Mental Health Problem in Bronx, New York

Mental Health Problem in Bronx, New York

The health problem that I have identified in my Bronx community in New York is Mental health. It is appropriate to associate mental health issues, together with certain behavioral disorders, are ranked third among the leading causes of disabilities in the United States of America. It is probable to establish that the Bronx community has the highest prevalence of psychological distress, especially in the state of New York. In the Bronx community, it is right to indicate that they have the highest prevalence of severe psychological disorders with more than 6.5%. It can also be established that the community is composed of females and Hispanics as the most affected by the mental disorder in the country (New York City Community Health Survey, 2018).  In New York, it is also correct to indicate that the number of diagnosed depressions has tremendously increased among the Bronx community and remains much higher as compared to the rest of the communities in the region. Research studies brought out from the New York City community reveal that the Bronx community has the highest number of psychiatric hospitalizations. There are almost 797 cases per 1,000 adults among the Bronx community. Suicidal incidences in the Bronx community has increased to more than 25% among the Bronx community (New York City Community Health Survey, 2018). Consequently, it is reasonable to establish that physical factors cause mental health, head injuries, birth trauma, drug and substance abuse, social and cultural factors, domestic violence, poverty, social isolation, homelessness, and work stress, and individual factors such as poor nutrition and genetics.

The physical factors that contribute to the mental health problem in the Bronx community include head injuries that contribute to the damage of the brain. Hence, it is right to indicate that such defects affect the brain, consequently resulting in extensive psychiatric disorders in an individual. Prenatal damage that contributes to birth trauma is highly associated with the issues of mental health. The disruption of the development of the tissues of the brain, which might contribute to loss of Oxygen in the brain, has a higher capacity of leading autism spectrum disorder among kids (Gyamfi et al., 2019). Substance and drug abuse is a physical factor that has been highly connected with the issues of depression, paranoia, and other mental health illness.

The social and cultural factors that result in mental health complexity among the Bronx community in New York include; poverty, social isolation, homelessness, work stress, and domestic violence. Social isolation results in depression cases hence, contributing to a higher percentage of individuals diagnosed with mental health. Moreover, domestic violence is portrayed as the leading cause of psychiatric disorders through the damage of the brain. It can also result in depression and Schizophrenia among the victims (Jefferson, 2018). Poverty and homelessness are consequential as they propel excessive thoughts of worthlessness among people in my community.  Hence, they are likely to promote mental health issues. Social isolation has rapidly increased the percentage of diagnosed depression among the Bronx community in New York.

Individual factors that are likely to result in mental health among the Bronx community in New York include; poor nutrition and genetics. Mental illness is sometimes hereditary and, thus, can contribute to susceptibility hence, passed through genes among individuals. Poor feeding habits and nutrition can also trigger the development of mental health disorders among individuals.

In conclusion, it is plausible to ascertain that physical factors such as head injuries, prenatal damage, birth trauma, and substance abuse contribute to trauma among the Bronx community in New York. Moreover, socio-cultural factors such as poverty, domestic violence, social isolation, and homeless contribute to mental health (Bronxnet, 2019). Furthermore, physical factors, such as poor nutrition and genetics, are likely to result in mental health issues.

References

Bronxnet. (2019). NYC Mental Health Resources & Services.

Bronxnet. https://www.bronxnet.org/your-bronx/articles/mental-health-resources/

Jefferson, K. (2018). Mind, the Mental Health Charity – Help for Mental Health

Problems. https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/mental-health-problems-introduction/causes/

Gyamfi S et al. (2019). Individual Factors That Influence Experiences and Perceptions of Stigma

 and Discrimination Towards People with Mental Illness in Ghana. – PubMed – NCBI.

National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.montefiore.org/documents/communityservices/OCPH-Dashboard-Mental-Health.pdf

New York City Community Health Survey. (2018). Bronx Community Health Dashboard:

Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.montefiore.org/documents/communityservices/OCPH-Dashboard-Mental-Health.pdf