Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood (What is Mental Health?). Mental Health Disclosure was established under The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule in, which provides consumers with important privacy rights and protections with respect to their health information. The Privacy Rule also recognizes circumstances arise where health information may need to be shared to ensure the patient receives the best treatment and for the other important purposes, such as for the health and safety of the patient or others. The Rule is carefully balanced to allow uses and …show more content…
The recent restriction on pre-employment questionnaire by section 60 of the Equality Act 2010, has been a positive step in recognizing that people with a mental health problem experience stigma and discrimination in finding work (Brohan et al., 2012). Work can play an important role in both developing and maintaining psychological health, it provides a connection to the broader social and economical world which presents opportunities to use skills , as well as offering goals, variety, money, physical security, interpersonal contact, and a valued social position (Brohan et al., 2013). People with mental health problem frequently report discrimination in employment. In a US survey 61% felt they were turned down for a job for which they were qualified when they disclosed their illness (Henderson et al., 2012). Evidence suggest that employers would like prospective employees to disclose a mental health problem at the application stage (80% in 2006 and 77% in 2009) (Brohan et al.,
. HIPAA privacy rules are complicated and extensive, and set forth guidelines to be followed by health care providers and other covered entities such as insurance carriers and by consumers. HIPAA is very specific in its requirements regarding the release of information, but is not as specific when it comes to the manner in which training and policies are developed and delivered within the health care industry. This paper will discuss how HIPAA affects a patient's access to their medical records, how and under what circumstances personal health information can be released to other entities for purposes not related to health care, the requirements regarding written privacy policies for covered entities, the training requirements for medical office employees and the consequences for not following the policy.
“The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 made it illegal to gain access to personal medical information for any reasons other than health care delivery, operations, and reimbursements” (Shi & Singh, 2008, p. 166). “HIPAA legislation mandated strict controls on the transfer of personally identifiable health data between two entities, provisions for disclosure of protected information, and criminal penalties for violation” (Clayton 2001). “HIPAA also has privacy requirements that govern disclosure of patient protected health information (PHI) placed in the medical record by physicians, nurses, and other health care providers” (Buck, 2011). Always remember conversations about a patient’s health care or treatment is a violation of HIPAA. “All PHI is included in the privacy requirements for example: the patient’s past, present or future physical or mental health or condition; the provision of health care to the individual, or the past, present, or future payment for the provision of health care to the individual, and that identifies the individual or for which there is a reasonable basis to believe it can be used to identify the individual” (Buck, 2011). Other identifiable health information would be the patient’s name, address, birth date and Social Security Number (Keomouangchanh, 2011). (Word count 197)
When it comes to mental health and diagnosing there is many challenges that a therapist or clinician could encounter. In any professional occupation one has to consider all of the ethical principles put in place as well as the legal laws; if one is incompliant to these ethical guidelines in a mental health field, in varying circumstances, failure to comply with these codes could involve legal issues which could even result in lose of licensure. Common ethical issues involved in the mental health field could include: misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis, legal incompetence, and health care fraud (misdiagnosis for insurance reimbursement).
Some of the things that HIPAA does for a patient are it gives patients more control over their health information. It sets boundaries on the use and release of health records. It establishes appropriate guidelines that health care providers and others must do to protect the privacy of the patients’ health information. It holds violators accountable, in court that can be imposed if they violate patients’ privacy rights by HIPAA. Overall HIPAA makes it to where the health information can’t b...
There is much debate about how psychiatric patients should be cared for and treated. Especially in an in patient setting, many healthcare providers will choose to care for mentally ill patients in their own way. Patients who are mentally ill have restrictions on certain aspects of their care such as access to certain things along with the environment they are in. Although confidentiality is important and should be maintained in all aspects of medical care, I do think that psychiatric patients should have the same have the opportunity to keep as much information confidential as they wish. Given the circumstances there are reasons to breach that confidentiality in mentally ill patients in order to keep the patient safe and out of harms way.
Claire Henderson, Sara Evans-Lacko, Clare Flach, Graham, Thornicrofi. "Responses to Mental Health Stigma Questions: "The Importance of Social Desirability and Data Collection Method." Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Mar 2012. Vol 57, No3. Nursing/Academic Edition. Web. 01 Apr 2014.
Mental Health is a very important, in depth study that needs more support. Identification of mental stressors is a skill everyone should to have to live with increased mental health. New York State Healthy People 2020 has placed Mental Health as a priority, increasing awareness for mental health illness and prevention. Providing care for Healthcare workers is a small fraction of the entirety of mental health issues. Working in the hospital is stressful, caring for others takes a huge mental and emotional toll on providers. Identifying who is most at risk and understanding what is needed to prevent mental disorders is imperative as a healthcare worker. Mental Health is defined by Healthy People 2020 as having participation in productive activities,
I. Persons with mental illnesses may not receive the same employment opportunities as persons without mental illnesses. In addition persons who have mental illnesses in the workplace may face ostracism from their colleagues even if they have a minor mental issue. Corrigan, Roe and Tsang (2011) in their book chapter ways summarize in which persons with mental disorders may suffer from discrimination which is important to this essay.
Most commonly, people are stated to be “depressed” rather than someone who “has depression”. It is a common perception that mental illnesses are not a priority when it comes to Government spending, just as it is forgotten that most mental health disorders can be treated and lead a normal life if treatment is successful. The effect of this makes a sufferer feel embarrassed and dehumanized. A common perception is that they should be feared or looked down upon for something they have not caused. People experience stigma as a barrier that can affect nearly every aspect of life—limiting opportunities for employment, housing and education, causing the loss of family and friends.... ...
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services set the confidentiality guidelines in counseling. The client’s treatment record are private, that is with all the written, everything on the computer, if it is electronic and they are microform records. As a counselor have to remember that the client’s records when counseling services are to have mental illness, are disable and people with drug and alcohol problems. You do not have to keep records of staff’s notes or for your personal use, that you will tell other people about. [See §51.30(1)(am) and § 51.30(1)(b), Wis. Stats., and DHS 92.02(16), Wis. Admin. Code].
Dror and colleagues (2010) believe that mental illness is heavily stigmatized, thus resulting in detrimental implications on one’s availability to behave normally in every day life in Western culture. They state how stigmatizing mental illness leads to the mentally ill losing housing opportunities. To add insult to injury, stigma also leads to mentally ill people to lose job opportunities. Finally, this stigmatization forces the mentally ill to have lower self-esteem and self-efficacy when compared to the average, mentally healthy
Especially because most Australian organsiations don’t have any policies that can help employees deal with their mental disorders which they continue to hide (De Lorenzo 2013, p. 220). Through her article, De Lorenzo tries to discuss why a common disorder such as mental illness which impacts atleast one fifth of the Austra...
The needs of those with chronic mental illness are often misunderstood and overlooked. This population either may feel invisible or stigmatized by a society that prefers not to have to face the plight of those with lifelong mental disorders. Having a mental illness is difficult on its own, and adding the stress of finding and keeping a job to the equation can be extremely daunting. Finding the right medication, building a trusted treatment team, and maintaining a strong support system are all imperative to those suffering from mental illness. Even with these protective factors in place, many individuals still experience low-self esteem (Xie, 2013). Oftentimes they have had to quit jobs or school for a certain period of time because of their illness, and these starts and stops can be logged in their memories as “failures”. If their illness symptoms are unpredictable, they may be hesitant to secure a position because of the fear that they might get sick again. Mental illness still holds with it a huge stigma, despite strides toward greater awareness and acceptance. This stigma can become internalized, and it makes it even harder for
Let’s say you just got a new job and you are asking yourself whether you should disclose your mental illness to your employer or keep your mouth zipped. Or you’ve been at your job a while and have new mental health issues. What do you do? Well, while I believe it is important a person is open about their mental health in their daily lives, exposing your circumstances at work could leave you vulnerable. It’s a very touchy subject so do not take it lightly. Every patient and workplace is different so it is best to take it on a case by case basis.
Furthermore, She recognized that having a mental health illness can come with a stigma and discrimination which at times prevents these clients from securing and maintaining employment. When clients experience a mental illness episode or they come off their medication, they stop treatment or they have not been diagnosed yet, it can seriously interfere with their education or their job. When they are unable to finish school or keep their employment, they are unable to make money which results in