Published in Mental Health News
We depend greatly on those who want to devote their professional career to our disabilities. Society throws us enough curves. There are many injustices in this world and humanity may not have the will power or the ability to face and correct them, but in our society we are lucky to have avoided many of them. With mental illness, however, there are obstacles that need to be overcome. A key component to well being is the relationship between the patient and their team of professionals. Proper coordination with this care is essential, but the future, is as usual too uncertain.
To view how the future may deal with us, the consumer, and the future possible shortage of professional care in our community facilities, we should take a long, hard look at our current care and availability. As one who receives care from a non-profit facility, I admire and appreciate the responsibilities taken by our professionals and the respect that is reciprocated. As a former accountant, I also understand some of the basic trials and financial stress that these organizations face. Both, us consumers and the institutions providing care, face many hardships with the current political and monetary outlook very unclear. Sometimes the consumer may view these health care facilities as adversaries, but we are on the same side with the same goals – finding a purposeful, useful and respectful life for those suffering from mental illness.
To view the future treatment for the mentally ill, some questions must be asked, such as:
- How will new developments and changes in medications, consumer population, stigma and treatments affect the delivery of care?
- Will facilities be flexible enough to adapt quickly to these new unseen situations and opportunities in an appropriate time frame?
- How will consumers’ care be affected in the long and short term?
- Will the universities offer more courses, expand their curriculum, and encourage students to the discipline of treating us, the mentally ill?
- Will the practice of medicine in these community hospitals be able to maintain these caregivers with enough challenges and rewards for them to continue practice there or be tempted to leave for the rewards of private practice?
- Finally, to which primary motive will insurance, governmental and political institutions adhere to: the profit motive or the well being of the caregivers and the consumers?
- And will there be enough incentives and encouragement legislatively, for our well being and for our caregivers, in our culture and capitalist society?
As with this nation’s overall healthcare and financial problem(s) and/or crisis, we see how our caregivers appear to be at the limits of proper treatment. There are times and situations we all face in which the caregivers cannot open their limited schedules. The constraints facing these healthcare professionals appear to leave little room for growth and flexibility. Is it a reflection of society’s values, trends and regulatory constraints or a lack of concern by the general population?
Corporate medicine has a place in dealing with the many types of diseases affecting humanity, but is it functioning at its optimum? How does the corporate world mirror what is best for the consumer? There are benefits to large community facilities: such as the delivery of quality long term care, providing proper diverse services for the present and flexible planning for the future, etc. There is a delicate balance between these and maintaining an on going viable operation.
I see our facilities struggling to provide and maintain services. From the physical upkeep of the units to treatment, there is a daily struggle, a balancing act, between operating as a business and performing as a service. They must provide appropriate care with enough financial payback/insurance reimbursement within a strict legislative framework, and maintaining a professional staff from doctors to maintenance and security. Where one link fails, the systems/institution fails and one of us may take a backwards step. We consumers must maintain the correct attitude, be responsible and respectful. We all have failed or will. Somewhere some time. But are responsibility is to do our best and listen, discuss and follow directions.
There is one thing we, the consumer and the caregivers can all have in common – faith. It is the key to hope. My current facility is a religious based one and that adds a lot of comfort to my situation and I assume, to others, as well. Being able to sit quietly in the chapel for a few moments offers a great advantage. Here, there can be hope beyond human understanding/contemplation. Here strength can be accumulated, (but not always), where one can express both gratitude and fears. Faith is the key to hope. Hope is the key to living a life of purpose and fulfillment.
We all must struggle with imperfections and disabilities; hopefully society, our neighbors and friends can partake and join us as we proceed forward in this life. There are injustices in life; unfortunately some can result in tragedy. As each generation faces its challenges, those with mental illness face their future with additional stress and much trepidation. The sad part apart this is that some of these problems can be corrected with a bit of foresightful thinking. I see the future with some restrained hope.
Glenn Slaby Blog