Abstract
Immigrant groups in Florida experience many problems. The authorities deny them fundamental rights, and the citizens stigmatize them. As a result, they experience psychological problems, which lead them into drug abuse and joining illegal gangs. Therefore, mental healthcare service providers should come up with appropriate ways of helping them cope with this situation. This paper describes how the Person-Centered Model helps such people.
Introduction
Many of the immigrants living in rural parts of Florida come from Latin speaking countries. They suffer from many psychological problems due to the fact that they do not get citizenship. Some of them become drug addicts while the others engage in gang activities. An appropriate recovery and resilience model can help them overcome many issues and live comfortably in Florida.
Such a model should enhance self-direction, patient empowerment and general wellness (Erford, 2014). This paper analyzes the People-Centered Model and how it can help the immigrants settle without many problems. It also proposes intervention strategies that can promote resilience and wellness among the immigrants. Lastly, it suggests appropriate prevention and educational activities and strategies that promote community resources.
Wellness and Resilience Model
The People-Centered Model gives the best approach for dealing with the problems the immigrants encounter. It aims at providing a holistic and non-linear recovery method that empowers the patients and helps them gain self-direction, social respect, hope and a sense of responsibility (American Psychological Association, 2010).
It also aims at building the patients’ strengths through guidance and support of healthcare providers, peers, parents, guardians and the community. In general, it purposes to help individuals to adapt to harsh conditions. It requires healthcare service providers to state the risks the patients face and provide enough information regarding the best prevention and intervention methods (Erford, 2014).
Intervention Activities That Promote Resilience and Wellness
Firstly, empowering the immigrants is very important because it helps them decide their recovery paths. The best empowerment activity for this group is the use of games and other social activities. Mental health service providers should engage the immigrants in games and social activities that can help them to develop a sense of belonging.
The immigrants lack self-esteem due to the mistreatment by the authorities and the natives of Florida (Weist, Evans & Lever, 2007). Therefore, mingling with other citizens in such activities is very critical in their recovery. The games provide an opportunity for healthcare service providers to identify and build their strengths. It also creates an environment for peer support through sharing experiences and social learning.
Secondly, healthcare providers should help the immigrants to feel respected as the natives of Florida are. Many natives stigmatize them due to their social status. The stigma causes the stress and other psychological problems (American Psychological Association, 2010). Organizing social gatherings in the region will provide a platform for the immigrants and the natives of Florida to learn from each other through discussions and art. In due course, the attitudes of the natives towards them will change. These activities can help the immigrants to earn respect from other members of the society.
Prevention and Education Activities
Health service providers should concentrate on preventing the immigrants from engaging in illegal activities. The first method that can help to reduce the prevalence of drug abuse among these people is organizing seminars for them. During such seminars, health service providers should show them the importance of correcting their image through avoiding drugs and gang activities (Weist, Evans & Lever, 2007). This method is likely to be effective because all the immigrants want the police and the natives to treat them fairly. Therefore, they will welcome anything that can help them to live without being suspected. In addition, health care providers should teach them about the dangers of engaging in illegal activities.
Individualized care can also help in the recovery process. Healthcare providers should look for individuals experiencing psychological problems and take them to rehabilitation centers for specialized counseling. Separating them from the rest of the immigrants reduces the likelihood of spreading the problems to other members of the community through social learning (Weist, Evans & Lever, 2007).
Strategy for Promoting Community Resources
The best community resources in dealing with the immigrants include parents, guardians, teachers, peers and religious leaders. Healthcare providers should encourage the development of special counseling programs in schools, churches, mosques and homes. For example, religious leaders should introduce guiding and counseling programs specially designed for the immigrants. In schools, administrators should also set aside days for counseling the immigrants.
At home, parents and guardians should find time to talk to their children about issues that cause the psychological problems. These strategies should result in behavior change among the individuals who participate in gang activities and drug abuse. In the long-run, the citizens of Florida should see them as good members of society. These strategies are the most effective in handling the issues that the immigrants face when interacting with teachers, religious leaders and schoolmates.
References
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: APA.
Erford, B. T. (2014). Orientation to the counseling profession: Advocacy, ethics, and essential professional foundations. (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Inc.
Weist, M., Evans, S., & Lever, N. (2007). Handbook of School Mental Health: Advancing Practice and Research. New York, NY: Springer Science & Business Media.