Vulnerable Population Mental Illness
Select and describe the characteristics of one vulnerable population from this week’s readings including why this population is considered vulnerable( patient with mental Illness) Discuss selected health practices and beliefs of the chosen population and the types of communication you would use with this population in an advanced nursing role.
Sample Answer
Vulnerable Population Mental Illness
Vulnerable populations consist of patients who are ethnic or racial minorities, elderly, children, socioeconomically underprivileged, underinsured, or those having certain health conditions. The selected vulnerable population for this week’s reading is patients with mental illness. Mental illness, also known as a mental health condition, is a wide range of mental health conditions affecting individuals’ mood, behavior, and thinking. Examples may include depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, eating illnesses, and addictive behaviors. The characteristics of mental illness groups include extreme worries or fears or extreme feelings of guilt, extreme changes of high and low moods, and withdrawal from friends and activities. These groups also have characteristics of significant fatigue, low energy, or issues sleeping (Mayo Clinic 2019).
There are numerous chosen health practices and beliefs in relation to patients with mental illness. One of the health practices that require advice to this vulnerable group is value for oneself. These patients should treat themselves with respect and kindness, avoiding self-criticism. This is important as it brings them and the people they care about great happiness. Another health practice is taking care of oneself body. This practice can enhance their mental health (University of Michigan n.d.). This care can be completed through, for instance, eating nutritious meals avoiding smoking doing exercise that helps reduce depression and anxiety-enhancing moods. When it comes to beliefs, they are shaped by personal knowledge on mental illness, knowing and relating with someone living with the mental illness, cultural stereotypes on mental illness, stories of media, and familiarity with the institutional practices and past restrictions. For instance, the Pacific Islanders consider mental illness a result of family conflict, whereas the Jewish population beliefs that mental illness is perceived as a chance to receive divine messages, means of forgiveness, and to enhance their souls.
In an advanced nursing role, one type of communication I would use with patients having a mental illness is nonverbal communication. This type of communication embraces facial expressions, eye contact, posture, movements of hands, and touch. For instance, engaged in conversation with these patients on health ideas, it’s significant to maintain attention to both the words and non-verbal communication since these patients might agree with given views verbally, but not with nonverbal cues. Another communication type would be listening. This form of communication is among the most significant types of communication as if as a nurse cannot listen to my patient, I cannot efficiently engage with them (Drexel University 2018). Listening, thus, would be important in my role.
