Introduction and statistics
Youngsters, the aged, expectant mothers, ethnic minorities, foreigners, the financially underprivileged, the destitute, and individuals with persistent ailments, including those with drastic psychological disorders, are among the most vulnerable populaces. Age, racial group, nationality, sexual identity, earnings, economic hardship, and a low level of education, among other factors, increase the susceptibility of these populations. To improve their life reliability, these sociologically and financially underprivileged groups require appropriate care. Nonetheless, a large percentage of people have yet to obtain the appropriate care they deserve. The hurdles and difficulties that exist between efficient medical care and the globe’s greatest susceptible populaces are complicated, and psychiatric mental health nurse (PMHNP) professionals strenuously decry this.
Abuse and violence against others
Abuse occurs when one individual injures another, triggering physiological, sentimental, sexual, or mental harm. Carelessness is one of the most heinous forms of mistreatment, impacting millions of susceptible people worldwide. Abuse can take many aspects, and any aspect of mistreatment that impacts one’s physiological or mental wellbeing is considered abuse. Abuse, on the other side, takes the form of violent acts. Violence is described as the use of physiological authority or force against an individual or a society that leads in or has the potential to lead in fatal injury, damage, poverty, or mental and emotional harm. According to WHO (2021), violence is a worldwide occurrence that affects millions of disadvantaged people. Violence and abusive behavior against others is a significant unfairness that impacts numerous individuals, with the most underprivileged groups in the community suffering the most.
Vulnerable Population: Elder Abuse
PMHNP strenuously condemns elder mistreatment in any manner. PMHNP is dedicated to reporting all aspects of elder mistreatment to the appropriate officials and guaranteeing that the elder obtains adequate medical treatment. While the national administration and all jurisdictions have regulatory requirements in place to safeguard senior citizens, PMHNPs are among the federally mandated reporters of elder mistreatment and are in a position to assist all abused seniors. In the United States, millions of elderly individuals are subjected to physiological, emotional, economic, and sexual mistreatment, as well as desertion and abandonment. According to studies, almost one out of every ten elderly persons aged 60 and up has encountered some type of mistreatment or victimization (WHO, 2021). Elder mistreatment and violent acts are more common in organizations and amenities such as long-term treatment establishments and nursing homes, with two out of every three staff members disclosing mistreatment or violent behavior while taking care of older people. Abuse and violent acts against disadvantaged populations can result in sexual and physiological harm, as well as long-term mental and emotional repercussions. As per Friedman (2017), the American psychological health framework is unprepared to react to and engage elderly mistreatment survivors.
Vulnerable Population: Pregnant Women and Children
Children are susceptible since they have little choice-making ability and independence to concur to judgments that impact their lifestyles legitimately and morally (UNICEF, 2020). Numerous kids are mistreated and disrespected due to a lack of appropriate parental care, making them the most disadvantaged and susceptible group in the community. Abuse and violent acts against children are more likely to have long-term repercussions. Child mistreatment, abusive behavior, and violent acts against them are significant issues. Together with pediatric caregiver professionals, PMHNPs and other specialists are deeply dedicated to meeting children’s medical necessities and guaranteeing their safety in the community (Caneira & Myrick, 2015). The PMHNP is vital in the care of overlooked and mistreated children. When it pertains to toddlers, approximately 15 million girls aged 15 to 19 have been sexually abused at some point in their lifetimes (UNICEF, 2020). Nearly 10% of the world’s youngsters are not lawfully safeguarded from physical punishment. Almost 300 million youngsters are exposed to brutal discipline at the hands of their parents or guardians (UNICEF, 2020). Children’s vulnerability to violent acts and abusive behavior has risen due to their impossibility and lawful incapacity to make judgments for themselves.
Violence and abusive behavior against females, especially expectant mothers, are common and significant infringements of human liberties. Abuse and violent acts towards women, along with affectionate spouse violence, endangers expectant women in the short and long term, restricting them from participating fully and equally in the community. Throughout the gestation period, abusive conducts tend to worsen. Numerous expectant women around the world face severe mistreatment and violent acts.
Furthermore, each year, over 300,000 expectant mothers are sexually, mentally, and physiologically assaulted by their spouses (AHRQ, n.d.). Numerous expectant mothers experience affectionate spouse and domestic oppression, as well as threatening conduct and psychological violence (Alhusen et al., 2015). Violence throughout the gestation period is a major public medical concern, and the PMHNP plays a critical role in putting an end to it.
Vulnerable Population: Minorities; ethnicity, immigrants, and or gender
Minority groups, such as LGBTQ individuals, foreigners, people of color, native individuals, members of ethnic or national, lingual, and religious minorities, seem to face more violent conduct from the general community and law enforcement than most of the non-Hispanic natives (Baciu et al., 2017). Asylum seekers, the destitute, and even members of racial minorities are subjected to severe violence and mistreatment. Minorities experience a high level of violence and mistreatment, and they are subjected to a variety of aspects of hostility and harassment. This population is financially and culturally underprivileged, and there is a significant discrepancy in health. Aside from insufficient health-care accessibility, such a disadvantaged population finds it costly and discriminatory to receive medical care services. Health inequities in America manifest themselves in various ways for ethnic and race-based minority groups, such as increased levels of persistent diseases and immature deaths.
Screening
Vulnerable groups are less probable than white people to be assessed for various illnesses. The susceptibility of these populations is explicitly linked to a lower likelihood of health screening. Despite substantial attempts and initiatives to guarantee balanced access to cancer assessment, susceptible populations’ perceptions toward assessment have had a substantial influence on their lives. Assessment for disadvantaged populations can aid in the prevention and detection of persistent illnesses that necessitate long-term specialized treatment. Generally, there is reduced access to medical care for illness preventive measures and screening.
PMHNP role in advocacy and prevention
Psychiatric mental health nurse professionals perform essential responsibilities in safeguarding medical care, especially for susceptible populations’ psychological health necessities. They are trained and certified to work in medical positions in psychological healthcare environments. PMHNPs have the competence and training to assess, recommend, and treat those who are susceptible to numerous psychological health circumstances.
The PMHNP enhances and safeguards senior clients’ safety, privileges, and wellbeing. The PMHNP possesses a moral obligation to safeguard the elderly and guarantee that they obtain suitable medical services to lessen the magnitude of their symptoms caused by mistreatment and violent acts. Elder mistreatment is a significant worry for PMHNPs, who have a moral obligation to protect human life and make judgments that are consistent with the obligation to offer excellent care to senior clients. Nevertheless, the PMHNP’s role and ethical position against senior mistreatment is an essential step toward ending senior mistreatment and violence and promoting healthy recovery and psychological health services. They can perform an important position in safeguarding the seniors and improving their psychological disorders, thereby improving their quality of life.
The PMHNP has a moral obligation to safeguard children’s wellbeing and psychological health necessities. Many mistreated and violated youngsters are never given the assistance they need to recover, and the PMHNP strenuously opposes child mistreatment. In addition, the PMHNP is dedicated to safeguarding youngsters by offering them safe, skillful, and altruistic treatment in order to enhance their quality of life. Despite an increment in youngster mistreatment instances, the responsibility of PMHNPs in championing youngsters’ liberties and safeguarding their mental health goes a long way toward stopping mistreatment and violence against youngsters.
The PMHNP censures all forms of mistreatment and violent acts towards women. PMHNP remains in unity with women and advocates for the abolition of abuse against expectant mothers. PMHNP has the prospects to reduce gender-based violent behavior while also guaranteeing the safety and wellbeing of expectant mothers and their unborn kids.
Most disadvantaged populations are medically underprivileged, and the PMHNP can assist in meeting those necessities. PMHNPs play an essential role in addressing the medical necessities of susceptible populations and can assist them in progressing their medical needs. Furthermore, PMHNPs can use their role to advocate for the inclusion of all marginalized populations in obtaining integrated medical services.
Conclusion
Violent acts and mistreatments against others are significant unfairness that impacts numerous individuals, with the most susceptible populations in the community bearing the impact. Millions of people from susceptible populations are in desperate necessity of medical care, including psychological medical care. As previously stated, mistreatment can take many aspects, and any type of maltreatment that impacts one’s physiological or mental wellbeing is considered abuse. The senior, expectant mothers, youngsters, and marginalized groups are among the globe’s most susceptible populations, often subjected to severe mistreatment and violence. Nevertheless, PMHNPs have the resources, training, and competence to assist in the reduction of medical discrepancies among the susceptible population. The PMHNP can assist in meeting the psychological medical care necessities of disadvantaged individuals and ensuring balanced access to medical care.
References
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (n.d.). Intimate partner violence screening. https://www.ahrq.gov/ncepcr/tools/healthier-pregnancy/fact-sheets/partner-violence.html
Alhusen, J. L., Ray, E., Sharps, P., & Bullock, L. (2015). Intimate partner violence during pregnancy: maternal and neonatal outcomes. Journal of women’s health, 24(1), 100-106.
Baciu, A., Negussie, Y., Geller, A., Weinstein, J. N., & National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2017). The state of health disparities in the United States. In Communities in action: Pathways to health equity. National Academies Press (US).
Caneira, L., & Myrick, K. M. (2015). Diagnosing child abuse: the role of the nurse practitioner. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 11(6), 640-646.
Michael B. Friedman. (2017). Elder Abuse: A Challenge to the Mental Health System. https://nyceac.org/elder-abuse-a-challenge-to-the-mental-health-system_2/
UNICEF. (2020). Violence against children. https://www.unicef.org/protection/violence-against-children
WHO. (2021, June 15). Elder abuse. WHO | World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/elder-abuse
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