Critically assess the word “consumer” as it is used in psychiatry
In psychiatry, the term “consumer” refers to a mental health patient who obtains mental health services and treatment for his disorder. The term “consumer” implies that the patient seeks the services autonomously. Presently, mental health consumers play a significant role in mitigating the effects of psychiatric disorders in our societies. Many consumer-run facilities have been established in our societies to facilitate mental health programs in our communities. Many state and local government offices have set up offices of consumer services to manage mental disorders within their jurisdictions.
Consumers receive psychological and mental health services from psychologists, social workers, or psychiatrists. The term relates to the use of health sector facilities in a large economy to manage psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric consumer groups play an activist role in our societies, advocating for equality and social justice for mental health survivors (Sharfstein & Dickerson, 2006). The term “consumer” was created by who attempted to empower psychiatric survivors using public mental health services. Generally, patients suffering from mental illnesses are stigmatized and omitted from playing essential roles in our communities. The consumer movements were established to eliminate this marginalization and create opportunities for psychiatric survivors to play a vital role in our communities.
The term “consumer” advocates for a reciprocal relationship between healthcare providers and those who are using the services. This relationship means, without psychiatric patients, there could not exist psychiatric health practitioners. Currently, the mental health consumer has expanded to include mental health survivors and people who had previously received the services. “Consumer” is synonymous with ex-psychiatric patients and users of mental health services. Consumer-run health programs have been widely accepted in our communities. They have been acknowledged for their role in reducing the mortality rates in psychiatry.