to an inclusive education system to improve his life by furthering his studies. The rights for people with mental disorders are congruent to those living with disabilities. Thus, Wesley must have access to rights safeguarding people with mental illnesses to help him have an independent life while accessing an inclusive education system.
Additionally, Wesley needs protection against all forms of mistreatment. Wesley must be protected against exploiters since he has a mental disorder and lacks sufficient reasoning capabilities to discerning any hazardous ploy meant to exploit him. The patient needs protection from scammers who might lure him and defraud him his few resources. He also needs shielding from exploitation at his workplace and in his community. It is imperative to inform those around Wesley to protect him from abuse and violence. Since he suffers from mental challenges, some of his decisions and actions might be irrational and agitate those around him. Thus, he needs protection from being assaulted. Since Wesley has a mental disorder, he must be protected from being attacked, abused, and exploited.
Evidence-Based Practice
The medical support offered to Wesley must be in line with scientific backing and cultural considerations. According to WHO (2013), mental health approaches and interventions, when offering treatment and prevention services to a patient, must have scientific research backing. For a practice to be deemed ethical, it is imperative to have it having a basis on relevant research data (Cook et al., 2017). The medical attention offered to Wesley must not be dependent on the personal opinion of the service provider but the strict guidance of the research-driven evidence. The psychiatrist from Doxy telecare must use evidence-based psychotherapy when treating Wesley and reduce the opinion-based prejudice of only revisiting the “success.” Evidence-based mental services will help the psychiatrist identify the appropriate decisions and medical tools when making critical medical decisions, especially in a societal-based setting. Evidence-based therapy will significantly help in administering ethical assistance to Wesley and minimize opinion-based biasedness in medication.
Additionally, applying evidence-based strategies in mental therapy is reasonable since it makes medications critically appraised before use. When offering treatment to a patient, applying an evidence-based framework makes it possible for the psychiatrist to critically analyze relevant, accessible data and make its appropriate application to the individual patient (Cook et al., 2017). Evidence that has been well censored and fully comprehended can help relevant service providers understand how to serve their patients better. The evidence-based approach applies to medical practitioners and cuts across all the stakeholders who can help improve the living standards of Wesley. Therefore, an evidence-based strategy from all stakeholders, notwithstanding the society and church at large, will help in offering ethical attention to Wesley and alleviate his dilapidated state.
Life Course Approach
The support offered to people suffering from mental disorders must consider the patients’ medical and social needs. The services provided to patients suffering from mental disorders must focus on their medical and social development (WHO, 2013). Wesley was advised to resume attending church services as a way to help him augment his social development. At the church, Wesley has been able to meet and make new friends who prove to be of great significance in making him feel valued in society. The church pastor has also decided to host him for close monitoring, and spiritual guidance to better prepare him to face life. The youth programs in the church will help Wesley develop an optimistic perspective towards his life and eventually recuperate. Consequently, the church offers spiritual guidance and a socialization platform paramount to Wesley’s health improvement.
Mental health services offered to Wesley must be sustainable throughout his life. The psychiatrist assigned to providing medical attention to Wesley has vast experience in handling mental health issues. The psychiatrist is also helping the patient improve his health status for a bright future. The patient is offered therapy that will help him deal with future uncertainties. Wesley has also been encouraged to join an undergraduate course in accounting to help him bolster his career. During the medical therapy, the patient is served with a suitable dosage that will fasten his recuperation without necessarily using a lot of money. Therefore, the medical attention offered to Wesley is meant to help him improve his health currently and in the future.
Multisectoral Approach
The mental assistance offered to Wesley must be well-coordinated by involving relevant organizations and partners. According to WHO (2013), all policies or strategies must be a concerted effort between all relevant bodies such as judicial, housing, medical, social, and employment sectors. For instance, housing, employment, and judicial sectors will provide the patient with contacts to greener areas, healthy life, and better living conditions that will help in the improvement of his mental health. Education, government, and medical sectors will offer evidence-based strategies that will help improve the patient’s socio-emotional intelligence. The latter will help create awareness on the need to fight stigmatization on patients suffering from mental disorders through mental health literacy programs while guiding society about the valuable efforts that need implementation. Therefore, the government, medical, judiciary, employment, and housing sectors play a significant role in administering medical attention to Wesley.
Judicial and social welfare sectors offer protection to patients suffering from mental disorders. Social welfare and judiciary sectors assist people suffering from mental illnesses by giving them legal protection and social support (in cases of financial difficulties). The abovementioned organizations will shield Wesley from being mistreated or discriminated against at his workplace or in the community since he will have legal service catered for by the organizations. In case of financial difficulties, the social welfare sector will help Wesley access financial assistance for his medical and other expenses. Judiciary, social welfare, and medical sectors will help formulate policies and legislation to help patients suffering from mental disorders. The abovementioned guidelines adhere to the United Nations Convention about the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and different organizations that advocate for human rights. Indeed, the judiciary, medical, and social welfare will play a significant role by offering legal assistance and financial support to Wesley.
Empowerment of Patients Suffering from Mental Disorders
People with mental disorders, just like others, need empowerment and incorporation in various activities within society. According to WHO (2013), a person with a mental illness, like the case of Wesley, needs to be accorded opportunities that will make him empowered and self-reliant. Persons living with mental disorders usually have low self-esteem, and for that matter, Wesley needs empowerment to help him believe in himself. Physical activities such as gym, soccer, and running can serve better in helping him divert attention from his agonies. There is a need to incorporate the disabled people’s groups to plan and implement all laws and policies that affect people with mental disorders. By doing so, Wesley and other people with such a disability will be empowered, making them more productive in the long run. Policies must be set to offer empowerment to people living with mental challenges to help the likes of Wesley be motivated in whatever they do for their living.
There is a need to encourage Wesley to be informed of all legal rights enshrined to people living with mental problems. By being familiar with all the laws about his mental health status, Wesley will know when to seek legal redress should his rights be infringed. Empowerment also entails recognition and enforcement of rights associated with people with mental disorders in helping them lead independent lives and look for better ways of assimilating Wesley into the community. The church is a better way of incorporating Wesley into a community that will always yearn to help him improve his health status. Wesley and other people suffering from mental disorders must be allowed to access better jobs and competitive remuneration. Social security policies will help to safeguard Wesley’s income by helping him manage his finances wisely. There is also a need to allow Wesley to have access to higher education, such as an undergraduate degree in accounting, to help him be more empowered for better job opportunities. Better structures need to be set aside to help Wesley access educational support, legal security, financial guidance, and assimilation into society.
Verification
Wesley’s self-report shows that he is feeling better after being embraced by the church fraternity. He is actively involved in youth ministry activities, enabling him to meet and make new friends that encourage him. The church pastor, where the patient fellowships, confirms that they have rolled out a plan to offer relevant assistance to Wesley and other people who have a mental illness to help them recover and start a new life. The patient has received three emails from the Doxy healthcare facilities indicating the progress of the psychiatrist treatment. He has another appointment with the psychiatrist after three days.
Summary of the Options and Actions for the Execution of Mental Health Plan
Human health is worth augmenting in the quest for improved human development. Socio-economical inequalities, climatic change, and environmental unsustainability in society hamper human growth. The abovementioned challenges make people develop psychological challenges, and if care is not taken in advance, these people get depressed, thus facing mental disorders. This study shows that people suffering from mental illnesses are unproductive at work and need speedy medical attention. In the case study, Wesley was significantly depressed and always felt that his life was worthless. Clinical interview, mental status examination, McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire-Expanded, WHOQOL-BREF are admissible in establishing patients’ mental health status.
Exclusionary and Intercultural Barriers
Based on his current level of study, Wesley does not have the edge over others when looking for a better job. Wesley’s salary is not sufficient to allow him further his accounting course. The patient also states that his lack of finances incapacitates him from accessing some medical prescriptions. Wesley is also skeptical about his integration into the community, fearing that he will be racially discriminated against now that he is an African American.
Cognitive Reaction
From Wesley’s scenario, it is clear that many people have mental illness and are not aware of where to seek help in society. Such patients suffer physically, financially, and psychologically in isolation and, to the extremes, commit suicide. Wesley only knew that the best solution was relocating to his friend’s house for consolation. There is a need for health service providers to make their services more affordable by looking for financiers that can help offset some of their patients’ bills. Healthcare service providers must dedicate their time to improve patients’ physical health and give them suitable referrals where necessary. During the assessment, I was interested to know what caused Wesley to have a low score in WHOQOL-BREF. He stated that his place of residence was not conducive to him since he is an introvert. He said that he struggled to cope with the new environment at his friend’s house, thus the low score.
Emotional Reaction
During the assessment, I felt empathy for Wesley as he narrated all he had been undergoing. I wondered how many such unreported cases are in society and how many lives of young people have been lost due to lack of access to counseling services. Patients suffering from mental disorders must have access to health care without any exploitation regardless of their socioeconomic status. The patients must be protected by law against victimization. The church has a significant role in uplifting an individual’s spiritual needs and emotional intelligence, as in Wesley’s case. People should seek assistance when emotionally distressed as a way to reduce such detrimental cases of mental sickness. Society has a cardinal obligation of identifying people suffering emotionally and link them to the appropriate assistance.
References
Cook, S. C., Schwartz, A. C., & Kaslow, N. J. (2017). Evidence-based psychotherapy: Advantages and challenges. Neurotherapeutics, 14, 537-547. Web.
HDR. Human development report 2015. United Nations Development Programme. Web.
WHO. Mental health action plan 2013-2020. World Health Organization. Web.