During the poverty simulation process, I, among other students, had the ability to experience a life of a poor family. This process has given me an opportunity to reflect on some of the perspectives I held about poor families, in addition to gaining more knowledge for my medical practice. In particular, I have come to know that there are many hidden costs to being poor, and the inability to support one’s living can often be associated with a heavier financial burden than those of higher standing may experience. The second thing I have understood is the profound impact poverty can have on mental health. Being unable to often take time for yourself, or worry about how to survive the month puts significant stress on people, which then damages their mental stability. Lastly, I have also managed to feel the physical strain of poverty, and the way it can often leave people exhausted.
Feelings
Poverty is a topic that has had a large influence on my life and beliefs for a prolonged time. Having come from a low to medium income family, the feeling of not having money or not being able to afford something is familiar to me, but the particular conditions of heavy poverty have thankfully not been my concern growing up. I can heavily relate with those who had to live without proper sustenance, however, and my deepest sympathies lie with the lower classes. I think that community action and systematic change are necessary tools to address poverty, as it is a problem affecting far too much of the country’s population. In regards to my personal ability to resolve this issue, I hope to use the skills and knowledge of the medical profession to support those that most need it.
Evaluation
Something that stood out to me during the process is probably the tremendous emotional and psychological impact of poverty on a person’s wellbeing. If one considers the position of the breadwinner, it can often be difficult to picture the kinds of mental pressure a person experiences. In the process of partaking in this exercise, however, I have most prominently felt the sense of responsibility, guilt, shame and disappointment that can come with not being able to provide for your family. Supplying your children and loved ones with the essential things they need to live or money to purchase these things can be considered a bare basic component of providing for the family, and the inability to do that took a heavy toll on me during the simulation.
I felt like I was not only letting other people down, but also letting down myself by not being capable of fulfilling my “role”, which also mounted even more pressure on me afterward. I think the combination of bad circumstance, other people’s expectations and a person’s own standards can coalesce into a mental barrier that puts a tremendous burden on the breadwinner of the family. In terms of learning about myself, I think an inability to deal with expectations and letting people down has been the most major discovery for me.
Analysis
Poverty impacts all aspects of patient’s lives. Their ability to afford healthcare or continuously support their own wellbeing, for instance, is heavily tied to financial security. Many poor people are unable to fulfill doctor’s prescriptions and recommendations, or even visit a qualified specialist. Additionally, the strains of poverty affect the physical health of people. Improper diets, heavy work, imperfect living conditions and a variety of different stressors quickly wear out an individual’s body, making them more likely to fall ill or be negatively affected in the long term. Mentally, the impact of such living is also severe, leading to cases of depression, anxiety and other mental disorders.
Conclusion
Overall, during the process of this simulation, I have learned about the overarching nature of poverty as a factor in a person’s life. Physical and mental health, social status and the ability to improve one’s health outcomes, all of the above depend on a person’s monetary stability. Problems with living a stable life and having a permanent workplace then affect people in ways that only systematic action can influence. Support from the government and community organizations, as well as other people is necessary to combat the effects of poverty. The actions of medical professionals, additionally, can play a large role in the process, acting as a guide and mediator for positive change.
Action Plan
In my practice, I want to be able to understand and relate to patient’s struggles. For this process, it is necessary to have a grasp on the overall impact living in poverty has on an individual. Being able to spot the varied and complex manifestations of low income living is a job a qualified medical professional has to become proficient in, as a way of supporting vulnerable demographics. Furthermore, I want have the ability to accurately diagnose my patients, put their problems into a larger context and have a way of addressing them from my position in society.