Examination of Mental Health Reforms from Criminal Justice Perspective - Paper Example

Mental health requires more sunlight, more openness, and more shameless conversation. Mental health includes a person's social, psychological, and emotional well-being and affects their relationships with other people and how the person makes critical decisions. Mental health is crucial in every stage of life, from childhood and teenage to adulthood (Huskamp & Iglehart, 2016). The paper explores the improvements in mental health reforms regarding current reforms and past mental health reforms. The paper also explains how mental health issues affect the criminal justice system and the impacts of race, gender, and crime on the truth and justice of mental health. The paper identifies that most mental health patients are in jail and hence examines the importance of mental health awareness, its improvement, and its relation with criminal justice.

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Mental disorders are currently on the rise, with 50% of the world's population suffering from anxiety and depression. There are numerous current mental health reforms put in place by clinical psychologists and health experts to curb the increasing mental health issues. Wellness service utilities such as spas and wellness retreats are currently incorporating neuroscientists and psychotherapists in their packages as new integrative mental awareness approaches. The practice of meditation has gained attention not only from meditation studios but also from programs by hotels, schools, and cruises. Clinical psychologists are urging increased digital disconnection by encouraging the focus on creativity and arts, media pressure being the primary cause of mental disorders. Mobile applications that promote well-being, such as meditation applications and fitness that are interwoven with therapy sessions are rapidly developing (Huskamp & Iglehart, 2016)

The past mental health reforms focused on the connection between physical health and wellness. Wellness service utilities such as spas emphasize that bodily and mind rejuvenation has a direct impact on mental health. Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness were advocated for in the mainstream but not incorporated into schools, hospitals, and other social organizations; thus, the practices were not fully embraced. Clinical psychologists emphasized the connection of exercise to mind training and wellness. Similarly, health experts argued that a healthy mind is critical to overall emotional and psychological well-being. The current mental health reforms have improved mental health as governments have recognized that mental well-being is critical in restoring social stability and productivity. Psychologists have also championed the need for mental health improvement as it is clinically linked to transformative body functioning (Huskamp & Iglehart, 2016)

Despite the current mental health reforms, many mental health issues are linked to criminal injustices. Mental illness has caused some individuals to face unfair criminal charges. People suffering from mental illnesses such as depression are frequently imprisoned due to a lack of alternative care. Once in jail, the individuals are punished for psychotic behavior that worsens their mental illnesses. Shayne Egger, a woman in Iowa who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, was imprisoned on charges of stabbing a man and setting his work department on fire, although she mentioned that she was not aware of how the act happened. Later in prison, Shayne gouged her own eyes out as his mental illness worsened. Jessica Roger, a 21-year-old who had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, was imprisoned for stabbing a man in the chest during an argument despite the disorder. Jessica later committed suicide while in prison (Pfeiffer, 2007)

The criminal justice system does not favor mental health patients. Dornstein (2017) explores the stories of prisoners who, after conviction of first-degree murder, are given chances to re-enter society. However, some of the juvenile murderers are not granted parole and are sent back to prison. Steven Ward publicly admits to murdering Mr. Louis Pozcyk. Ward explains the details of the murder, stating that he killed Louis by savagely beating, kicking, and repeated stabbings. Steven is not granted parole as the parole board dismisses his actions as unforgivable despite the imminent mental disorder. Similarly, Jose Tevenal admits to an unconscious act of violence and explains how he shot Mr. Morel, a cab driver, six times which caused Morel's death. Several explain the act as unconscious, the parole team dismisses his parole plea, and Jose is sent back to prison, further highlighting the unfairness of the criminal justice system towards mental health patients.

Despite the increase in mental health issues among individuals and the related effects on their families and friends, mental health issues have been neglected. The mental illness stigma that results from a lack of mental health awareness has caused many individuals to suffer in silence. There are also few psychiatrist nurses and doctors who are effectively trained to handle mental illness. Additionally, the budgetary allocation for mental health in many countries is significantly inadequate to deal with mental issues. There is little knowledge of the effects of substance abuse and eating or sleeping patterns on mental health, further causing an increase in mental illnesses. It is not only mental conditions such as schizophrenia that are difficult to deal with but also social isolation. It is hence essential to raise mental health awareness to help patients with mental health conditions live with the conditions and to decrease the impacts of mental illnesses on the victims' families and friends (Salerno, 2016)

Some measures have been put in place to increase mental health awareness. May is set aside as a mental health month to promote public awareness of the importance of mental well-being and community help in dealing with mental health issues. Additionally, there are support groups, both online and offline, that can be reached at any time to help individuals with mental or emotional issues. Mental health experts are also on the frontline to help increase mental health understanding and fight the stigma that is associated with mental illnesses. Social media mental health awareness has improved through Twitter and Facebook pages that inspire people to be inquisitive and open-minded about issues related to mental health. Various fitness groups, individuals, and organizations have raised emphasis on the need for physical health as it has a direct impact on mental health (Salerno, 2016)

Despite the improvement in mental health awareness, most mental patients are in jail. Pfeiffer (2007) identifies Joseph Maldanado, as a criminal convict who requested mental health treatment while in jail and was denied. Joseph was imprisoned for murder despite having an underlying mental illness and ended up committing suicide while in prison. Dornstein (2017) documents Malik Abdul Aziz, who is criminally convicted for shooting Mr. Lanigan in the back despite having an underlying mental condition. Similarly, many mentally ill individuals are imprisoned and remain in jail for more extended periods than ordinary inmates. Mental ill inmates serve longer jail time as they are charged with facility rule violations, creation of behavioral management problems, and frequent restoration requirements to stand trial. Mental health awareness is beneficial to increased knowledge of mental illnesses but has not caused behavior changes in dealing with mentally ill individuals, such as in criminal justice (Peay, 2012).

Truth and criminal justice in mental health are affected by race, gender, and social class. Mentally ill females have lower arrest rates than males. One of the six cases in Pfeiffer (2007) involves women. Mentally ill black people are imprisoned for criminal charges more than their white counterparts due to the belief that black people are more susceptible to mentally ill-induced violence. Individuals of the lower class resort to crime to earn a living and hence are often victimized by criminal injustices and are also believed to be more susceptible to mental illnesses that result from economic hardships (Peay, 2012). Current mental health reforms have succeeded in reducing mental health stigma and improving mental health. Mental health awareness has also improved through initiatives such as Mental Health Month. However, apart from providing mental health knowledge, mental health awareness should focus on the significance of individual actions in the reduction of criminal injustices faced by mental health patients.

References

Dornstein, K. (Producer), &Dornstein, K. (Director). (2017). Second Chance Kids [Motion picture]. United States: PBS International.

Huskamp, H. A., & Iglehart, J. K. (2016). Mental health and substance-use reforms—milestones reached, challenges ahead. N Engl J Med, 375(7), 688-95. https://mfprac.com/web2020/07literature/literature/Psychology/MentalHealthExpenditures_Huskamp.pdf

Peay, J. (2012). Mentally disordered offenders, mental health, and crime. http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/10467/

Pfeiffer, M. B. (2007). Crazy in America: The hidden tragedy of our criminalized mentally ill. https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/handle/10822/967354

Salerno, J. P. (2016). Effectiveness of universal schoolbased mental health awareness programs among youth in the United States: a systematic review. Journal of School Health, 86(12), 922-931. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/josh.12461