Immigration

Author(s):  
Jeremy Colley ◽  
Heather Ellis Cucolo

Chapter 29 includes cases related to the rights of individuals subject to immigration proceedings, with particular focus on the right to be made aware of the potential immigration consequences of taking a guilty, competence to participate in the proceedings, and the related right to representation where competence is in question. While criminal case recommendations are beyond the purview of forensic practitioners, those involved in mental health diversion programs should be aware of the potential consequences of diversion participation for defendants at risk of deportation. In addition, forensic evaluators are called upon to opine about the impact of mental illness and/or cognitive disability on competence to participate in the immigration proceedings. The cases in this chapter include Padilla v. Kentucky and Matter of M-A-M.

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 566-570
Author(s):  
Darci Delgado ◽  
Ashley Breth ◽  
Shelley Hill ◽  
Katherine Warburton ◽  
Stephen M. Stahl

The United States’ criminal justice system has seen exponential growth in costs related to the incarceration of persons with mental illness. Jails, prisons, and state hospitals’ resources are insufficient to adequately treat the sheer number of individuals cycling through their system. Reversing the cycle of criminalization of mental illness is a complicated process, but mental health diversion programs across the nation are uniquely positioned to do just that. Not only are these programs providing humane treatment to individuals within the community and breaking the cycle of recidivism, the potential fiscal savings are over 1 billion dollars.


2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Sayce

Purpose – Biological understandings of mental illness are promoted by both anti-stigma campaigners and increasingly by activists protesting against social security cuts. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the pitfalls of the “illness” conceptualisation for reducing discrimination, comments on divisions between those arguing for a right to work and those who seek a right not to work, and proposes bridge building and more effective messages, drawing on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Design/methodology/approach – Review of relevant evidence on the effectiveness or lack of it of the “mental illness is an illness like any other” message in anti-stigma work, and discussion of grey literature from campaigners and bloggers. Findings – There is a growing body of evidence that the “illness like any other” message entrenches rather than reduces stigma and discrimination: this message should not be used in anti-discrimination work. At the same time some social security bloggers and campaigners have argued they are “sick” in order to resist efforts to compel them to seek work or face sanctions; whilst older disability rights campaigners have argued for the right to work. The paper argues for new bridge building and use of evidence based messages in campaigning. Research limitations/implications – This paper is based on review of evidence on the impact of using the “illness” message to reduce stigma and discrimination; and on discussion of campaigns and blogs. It is not based on a systematic review of campaigns. Practical implications – There is a need for campaigns that support rights holistically – the right to a decent standard of living and the right to work. This requires bridge building between activists, which could usefully be rooted in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The “illness” conceptualisation is harmful to the effort to reduce stigma and discrimination. Mental health staff can act as allies to those they serve in securing all these rights. Originality/value – This is the only recent paper to analyse the evidence that the “illness like any other” message is harmful in anti-stigma work, together with its implications for the recent phenomenon of mental health campaigners moving from opposition to the medical model, to a new argument that they are “too sick” to work. This paper suggests ways forward for everyone with an interest in combatting stigma and discrimination.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah De Pue ◽  
Céline Gillebert ◽  
Eva Dierckx ◽  
Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt ◽  
Rudi De Raedt ◽  
...  

AbstractCOVID-19 took a heavy toll on older adults. In Belgium, by the end of August, 93% of deaths due to COVID-19 were aged 65 or older. Similar trends were observed in other countries. As a consequence, older adults were identified as a group at risk, and strict governmental restrictions were imposed on them. This has caused concerns about their mental health. Using an online survey, this study established the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults aged 65 years or older, and which factors moderate this impact. Participants reported a significant decrease in activity level, sleep quality and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression was strongly related to reported declines in activity level, sleep quality, wellbeing and cognitive functioning. Our study shows that the COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on the mental health of older adults. This implies that this group at risk requires attention of governments and healthcare.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 411-411
Author(s):  
Michelle Zechner ◽  
Ellen Anderson ◽  
Kenneth Gill

Abstract People with serious mental illness (SMI) are more likely to experience chronic health conditions at younger ages, which increases the risk of premature death. Co-morbid health conditions and risk for premature death are well-studied in the population, however less is understood about the impact of aging and SMI on functional ability. Research suggests that the population walk less and may have lower fitness levels than other populations (Gill et al., 2016). Specific data exploring functional age of people with SMI is sparse. The authors compared published standardized geriatric functional fitness values for people over 65 to baseline values of a community sample of people living with SMI who participated in a community health promotion intervention. The average age of the sample was 50 (SD=11). Three physical functioning measures were used in the comparison to measure physical functioning; the Sit to Stand Test, 6 Minute Walk, and Single Legged Stance. Results indicated significant differences in mean physical functioning values between the sample and standardized geriatric values. The sample performed at levels 20-30 years older than their chronological age. This finding suggests that mental health and aging services may need to adjust interventions, services and methods to improve physical functioning in middle-aged and older adults living with SMI. Premature functional decline impacts community living skills, independent living, housing choice, vocational options, and may impede personal goal attainment. Recommendations for interventions will be offered, as will suggestions for policies targeting services that cross aging and mental health silos.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeannemarie Baker ◽  
Jasmine L. Travers ◽  
Penelope Buschman ◽  
Jacqueline A. Merrill

BACKGROUND: Access to mental health care is a struggle for those with serious mental illness (SMI). About 25% of homeless suffer from SMI, compared with 4.2% of the general population. OBJECTIVE: From 2003 to 2012, St. Paul’s Center (SPC) operated a unique model to provide quality care to the homeless and those at risk for homelessness, incarceration, and unnecessary hospitalization because of SMI. Data were available for analysis for the years 2008 to 2010. DESIGN: The SPC was developed, managed, and staffed by board-certified psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioners, offering comprehensive mental health services and coordinated interventions. RESULTS: All clients were housed and none incarcerated. From 2008 to 2010, only 3% of clients were hospitalized, compared with 7.5% of adults with SMI. Clinical, academic, and community partnerships increased value, but Medicaid reimbursement was not available. CONCLUSION: Mental health provisions in the recently passed 21st Century Cures Act support community mental health specialty treatment. The SPC provides a template for similar nurse practitioner–led models.


2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 114-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin Rush ◽  
Declan Lyons

The human rights group Amnesty International has recently expanded the range of rights it promotes to include the right of persons with mental illness to enjoy the best available mental health care. The Irish section of Amnesty has launched a report and promotional campaign on the rights of persons with mental illness, using internationally recognised norms of best practice reflected in international conventions that generate binding legal obligations of the Irish state. The report is critical of piecemeal reforms and inadequate resourcing of mental health services, and calls for a more comprehensive implementation of the recommendations of domestic and international reports.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 01-14
Author(s):  
Michael Galvin

We are in an important moment for mental health treatment around the world, as many Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) – representing an increasing majority of the world’s population – are currently developing and scaling up services for the first time. Yet, research on Global Mental Health (GMH) best practices remains scattered and difficult to synthesize. This review aims to simplify existing GMH research on effective biomedical and psychosocial treatment approaches from both high-income countries and LMICs to enable a more comprehensive understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of existing interventions, based on the highest quality, up-to-date research. By understanding which treatments are most effective and why, we can begin to not only implement more effective practices, but guide the future of GMH research in the right directions. The purpose of this review is therefore to understand mental illness, what it is, how it was treated in the past, how it manifests differently around the globe, and how to best treat it. Ultimately, while psychosocial approaches are advised for patients with more mild to moderate disorders, medications and other biomedical approaches are recommended increasingly only for more severe cases. While significant evidence exists to justify the use of psychotropic medications for mental illness, their adverse effects indicate that psychosocial approaches should be prioritized as first line treatments, particularly for mild to moderate disorders. As one of the first to analyze this research, this review is useful not only for GMH scholars, but for practitioners and public health workers globally, as well.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krista J. Van Slingerland ◽  
Natalie Durand-Bush ◽  
Scott Rathwell

We examined the level and prevalence of mental health functioning (MHF) in intercollegiate student-athletes from 30 Canadian universities, and the impact of time of year, gender, alcohol use, living situation, year of study, and type of sport on MHF. An online survey completed in November 2015 (N = 388) and March 2016 (n = 110) revealed that overall, MHF levels were moderate to high, and more student-athletes were flourishing than languishing. MHF levels did not significantly differ across time based on gender, alcohol use, living situation, year of study, and type of sport. Eighteen percent reported a previous mental illness diagnosis and yet maintained moderate MHF across time. These findings support Keyes’ (2002) dual-continua model, suggesting that the presence of mental illness does not automatically imply low levels of well-being and languishing. Nonetheless, those without a previous diagnosis were 3.18 times more likely to be flourishing at Time 1 (November 2015).  


1995 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 743-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mervat Nasser

A review is made of the anti-psychiatric movement through its major protagonists, Lacan, Laing, Cooper and Szasz. The ideology was set to challenge the concept of mental illness and question the authority of the psychiatrist and the need for mental health institutions. The anti-psychiatric movement received a lot of attention in the 1970s but is now considered to be of the past and of likely interest to the psychiatric historian. However, the impact of the movement on current psychiatric practice requires further re-examination and appraisal.


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