Community Mental Health Nursing Case Study

Introduction

Mental health care is a critical issue for most countries. According to Zolnierek (2008), although omitted from the World Health Organization’s eight Millennium Development Goals, mental illness ranks fourth of the 10 leading causes of disability in the world and is expected to approach second place by 2020. Accordingly to the World Health Organization (2007), mental health care is an essential but often forgotten component of health care. From the statistics as mentioned in World Health Organization (2007), there are nearly 54 million people around with severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder (manic-depressive illness). As due to the consequence of persistent poverty-driven conditions, the

Firstly, according to Xuan-Yi, Wei-Fen., Hsin-Hsin, & Huai-Fen (2008), community mental health nurses function as assessors when they evaluate clients and family members with a needs assessment and the outline a nursing care plan. An example, they assess clients' symptoms, knowledge about the disease, functional level, ability in self-care such as fostering of grooming, instruction in use of public transportation, budgeting and home settings. Besides that, they also need to assess the compliance of medications by the clients, any physical problem, support systems, behavior, psychological needs and any interacting with family members and others. Last, they need to identify whether and when are at risk of harming themselves or others. Secondly, as a supporter to the mental health illness clients and families which providing emotional and psychological supports as stated in Xuan-Yi, Wei-Fen., Hsin-Hsin, & Huai-Fen (2008). For instance, nurses may build up the clients with their self-esteem and emotional resilience during the interview time. On the other hands, psychological treatments do helps in reducing the distress associated with symptoms and can even help to reduce the symptoms themselves. As study done by Xuan-Yi, Wei-Fen., Hsin-Hsin, & Huai-Fen (2008), they mentioned that most of the clients like the community mental health nurses go

They help individual and families deal with difficult emotions, mental disorder and trauma. According to Xuan-Yi, Wei-Fen., Hsin-Hsin, & Huai-Fen (2008), the role is often used when nurses provide crisis intervention and give directive counsel. The most common reasons for crisis treatment is when the patient turn to violent or aggressive behavior, persecutory delusions and auditory hallucinations. As well as, mental health counselors also help their patients learn to modify their emotional and behaviors for better result. Furthermore, protecting the rights of clients and families would be another role play by community mental health nurses. Yet, the advocate role is not an easy to perform. But if we are implementing well, we are able to help clients and families make their voices heard and show the real people behind the labels and diagnoses. It is so important for them because as mentioned by Chamberlin (2001) as cited in World Health Organization (2003), those who have been diagnosed with mental illness are not different from other people, and want the same basic things out of life: adequate incomes; decent places to live; educational opportunities; job training leading to real, meaningful jobs; participation in the lives of their communities; friends and social relationships; and loving personal