Mental Health Care Case Study

Mental health also contributes to crime in Lane county. One out of 35 adults has a Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) (DATA USA, n.d.). Individuals with SPMI are at greater risk for poverty, homelessness, incarceration and early death. Self medication through drugs or alcohol is a likely event when appropriate mental health care is not available. People with a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder are a co-occurring disorder. Many people in the criminal justice system have a co-occurring disorder. This is also very common among the homeless population.

Cultural Assessment
The culture I chose to focus on is the volunteer culture to our homeless population. I was able to spend some time within one of the Egan warming
Julie reports that they are often low on volunteers so she helps her husband most nights. On these cold nights the Egan center will feed 250-300 people each night. Many local restaurants contribute food donations to the Egan centers as well as the Eugene Mission, another local shelter.
Co-occurring disorders of mental illness and substance abuse accounts for the primary population of homelessness. The Egan warming center itself is named for one of Eugene’s homeless veterans that was well known to the community. He died during a winter night on the streets. Even when housing was available, Egan preferred to sleep outdoors for what ever reason. The increasing need to address the needs and safety as well as mental and substance issues continues to be a growing problem in Lane
The collected epidemiological data for Lane county for 2016 reveals the premature death rate of under 75 to be 6,400 per 100,000 with over all in Oregon to be 6,000. With in the last 30 days those listed to be in poor or fair health, 13%, poor physical health, 3.6 days, poor mental health 3.9 days. The listed low birth rate in Lane county is 6% which is a measure of maternal exposure to health risks. In 2014 adult smoking shows 15% in Lane county with Oregon overall 17%. Adult obesity in 2012 shows Lane county with 27% recorded BMI greater than 30. Oregon’s range from 20-30%. Alcohol related statistics show for 2014, adults reporting binge or heavy drinking to be 22%, alcohol impaired driving deaths of 27%, with Oregon’s range of 23 to 30%. Uninsured residents in 2013 under the age of 65 was 13%. Ratio of mental health providers in Lane county in 2015 160:1. Over all in Oregon 270:1. Ratio of primary care physicians 1,180:1 with diabetic monitoring for adults 65-75 at 85%. According to the 2013 report from the Lane County Public health department, tobacco use continues to be the leading preventable cause of death and disease in Lane county. Obesity, diabetic management, substance abuse and poor mental health care remain a continued challenge in Lane county as well. The number of deaths related to tobacco use is rated at 7000, according to the 2013 report, with diet/activity patterns