Advocating for disadvantage and vulnerable populations

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Advocating for disadvantage and vulnerable populations

Currently studies shows shocking statistics of the number of mentally ill persons in jails and prisons, between 16 and 20 %of inmates, is more than those in hospitals. Mentally ill persons deserve to be in hospitals undergoing treatment and not in jails being punished. Dinstitutionalization process, emptying of the state mental hospitals, failed in the sense that there were no proper plans put in place to ensure that the discharged patients continue receiving appropriate treatment in their communities. Approximately half of the discharged patients ended up homeless or in jails (Torrey, 2014).   Advocacy for the mentally ill is aimed at championing policies that will bring about the use of Assisted Outpatient Treatment. This will ensure that mentally ill individuals released from jails or hospitals continue to get the treatment they need. There is need for the use of mental health courts which then becomes an effective treating authority to replace the community mental health centers and psychiatric outpatient clinics that failed. Thirdly, the state should shift funds so that for every closed psychiatric bed the savings should be transferred to the department of corrections (Torrey, 2014).   Wilks (2012), argues that advocacy for the mentally ill would be achieved best through the use of the Task Centered Work Theory in which work fits into an intervention pattern that is predictable and planned. This approach calls for a strong will in applying the best advocacy skills. Negotiation and assertiveness will come in hand during the whole process. There is need to apply the best presenting skills in presenting this group and consider working with groups that have similar objectives. Stier (2013), notes that a good example is the South California based mental health advocates who have been on the forefront in a case filed back in 2005, requiring the state prison system to come up with a detailed plan to reform the Corrections mental illness programs. In his decision, the judge gave the Corrections department 180 days to develop a detailed plan on how to remedy the situation.   Advocacy helps in helping speak out for those without a voice and consequently bring their life mysteries to an end. It also helps those with mental illnesses feel useful and find self-internal strength. It is a way of making other people identify with and respect them for