The goal of the work was to uncover the barriers to access mental health services among low income communities in western Kenya. The survey was carried out through interviews, from a sample of 114 respondents who included lecturers, university students, local leaders, community members, medical personnel and community health workers and spiritual leaders in the western part of Kenya.
Globally mental health illnesses affect more than 25 percent of all people during their lifetime. Issues on mental health are increasing worldwide and the causes are varied and many. According to the World Health Organization, mentally ill people often lack access to education, healthcare and opportunities to earn a decent living, which limits their chances of economic development and deprives them of social protection and recognition within the community.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Causes of mental health disorders
3 Barriers to mental health services
4 Mental illness and perception
5 Intervention strategies to mental health in low income communities
6 Conclusion
7 References
Research Objectives and Focus
This study aims to identify and analyze the primary barriers preventing individuals in low-income communities in Western Kenya from accessing essential mental health services, while also examining the social perceptions and traditional beliefs that influence treatment-seeking behaviors.
- The influence of cultural perceptions, such as witchcraft and divine punishment, on mental health treatment.
- Socio-economic barriers, including poverty, the high cost of medication, and inadequate infrastructure.
- The impact of stigma and discrimination on individuals with mental illness and their families.
- Current intervention strategies utilized by low-income communities, ranging from spiritual consultation to medical intervention.
Excerpt from the Book
3 Barriers to mental health services
Both Bower (1998) and Phelan, Bromet et al (1998) report from their respective studies, that family members often try to conceal their relative’s mental illness or hospitalization. This is more likely to happen if the person is not living with them, or when the disclosure is avoidable (Phelan, Bromet et al. 1998). The implications of this are that family members in this situation may be more likely to withdraw social contact and are less likely to support their relative with their experience of mental illness (Phelan, Bromet et al. 1998).
The fear may also be due to challenges involved in treating it and that fact that it has no definite treatment. Surprisingly some mentally ill individuals at market places or in communities have always been there since time immemorial. This further makes people believe the condition cannot be cured. There is an unfortunate statement that states “Once mentally ill, always mentally ill”. This conclusion is made from the many cases which after treatment, reoccur from time to time. In another study, Ostman and Kjellin (2002) found that 18 percent of respondents thought that, at times, their relative would be better off dead.
In the Western part of Kenya responses on barriers to accessing mental health services among low income communities were given as follows in the order of priority.
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the global and local burden of mental illness, establishing the study's goal to investigate access barriers in Western Kenya.
2 Causes of mental health disorders: Examines traditional and modern perceived causes of mental health disorders, highlighting the prevalence of beliefs in witchcraft and divine intervention.
3 Barriers to mental health services: Identifies critical obstacles to care, including financial poverty, stigma, lack of infrastructure, and a general lack of faith in the efficacy of medical treatments.
4 Mental illness and perception: Analyzes the social stigma associated with mental health, detailing how it affects employment, social relationships, and familial dynamics.
5 Intervention strategies to mental health in low income communities: Discusses the various methods used by communities to manage mental illness, noting a heavy reliance on spiritual leaders and witchdoctors over professional medical help.
6 Conclusion: Summarizes the findings regarding the link between social perception and treatment efficacy, concluding with evidence-based recommendations for policy improvements.
7 References: Lists the academic literature and reports cited throughout the study.
Keywords
Mental disorders, Well being, low income communities, health services, Western Kenya, stigma, poverty, mental health interventions, traditional beliefs, psychiatric care, social perception, health accessibility, witchcraft, discrimination, mental health awareness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper investigates the barriers that prevent individuals in low-income communities in Western Kenya from accessing mental health services.
What are the primary themes discussed in the study?
The primary themes include social stigma, traditional perceptions (such as witchcraft), economic constraints, and the limitations of existing mental health infrastructure.
What is the main goal or research question?
The goal is to identify why members of low-income communities in Western Kenya struggle to access mental health services and to understand the prevailing attitudes toward these conditions.
Which scientific methodology was employed?
The study utilized a qualitative survey approach, conducting interviews with a sample of 114 respondents, including medical personnel, community leaders, and affected individuals.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the perceived causes of mental illness, an analysis of barriers to care, the role of social and workplace perceptions, and current intervention strategies used in the region.
What are the characterizing keywords for this work?
Key terms include Mental disorders, Well being, low income communities, health services, stigma, poverty, and cultural perceptions.
How does the community's belief in "witchcraft" impact their mental health seeking behavior?
Many individuals in the studied communities attribute mental illness to supernatural causes like witchcraft or curses, which leads them to seek out spiritual leaders or traditional healers instead of medical professionals.
What role does financial poverty play in delaying medical treatment?
Poverty acts as a major barrier because families often cannot afford expensive medication or the associated costs of visiting distant medical facilities, forcing them to rely on crude or ineffective home-based care.
Why do many patients have little "faith" in medical services for mental health?
Many respondents believe medical treatment is ineffective because they observe that mental health conditions often recur even after formal treatment, leading to the societal belief that these disorders are incurable.
- Quote paper
- Dina Were (Author), Jane Amunga (Author), 2005, Mental health disorders. Barriers to mental health services among low-income communities in western Kenya, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/585136
