Document Type
Portfolio
Publication Date
12-2023
Abstract
Goal Statement: To increase awareness of the issues that people with serious mental illness face in order to reduce stigma and increase treatment participation rates. Significant Findings: Serious mental illness is a serious issue that is increasing every year. In Florida as of 2021 there are an estimated 725,239 people that have a serious mental illness (Florida Department of Health, n.d). Over the last 10 years that has been an upward trend. With the increase in population there too needs to be an increase in services in order to meet the needs of this population. Stigma against this population can only increase the barriers that this population faces. Bringing awareness to the community about this population and this issue should help lower stigma against this population. This will lower the barriers that this population faces and help them get the treatment that they need.
Objectives/Strategies/Interventions/Next Steps: Professionals can this population by doing the following:
1. Working with local community based organizations to increase awareness: In order to reduce stigma, increasing awareness in the community is an important step. By partnering with local community based organizations that work with the population we can increase awareness of the issues that this population faces and show the community local organizations that they can assist either through donations or volunteer work. An example of a local community based organization in Miami, Fl is Fellowship House (https://www.fellowshiphouse.org).
2. Increasing access to resources: Many members of this population are unaware of the resources that are available to them for treatment. As professionals we can be aware of local resources that help people with serious mental illness get the necessary resources that they may need.
3. Advocacy: As professionals we can advocate for people with serious mental illness in several different ways. This can help improve the situation that people with serious mental illness have to face.
4. Cultural Competence: People with serious mental illness come from every cultural and ethnic background. As professionals we can strive to increase our cultural competence in order to ensure the best possible service to every person in this population no matter what background the person may have.
5. Conducting Research: People with serious mental illness are a difficult group for many different reasons. With this in mind it is imperative that professionals conduct research in order to develop more effective treatment methods for this population. With more effective methods some of the issues with this population may lessen and it will make it easier for this population to remain successful with their treatment.
