Influence of Stigma in Healthcare

Influence of Stigma in HealthcargonStep 1Discuss the ways stigma preserve influence health care pitch shot for marginalised people and groups in Australian night club. People from the following groups may be stigmatised. seek this question from one of the following marginalised groups refugees, indigenous Australians, kindly misfortune or homeless people, older adults or the disabled.Step 2My definition of stigma is when somebody is discriminated against and stereotyped by their mental health infirmity causing them to be dole outed unequal to others. I excite made many observations in recounting to stigma and mental healthcare delivery while working as an assistant nurse in a mental health hospital. In my experience, I detect staff stigmatise and discriminate against certain mentally ill patients referable to the staffs set and expectations of mental health illnesses. This caused a lower standard of care as the staff neglected certain patients if they believed mental he alth was not a valid health issue. When related to the sociological conceit guidebook (Germov, 2014, p. 7, 8) this issue relates to the historical factor as in the past mental health was not value as noblely as biomedicine and on that point was a higher rate of stigma in mental health. It also relates to the cultural factor as the cultural values of the staff I observed continueed on the delivery of healthcare. In addition to my observations in the workplace, I also experienced stigma first hand during my adolescent years as I experienced depression. I found I was less likely to seek helper and healthcare when others inside my society such as peers had a lack of understanding or had specific cultural and historical views that caused them to stigmatise me. This impacted on the delivery of healthcare as health professionals were unable to help me unless I presented to them with my issues, causing a lack of healthcare in this situation. The stigma I received from my peers was du e to the way the education system is structured as it doesnt include education about mental health from an early age. It is my experience with depression followed by my observations of stigma that has helped me understand that stigma is such a universal concept affecting many people and their healthcare.Germov (2014, pg. 3) explains health sociology is based on the concept that health issues come about from the social serviceman. Germov also explains (2014, pg. 3) the sermon and causes for health problems are within the social context of the individual. Therefore, if stigma and discrimination are within society, it can not only cause mental health issues, through self-stigmatizing, but also prevent them from improving, by causing individuals to not seek healthcare. Now that I commence an understanding of Willis sociological imagination template (Germov, 2014, p. 7, 8), I am able to reflect on my experiences with a deeper understanding of the implications stigma has on the deliver y of healthcare and the ability of a mentally ill psyche to seek help.Step 3Cockerham Cockerhams (2010, pg. 24-41) reading has deepened my initial observations of how stigma impacted on my own experience of mental illness as they explain the impact globalization has on the structure of the healthcare system and advancement in medicine, and also the cultural values and expectations of mental illness. The expression (Cockerham et al. 2010, pg. 24-41) explains globalisation and the advancement of western medicine is a means to scientifically understand the body in order to improve diagnosis and treatment options. This has had an effect on all aspects of healthcare however Cockerham et al. (2010) explain the historical neglect of mental health research, due to supernatural and religious beliefs of the past and the view that the study of the sound judgment was the role of the church.This reading has allowed me to understand the development of the structure of mental healthcare as his torically mental health was seen as mysterious and religious (Cockerham et al., 2010, pg. 24-41). The article explains that the study of the mind was eventually thought of as medical science, but due to the past perceptions, medical science in physical health was valued higher than mental health knowledge (Cockerham et al., 2010, pg. 24-41). This perception is found within Australian society as Germov (2012, pg. 165) states biomedicine is an important model of health and illness. This may have caused the cultural values of the staff I observed in my workplace, causing them to put biomedicine above mental healthcare, often devaluing the need for mental health care. The high value for biomedicine and the high value for medical science of physical health before mental health has allowed me to understand the historical cause of stigma. I have since realized I was a victim of stigma during my adolescent years which affected my ability to seek healthcare. Healthcare needs to develop furth er to treat the mentally ill with the respect and dignity they deserve.Step 4By reflecting on my experiences within mental health it is clear stigma influences healthcare delivery in two main ways 1) through the values and expectations of healthcare professionals and 2) whether or not individuals seek healthcare treatment due to stigma impacting on their perception of their mental health issue. As stated in step 2, health sociology is based on the concept that health problems are created from the social world of the individual, and both the treatment and cause of health issues can be identified in the individuals social context (Germov, 2014, pg. 3). This topic is very broad, so I will base my reflection on the three main factors from the sociological imagination template (Germov, 2012, pg. 7-8) that present the link between a person and their society/environment i.e. the cultural values and opinions of Australian society and the way the education system is structured and how it can be improved from a vituperative standpoint. These factors link closely and impede heavily on the delivery of healthcare in Australia. Such implications include a lower standard of healthcare due to the values of healthcare professionals, and the unfitness to live up to societys expectations causing self-stigmatizing attitudes, leading to a lower chance of the individual seeking out healthcare. There is the inability or decision not to seek help early due to a lack of knowledge stipulation from the education system however the healthcare system has advanced to create positive outcomes for someone with mental problems within Australian society. It is important to remember that cultural values and structural systems do not just affect the individual, but the society as a whole.The cultural perception of being responsible for our healthcare (Germov, 2014, pg. 8) within Australia has profound implications for people with mental illness as they are often unable to take responsibility of their healthcare. Their inability take charge clashes with views of society and in turn stigma develops. ideal and Thoits (1987) explain that culture mandates the behaviors, response and help-seeking attitudes of individuals to their illness, and Chacon (2009) states cultural factors play a large role in help-seeking. Hence the value of being responsible for our healthcare set with the bankruptcy of the individual to do so, causes the mentally ill person to steer away from seeking treatment, as they are made to believe they have failed their society. Weiss (2010) has given me insight into this value from the doctors point of view and that is doctors cannot help us if we wont help ourselves. This is true to some extent, however in the case of someone with a debilitating mental illness, they are often unable to help themselves. During my experience, I also felt as though I could not help myself as my illness caused a lack of self-confidence and respect to help myself. This ultima tely causes a lack of healthcare and a failure of the healthcare system to deliver care due to the values and expectations of society and healthcare professionals.Cappelen Norheim (2005) have given me insight into another viewpoint of being responsible for our own health. It is explained that lifestyle choices have a huge impact on our health and hence why some believe putting responsibility on the individual is fair (Cappelen Norheim, 2005). However, if a person has chosen to take illegal substances for example, that have ultimately caused a mental illness, who should decide whether or not they are discriminated against for doing so? And should the extent to which a disease is a result of individual choices be allowed to affect the degree to which it is given priority? This brings up the cultural values of the health professionals that I observed who had a high value for biomedicine and little understanding of how their views were being imposed on their patients, causing discrimi nation against them.From a little perspective (Germov, 2013, pg. 7), healthcare delivery can be improved through the structure of the education system. If more education about mental health is provided within the curriculum for young students, stigma among the mentally ill will be reduced due to a greater understanding and acceptance of mental illness among the younger generation. Programs such as headspace, as well as mental health resources, guidelines, and support will help improve the mental health and benefit of individuals (State Government Victoria, 2014). This is turn will improve healthcare delivery as the mentally ill will feel less like they have failed their society and more likely to seek treatment.Looking back on my experience, the delivery of healthcare is strongly impacted by the values, expectations and stigma of Australian society towards mental illness. By improving education in Australia we may be able to reduce stigma providing better healthcare outcomes to pa tients.Step 5By reply this eModule question, I have developed the graduate attribute of demonstrating respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity. I have expanded my knowledge on the impact of stigma on both myself and the individuals within my care, giving me a better respect for the dignity of the individual. Germov (2014) has given me a deeper knowledge that individual problems can be faced by the majority of society at one point or another, giving me the understanding that others, like me, often feel a sense of devalued dignity due to the values and expectations of society as a whole. I have a wider knowledge of the impact my experience had on myself as an adolescent, and would not allow others to feel the same way or experience the same issues. This has allowed me to better care for others keeping in mind the impact of stigma on healthcare delivery, ultimately giving me the skills to become a better nurse.ReferencesAngel, T., Thoits, P. (1987). The impa ct of culture on the cognitive structure of illness. Culture, Medicine and psychiatry, 11(4), 465-494. inside 10.1007/BF00048494Cappelen, A.W., Norheim, O.F. (2004). Responsibility in healthcare a liberal egalitarian approach. Journal Med Ethics, 31, 476-480. doi10.1136/jme.2004.010421Chacon, C. (2009). Depression the tole of cultural factors and perception of treatment. Retrieved from http//scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4998context=etd_thesesCockerham, G.B., Cockerham, W.C. (2010). Globalization Health benefits and risks. In Health and globalization (pp. 24-41). Cambridge, UK Polity Press.Germov, J. (2014). Ethnicity, health, and multiculturalism. In J. Germov, Second opinion An introduction to health sociology (5th ed.). (pp. 163-183). South Melbourne, Vic Oxford University Press.State Government Victoria. (2014). Student mental health and suicide response/planning. Retrieved from http//www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/health/pages/studenthealth.as pxWeiss, P.J. (2010). Take responsibility for your own health. Retrieved from http//www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/12/responsibility-health.html