I am concerned about the patients in psychiatric facilities, prisons, and on the street. It seems like if Covid-19 were to spread among these populations, the rate of transmission would be high, and in the case of those living without shelter, the death rate would likely be high because they might not have access to medical treatment.
We all know that more psychiatric facilities are a way to combat the crisis in mental health treatment and a way to see the numbers of those on the streets and in prisons go down. How can we work together to get more hospital beds in our communities?
I haven’t seen a single article written about this topic. Have you? I have seen dozens of articles about the mental health of medical staff (mostly nurses) and the general population (hello anxiety), but I haven’t seen anyone writing about the impact of Covid-19 on the most vulnerable (except for the elderly and I’m glad to see that addressed).
For years I have felt like people who have psychosis (drug-related or otherwise) were the invisible population. Most of us living in the city know that many people on the streets are mentally ill, and we see them, but don’t know how to work toward a compassionate solution for them. It doesn’t take much to realize we need more services (I often hear people say that many people living unsheltered choose to live that way, that is not my experience).
According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, 50% of people with schizophrenia and 40% of people living with bipolar disorder have anosognosia or lack of insight into their illness. Meaning these are the people who rarely accept treatment because they are unaware they are sick. It is cruel to leave the gravely disabled on the street just because they refuse medication. They are unaware they are ill!
I support a local nonprofit that feeds the homeless (unsheltered), but I think I am going to call my representatives and try to get handwashing stations to put all over the city so that people without access to public restrooms can wash their hands easily and help stop the spread of the virus. I know this is a small thing, but it could have a huge impact on thousands of people’s health.
Can you think of anything else we can do? I would pass out hand sanitizer to people on the street, but every store I have visited sold out.
Important points, Rebecca! Thank you.
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Thank you!
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Gave me a lot to think about and like your suggestions.
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Thank you, Jill!
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I agree that this population is often ignored and left to fend for themselves. Hand washing stations are a great idea and I wish there was more hand sanitizer to pass around. Hand sanitizer is out of stock everywhere. The few third party sellers still selling it are price gouging on a ridiculous level. I’ve had to resort to making my own with alcohol, aloe, water, eucalyptus, peppermint and lavender oils. You may have to do the same. Sadly, things are going to get worse before it gets better. I pray Jehovah God watches over us and provides comfort during all of this. My heart drops every time I see an updated death count. Be safe.
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I know and I agree.
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I think a lot of the mentally ill know they are ill but everyone has to believe in something. A mentally ill individual who grasps that he wrong about everything is left believing he is an idiot and believes nothing. This will absolutely never happen but if the mentally ill were talked to about how they must be safe for themselves and other rather than how they are wrong about everything I think the seriously mentally ill would be more willing to talk to mental health workers. Also say one admits to some major delusions then there is a paper trail by which individuals can be very heavily medicated. The mentally ill decide to take the 5th which the mental health profession reads as lack of insight. Individuals in the mental health system offer a suite of of services, though housing is not a big concern, as then billable hours are maximized. At any point if someone on the ‘intervention team’ takes a dislike to a patient dosages of anti-psychotics can be increased. I had real problems at the mental health clinic as I just wanted to pick up prescriptions for anti-psychotics which was seen as basically evil as there were not a whole lot of billable hours with med management. Another factor is that individuals who are seriously mentally ills have delusions of reference which are very, very disturbing where any treatment that depends upon heightened reflectiveness is seen as going in totally the wrong direction.
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There is so much that is broken about our system. I really want more services, more hospital beds, and housing.
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I am definitely want more housing. The state I live in just refused to fund more low cost housing but there are endless complaints about the homeless.
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We need way more housing in my state and city.
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