Specialist Psychosocial Interventions in Forensic Mental Health - Essay Example

? Forensic Mental Health XXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX Psychosocial issues in any healthcare practice are important to observe and understand. Different fields in Medicare have various characteristics through which they view the issues. In the 21st century, developments have been made enabling faster resolution of the problems in the field. Forensic mental health is one of the major fields that focus on psychosocial issues from the fact that the brain is involved and it is the brain that controls all the activities from decisions that people make on a daily basis. It is important to go through the various aspects in the field in an effort to understand it even more. Forensic Psychology is understood as a mixture of both psychology of the brain and the legal psychology in any given location. The field is important in that it assists in the assessment and the understanding of people that may be diagnosed with a mental condition and involved in crimes (Ryan, 2007, 98). The field developed after the acknowledgement of the fact that many people had been sent to prison and were not in the proper state of mind. This has had scientists involved in finding means through which these sick people can be sent to mental institutions for the resolution of their issues other than send them to prison to suffer. This is from the fact that they do not deserve a sentence and their mental conditions should stand up in court. Diversion is a major part of Forensic Mental Health (Samuels, 2011, 167). This is a term that is used to refer to the change of custody of a patient with extreme mental conditions from the legal Justice System and straight to the health system for assistance. Psychosocial issues have been of great importance with relation to forensic mental health. Psychosocial issues are the ones that relate to the mind in a psychological manner and thus directly link to Forensic Mental Health. Most of these issues involve the engagement of various job descriptions and locations in an effort to assist people with severe mental conditions. Association of the community with these mentally impaired people is very important for the maintenance of the patient’s character (Candice, 2010, 109). This is a major psychosocial issue in that when these people do not feel at ease with the person, he begins having ideas that he is all alone and that nobody is interested with his company. This may put the person in a worse mental state and drive him to committing another crime of which the justice system does not act on as leniently as the first case. Another sector that has a big role to play in terms of psychosocial issues is the police department. This is from the fact that these officers are the ones endowed with the responsibility of ensuring that the patients are safe from many external and dangerous forces (Velvet, 2010, 11). It is common for people of the public to get mad at a person who committed a crime and instead of having a prison sentence is released from having mental problems. Police officers should ensure that they take care of this issue by assuring the patient of safety in an effort to ensure that they are comfortable. Police officers have been termed as the most important people when dealing with forensic mental health patients. This is from the fact that they have much power accorded to them and have the freedom to discipline any citizen that may be a danger to him and others. Forensic mental health patients have very many issues and it may occur to them that they carry out acts that may have them in compromising situations. When in transit headed to a mental institution or any other place that they may be taken to after committing a crime, they may decide to run away or otherwise resist the transportation. Police officers thus have the ability and power to discipline the patient in different ways (Francis, 2010, 197). This does not appear wrong in the eyes of the public seeing as the one beating the patient is a police officer. If the person disciplining the patient was a family member or an ordinary citizen the situation would be wrong as the public would assume that the person beating up the patient is just plain rude. It is thus important to understand and appreciate the role of police officers when dealing with forensic mental health patients. The Prisons department is another one that has the responsibility of ensuring that psychosocial issues faced by a person suffering from mental problems are kept at bay. This is from the fact that with civilization in the 21st century, the justice system has been lenient enough as to ensure that people with mental issues do not go to prison. However, there are some extreme cases that may have the judge overlook the condition of the patient and consequently have him sent to prison (Paula, 2010, 97). Having an extended look at the prisons department and the manner in which it is supposed to handle these patients, one is able to understand the task that these prison guards have and consequently appreciate the job that they do. These guards have the responsibility of ensuring that these patients do not get into any further danger as opposed to living free of any supervision where their state may have them causing more harm than good to themselves in prison. One case is in a Philadelphia penitentiary where a prisoner suffering from the condition attacked a fellow inmate at night. This caused a commotion at night as the guards were out on their patrols and did not get back to the cell blocks until later that night. Unfortunately, the other prisoner was a favorite of others in the cell block and thus the one suffering from the condition was attacked by the rest and was left to bleed to death. This proves the importance of the security guards in prison as they ensure the safety of these patients (Daniels, 2010, 123). Several bills have been proposed by the health department asking for the government to invest in the building of new and special prisons with specialized facilities to ensure that these patients get the amount of care that they deserve in case they are sent to prison. This step is imperative in that there would be fewer cases of commotions in the prisons. The government with the assistance of several non-governmental organizations has begun projects to see to it that institutions come up to assist in this. Courts also have the responsibility of taking care of the victim. This is from the fact that people who happen to have a crime occur on them are almost always in the courtroom at the time of the court proceeding. Many of the relatives of the person may also be in the courtroom at the time. As stated earlier, the outcome of such cases is predetermined given the results of cases where the perpetrator has a mental condition. Once the judge rules that the person be hospitalized instead of going to prison may have the people and the family of the victim mad and thus may overreact and end up brining up chaos in the courtroom (Savina, 2008, 34). It is thus important to have people understand the court rules and the repercussions of not having respect to the justice system. The courtroom and the entire premises as a whole should have a clear procedure through which he can be protected. This is done through the maintenance of high security and the employment of security officers. It is important for this security to be high in an effort to have all the people understand how the system works with regard to Forensic Mental Health (Samuels, 2011, 233). Forensic mental health has also been introduced as a unit in several courses in health science topics. This is from the fact that over the past several years, there have been increased cases of the same and consequently having several institutions pay special attention to the matter. In an effort to demonstrate the understanding of this field, reviewing literature is important as it shows the relationship existing between the subject and real life cases. An example is one that discusses the role that nurses play in the field. Nurses are known to be the most important people in the given area as it is their role to offer nurturing and care for the patients. In London, the nurses carried out research and offered a presentation that assisted in understanding the major causes of the mental cases (Paula, 2010, 46). Research showed that alcohol is one factor that leads to distorted thoughts and to an exaggerated part becomes a mental problem. Nurses have not received the amount of credit that they deserve with regards to Forensic Mental Health since the 1990s (Lawrence, 2012). The nurses ensure that the prisoners are not mistreated and of recent times, they have had the chance to diversify and venture into the prison system where they assist inmates understand mental problems and how to treat the victims who are not lucky enough to get admission to a mental institute. Psychosocial issues have been of great importance with relation to forensic mental health. Psychosocial issues are the ones that relate to the mind in a psychological manner and thus directly link to Forensic Mental Health. Most of these issues involve the engagement of various job descriptions and locations in an effort to assist people with severe mental conditions. Association of the community with these mentally impaired people is very important for the maintenance of the patient’s character (Dobob, 2009, 79). This is a major psychosocial issue in that when these people do not feel at ease with the person, he begins having ideas that he is all alone and that nobody is interested with his company. This may put the person in a worse mental state and drive him to committing another crime of which the justice system does not act on as leniently as the first case. Personally, I have had the ability to relate better with the victims of mental problems and showed an increase in compassion as it is not their will to have such issues in their lives. Moreover, I have appreciated the role that nurses play in the lives of these patients. Over time, changes have been made in the sector with more nurses getting employment opportunities in prisons where they take care of inmates with mental problems. This is a new venture that has seen an increase in nursing institutions for better development in the field (Candice, 2008, 49). It is important to understand that not just anyone gets the chance of being acquitted with regard to mental problems and there is a procedure. One of the ways through which this is done is when one is transferred from a police station to a hospital for analysis and proper diagnosis (Lawrence, 2012, 157). There is also the transfer from the court premises as given by the Mental Health Act to receive medication as opposed to being sent to prison. There is also the moving from the prison when on remand and not yet having gone to trial or after a sentencing. The last means through which one can be transferred is by coming from a general hospital that major in mental problems if they act irrationally in a manner through which they are a danger to themselves and other people around them (Brian, 2010, 57). Forensic Mental Health is one of the developing fields and has led to the increase in mental institutions all around. It is important to understand the various procedures that are involved in the field and with regard to criminals with mental problems. After understanding the various aspects associated with the field and relating to the specialist psychosocial interventions, one gets a wider perspective of the issue at hand. Appreciating the developments made in this field is also important to ensure that people comprehend the conditions of these people. References Samuels, D. 2011. Developments in Mental Healthcare. New York: Mcraw Hill Publishers. Lawrence, P. 2012. The Forensic Mental Health Nurse. London: Oxford University Press. Daniels, Y. 2010. Prisons and Mentally Ill Prisoners. London: Oxford University Press. Christina, V. 2009. Law Courts and Duties. New York: Cengage Learning. Dobob, Z. 2009. Family and Health Readings. Chicago: Chicago University Press. Lavina, B. 2010. Psycosocial Issues in Forensic. London: Oxford University Press. Savina, D. 2008. Forensic Issues in Mental Health. New York: McGraw Hill Publishers. Paula, V. 2010. How to Deal With Mental Health Patients. New York: Palgrave Printers. Ray, S. 2009. Developmental Problems Associated With Forensic Mental Health. Chicago: Chicago University Press. Velvet, D. 2010. The Police Department and Affiliates. New York: McGraw Hill Publishers. Stevens, F. 2012. Healthcare Institutions in the 21st Century: A Nursing Guide. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Francis, B. 2010. Developmental Psychology. New York: McGraw Hill Publishers. Brian, F. 2010. Forensic Mental Health Services: Rethink Mental Illness. Chicago: Chicago University Press. Candice, B. 2008. Forensic Mental Health: Better Health Channel. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Ryan, F. 2007. 2009. Health Sciences. New York: McGraw Hill Publishers. Read More