CARE GIVING TO A PERSON WITH MENTAL ILLNESS WHO IS LOCKED UP AT HOME
Georgina P. Maskay

INTRODUCTION

It is a common notion that mental illness is very threatening since persons with mental illnesses are violent and can harm people. Emotional people lose what they consider to be the distinctive human qualities of rationality and free will, and there is a kind of horror in dehumanization. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental illnesses as medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others daily functioning and are brain-based conditions that often result in a variety of symptoms that can affect daily life. Ramos (2010) defines mental illness as a term that refers collectively to also diagnosable mental disorders.

When people are diagnosed with mental illness, finding effective medical and psychiatric care is the first priority. Unfortunately, an accurate mental health diagnosis cannot be identified through a simple blood test or brain scan like other potential causes, such as a stroke or thyroid disease. When these symptoms are not caused by any other illness, the doctor may recommend the person to see a mental health professional like a psychiatrist. The doctor may perform a physical examination, an interview and lab tests.

The management of the illness should include attention to lifestyle, stress management, supports and also medication options. Effective treatment plans usually include medication, psychotherapy, education, self-management strategies and external supports such as family, friends and formal support groups.

Family commitment is particularly important in the first appearance of the symptoms of psychosis. Taking care of oneself while a family member is facing an emergent crisis is a profound challenge. George (2002) asserted that nursing works toward the development of well-being of individuals. As Finfgeld, 2004 posits that well-being, which involves awakening parts of the self that had been passive and rediscovering ego strength, meaning and purpose with in a reformulated self-identity is made possible.

It is important to any person who had been diagnosed of a mental illness to look for a health care professional who understands a person’s cultural background and shares the same expectations for treatment. Leading a balanced lifestyle can help the family and caregiver to live with persons with mental illness more manageable.

Combination of medication, psychotherapy and lifestyle choices along with community supports to facilitate healthy recovery which is a holistic process that integrates hope and strengths with services. Finding a trustworthy and experienced health care provider is crucial, and discussing medication options is paramount after diagnosis. ( Ken Duckworth 2013)

Early identification and evaluation of the onset of psychosis is an important health concern. Early detection and intervention improve outcomes. Psychosis may be transient, intermittent, and short-term or part of a longer-term psychiatric condition. (Ken Duckworth 2013)

The confinement of a person with mental illness is limited to two weeks. Beyond two weeks are already considered home care.

Once such treatment begins, individuals living with mental health challenges and their families soon discover that the illness affects many aspects of their lives and that they need more than medical help. Mental illness affects every aspect of life and presents many challenges to individuals and their families. Services to optimize recovery usually include some combination of psychosocial supports.

Studies showed that approximately 60 million Americans experience mental health disorder in a given year and one in 17 lives with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, depression or bipolar disorder. There are about one in 10 children live with serious mental or emotional disorder. Unfortunately, less than one-third of adults and one-half of children with diagnosed mental health disorders receive treatment every year. ( Ken Duckworth 2013)

People who struggle with mental health conditions need community support and continuous care moving towards recovery.

A family member who may be developing an illness with psychosis can be challenging to assess. Young people incarnated with these symptoms may or may not share their experiences in the open.

Families are often scared and anxious and at the same time are often the major and only support for the person who is having the symptoms.

Based on my experience during community immersion I have come to know that there are persons with mental illness who are locked up at home. I have observed that it is increasing in number. I have identified five persons with mental illness who are locked up at home. These persons with mental illness are very violent and are usually harmful to the community people before they were locked up. They are being locked in a room either within their house or have a separate room near their house. The room where they are locked up are different from each other in terms of hygiene, space and ventilation hence this shows that there are differences in the care that is being rendered by the family members. These persons with mental illness are taken cared of by their families or relatives. I have observed that there are different support system of the family an these persons who are locked up having either no support or strong support. Locking up of persons with mental illness is a last and good intervention since they become violent and harmful to the community people. We should not wait that these persons will harm more and more people in the community. This is also to protect the person with mental illness because they might be harmed by the people whom they had harmed.

On the other hand, persons with mental illness should not be locked up because it is a violation of the bill of rights of the person as stated in Article III Section 1 of the Philippine Constitution.

With the above scenario, I became interested in knowing the family care given to person with mental illness who are locked up at home.
The result of the study serves as basis for other research studies on mental illness for local and national setting. It also serves to improve/help family members caring a person with mental illness to learn and have new or additional knowledge during the interaction. To understand the problems and challenges faced by the family members and how to find solutions to them.

This study gives nurses more ideas or knowledge on providing best care for persons with mental illness. Furthermore, data from the study helps in the achievement of the different goals and objectives of health, as the results become information for health care organizations and health care providers as they plan and initiate appropriate programs on care of persons with mental illness. Health care organizations and providers will be able to develop and evaluate public resources designed to improve the care given by family members on persons with mental illness who are locked up at home.

Leaders and policy makers will become aware and extend possible support to the family members and persons with mental illness.