Abstract:
Inside West Virginia, within the state of Mt. Olive, the overcrowding of mentally ill patients is so great—even greater than those patients staying in the state psychiatric hospitals of Huntington and Westin. It has become the mental institution of Southern United States. The author of this article has experienced how it was to work within the psychiatric ward of the jails at Mt. Olive. This overcrowding, however, has affected the chances of seriously mentally ill patients of being cured from their illness, since the physical environment is very important when providing them with peace, quietness and solitude. It only shows how important it is to treat the overcrowding problems of jails situated in West Virginia.
In Southern United States, two of the biggest mental institutions are to be found inside the State of West Virginia. These are the state prisons at Huttonsville that has about 1,128 inmates, as well as, the state prison at Mt. Olive that has about 1,071 inmates (Treatment Advocacy Center, 2014, p.96). About 15 percent of them were seriously mentally ill, and the total number (169 and 161) is actually greater than that of patients staying in the state psychiatric hospitals of Huntington and Westin (Treatment Advocacy Center, 2014, p.96). This overcrowding indicates that the prisons of West Virginia had become the new mental institutions of citizens. Thus, in 2014, the author of this article were among those who went to the prisons at Mt. Olive to serve the vulnerable population who were mentally unhealthy.
Health & Illness at West Virginia
In the year 2014, I worked within the State of West Virginia, specifically within the state prison of Mt. Olive, where there were said to have about 1,071 inmates that were seriously mentally ill (Treatment Advocacy Center, 2014, p.96). I stayed and worked in the psychiatric division of the jail for about 5 months, together with other nurses who were also having their field work on the same state and mental institution. It was during those months that I had a direct perception on how the physical environment of a mental institution can affect not just the health of the patients but also their sense of peace and solitude. Being overcrowded as it was, the patients were usually unsettled, anxious, and were sometimes at war with the other patients, as most of them wanted to spend time alone in a secluded area. I experienced trying to pacify mentally ill patients, especially those who were seriously mentally ill, since there was the possibility that they would hurt themselves or others. However, it was not that easy, since there were always other patients who would distract them and do things that would prevent others from being able to relax. It showed how important the physical environment is when treating patients who were mentally ill.
Being Involved in the Treatment of the Vulnerable Population
One important thing that took place within the psychiatric ward of the state prison at Mt. Olive, was the time when there were some inequalities that took place in the provision of health care, and the management, of patients living in the same ward. Those who were not very seriously mentally ill have had more ability to protect themselves from other patients who may have wanted to hurt them physically or emotionally. However, those who were seriously mentally ill have had lesser chance of having to protect themselves from other patients who may want to hurt them in whichever way they wanted. As an effect, those who were not seriously mentally ill have had more chances of living a life that is well cared for and thus, would have better chance of having to revive from their illness. Others who were seriously mentally ill, however, had lesser chances of having to protect and express themselves, and in this situations, it was the health employees to should understand them. There were inequalities even in the procurement of food, water, lodging, and better physical environment and yet, the patients have had difficulty in trying to express their wants. This vulnerable population in West Virginia are among those whom the health care institutions should focus more on, as they are very much displaced within their community.
Conclusion
Within the psychiatric wards of the hospitals and jails of West Virginia, the overcrowding is so great that the psychiatric hospitals were forced to divert some 80 patients every year to private facilities, with a cost of about $80 million in 2007 (Treatment Advocacy Center, 2014, p.96). If this overcrowding were to be administered well, there is the possibility that it would create a better physical and psychological environment to the seriously mentally ill patients. Having a better environment would give them more solitude, more sources of relaxation, with more chances of being cured mentally. With the help of their community, they may be able to experience a much better, brighter future.
Reference:
Treatment Advocacy Center (2014, April 8). The treatment of persons with mental illness in prisons and jails: a state survey. Retrieved July 13, 2016 from http://tacreports.org/storage/documents/treatment-behind-bars/treatment-behind-bars.pdf.
