Barriers to Care

Suicide and homicide are violent actions reported in the news daily.  Individuals suffering from abuse, depression, mental disorders, or substance-abuse disorders are at an increased risk for committing suicide or homicide.  Factors that contribute to the risk are age, gender, socio-economic status, and race/ethnicity. Additionally, situations that cause extreme life or job stress, such as those seen when a loved one dies or by military personnel, can contribute to the risk.  Chapter 6 of your course text highlights barriers to care relating to the vulnerable and this population group in particular.  For this discussion:

  • Locate and share statistical data for your community on annual suicide and homicide rates.
  • Identify and briefly describe one organizational barrier and one financial barrier relating to the suicide- and homicide-prone.
  • Create two recommendations on ways each of these barriers can be reduced or eliminated.
  • Identify two local resources available for suicide- or homicide-prone individuals.  Discuss which services are offered and whether the services fully meet the needs of the population.

Your initial contribution should be 250 to 300 words in length. Your research and claims must be supported by your course text and at least one other scholarly source. Use proper APA formatting for in-text citations and references as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.