Can mental illness be cured?

o Has the concept of deinstitutionalization been effective in providing needed services to the mentally ill? Why or why not?
o What populations or groups were most adversely affected by deinstitutionalization? What are the benefits of deinstitutionalization?
o Are health care professionals who provide mental health care integrated with other systems of care? What are the consequences of separating mental health from physical health care? What other services (social and health) might be needed by the mentally ill?
o What are three governmental sources that pay for mental health care? What populations are covered by these sources?
o What are some of the challenges to using a managed care approach in mental health care? How does a managed care model of mental health care reduce health care spending?
o How would you ensure the mentally ill are placed into the appropriate care facility?

Please note that Jiskha volunteers DO NOT do student homework.

You should use what you've learned in this class to answer these questions.

If you get stuck on one or two, please post them along with your attempts to answer them. We'll then be glad to help you.

Be sure to go back into your study materials; these questions are undoubtedly based on your text or online study materials. If you need to search online for information, here are some ideas:

You may have to search and research, but once you learn some good sources and methods, you should have success. In addition to searching on the Internet, you also need to make best friends with the reference librarian(s) in your local or college library. Libraries these days subscribe to enormous research databases, and they are often more useful than Internet searches. Ask your librarian if you have access to EBSCOHost -- it has several databases within it, including at least three for health sciences, one for military and government, one huge one for academic research, and others.

For Internet searching:
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/
At this webpage, you can go immediately to the search sites (first three columns across the top) -- or even better you can scroll down until you see the section called HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET. Those are the links to start with. You'll not only learn how to come up with good search terms, but also how to evaluate the webpages you get as results. Some will be good and others will be garbage. You need to know how to tell the difference.

My favorite way to search is to go to Google's advanced search page http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en and put my search words or phrases into the first or second search box (either "all the words" or "exact phrase"). Another is to start out at http://scholar.google.com. However, there many other strategies for searching you can use, and the HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET section will help you best.

Learning to use Google or other search engines can save you time and help you learn to find information efficiently. Here are some websites that can teach you how:

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html

http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/searchtips.html

http://www.pandia.com/goalgetter/index.html

http://websearch.about.com/mbody.htm?once=true&COB=home&PM=112_100_T

... and one to help you judge whether a particular website's information is worth your time:

http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/evaluate.html

Happy searching.

To answer your questions, I'll provide explanations on how you can find the information:

1. Can mental illness be cured?
- The concept of mental illness can vary, and the approach to treatment depends on the specific condition. To find information on the curability of different mental illnesses, it's best to research specific disorders like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, etc. Look for reputable sources such as medical journals, mental health organizations, or consultation with healthcare professionals.

2. Has the concept of deinstitutionalization been effective in providing needed services to the mentally ill? Why or why not?
- This question requires understanding the concept of deinstitutionalization and its impact on mental health services. Begin by researching the history and principles of deinstitutionalization, its goals, and the effects it has had on the mentally ill. Consider reading academic articles, policy papers, or books exploring this topic, as they often offer varying perspectives and analyses.

3. What populations or groups were most adversely affected by deinstitutionalization? What are the benefits of deinstitutionalization?
- Understanding who was adversely affected by deinstitutionalization and its benefits can be achieved through an exploration of studies, reports, or scholarly articles. Look for research conducted on specific populations, such as the homeless, individuals with severe mental illnesses, or those unable to access community-based services. To understand the benefits, examine research on improved community integration, increased autonomy, or enhanced quality of life for individuals with mental illnesses.

4. Are health care professionals who provide mental health care integrated with other systems of care? What are the consequences of separating mental health from physical health care? What other services (social and health) might be needed by the mentally ill?
- To explore the integration of mental health care professionals with other systems and the consequences of separating mental health from physical health care, review studies, reports, or literature focused on healthcare integration models, mental health policy, or comparative health system analyses. These sources should also indicate what other social and health services might be necessary to support individuals with mental illnesses.

5. What are three governmental sources that pay for mental health care? What populations are covered by these sources?
- Understanding governmental sources for mental health care requires examining healthcare policies and structures specific to your country. Research the national or local government websites related to healthcare services, mental health initiatives, or social welfare programs. These sources should provide information on funding sources like national health insurance, Medicaid, or subsidies for mental health services, and which populations they cover.

6. What are some of the challenges to using a managed care approach in mental health care? How does a managed care model of mental health care reduce healthcare spending?
- Investigate studies, reports, or academic articles on managed care models specifically applied to mental health care. They should describe the challenges encountered and the potential benefits in terms of healthcare spending reduction. Look for specialized journals in psychiatry, health policy, or managed care to find relevant insights.

7. How would you ensure the mentally ill are placed into the appropriate care facility?
- The process of placing the mentally ill into appropriate care facilities varies depending on the individual's condition, available resources, and relevant policies within a specific jurisdiction. Explore resources such as government websites, mental health organizations, or consult healthcare professionals to understand the criteria, guidelines, and procedures in place to ensure appropriate care facility placements. Policies, regulations, and available community services play significant roles in this process.