On Day 5, the rough draft of your entire paper is due, including references. Submit through the submission link, with an email backup (a Word or .rtf file attached to an email).
submission information
REFERENCES/RESOURCES
- Greene, E., & Heilbrun, K. (2019). Wrightsman’s psychology and the legal system (9th ed.). Cengage.
- Chapter 10, “Forensic Assessment in Juvenile and Criminal Cases”
- Slobogin, C., Hafemeister, L.T., & Mossman, D. (2020). Law and the mental health system: Civil and criminal aspects (7th ed.). West Academic Publishing.
- Chapter 9, “Competency Determinations”
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Rough Draft: How Limited Resources Affect Mental Health
Michelle Lynn
Walden University
HUMN 6912-1
Instructor Millimen
7/20/2025
Rough Draft: How Limited Resources Affect Mental Health
Mental health is the emotional, psychological, and even social well-being of a person in terms of thoughts, feelings, and actions. It influences stress management, socialization, and decision making. Although mental health is important to well-being, it is most often overlooked, especially in impoverished areas. Limited resources can include lack of permanent housing, diet, medical care, education, and support among peers. These gaps have a direct impact on emotional and psychological well-being resulting in increased stress, depression, anxiety, and trauma. Such results are multiplied in the case of systematically disadvantaged groups. When people cannot satisfy their basic needs, the state of constant survival causes a situation of chronic distress and emotional deprivation. Mental health is damaged when basic needs are not met through constant stress, neglect, and isolation.
Effect of Housing Instability on Mental Health
One of the most severe factors that may contribute to the decline of the mental aspects is housing instability. Evicted, homeless, and confined individuals are under chronic stress and anxiety. Being homeless, individuals are always in doubt about their safety and survival. Constant insecurity leads to sleeping disorders, increased irritability, and loss of control that can result in emotional imbalance. There is also a strong relationship that exists between housing insecurity and serious mental disorders like PTSD, depression, and substance abuse disorders. Homeless individuals usually do not have safe and distinct environments to rehabilitate emotionally, making it harder to heal from trauma or manage mental illness. In addition, the absence of stable living conditions disrupts the daily life and care channels, which play a fundamental role in controlling mental health.
Lack of Access to Healthcare
Access to timely and affordable healthcare—particularly mental health services—is another major factor determining emotional well-being. Unfortunately, uninsured and low-income people get fewer early mental health services. Delaying therapy may aggravate mental problems, making them more complex and more costly to manage. According to Modi et al. (2022), untreated or undertreated mental health issues often escalate, resulting in increased hospitalizations, substance use, and suicide risks. Mental health professional shortages worsen the problem in rural and neglected areas (Conroy et al., 2020). People in these areas may not only face long wait times but may also have to travel long distances to find help. This makes mental health treatment unavailable for those who need it, exacerbating the health equality gap. Early intervention, prevention, and psychological resilience need better access to care.
References
Conroy, J., Lin, L., & Ghaness, A. (2020, July 1). Why People Are Not Getting the Care They Need. Apa.org; American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/07/datapoint-care
Modi, H., Orgera, K., & Grover, A. (2022, October 10). Exploring barriers to mental health care in the U.S. AAMC Research and Action Institute. https://www.aamcresearchinstitute.org/our-work/issue-brief/exploring-barriers-mental-health-care-us