jhanniipblog - Tumblr blog

[jhanniipblog]

References

AstraZeneca, (August 11,2021), “Supporting youth mental health in Jamaica YHP’s partnership with UNICEF”. Retrieved from: https://www.younghealthprogrammeyhp.com/updates/supporting-youth-mental-health-in-jamaica-yhps-partnership-with-unicef.html#:~:text=In%20Jamaica%2C%20anxiety%20are%20leading,year%20old%20boys%20and%20girls.

Brown, A. (October 2020), “Tele-mental health services offer lifeline for struggling students”. UNICEF Jamaica. Retrieved from:https://www.unicef.org/jamaica/blog/tele-mental-health-services-offer-lifeline-struggling-students

Harp C., Muhlhausen, D.B., (December 2020) .“ JUVENILE JUSTICE STATISTICS NATIONAL REPORT SERIES FACT SHEET”. U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved from: https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/publications/delinquency-cases-in-juvenile-court-2018.pdf

Juvenile Justice Guide Book for Legislators, (n.d.) “Mental Health Needs of Juvenile Offenders”.National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved from: https://www.ncsl.org/documents/cj/jjguidebook-mental.pdf

Justia (October 2021), “Sentencing in Juvenile Court”. Retrieved from: https://www.justia.com/criminal/offenses/other-crimes/juvenile-crimes/sentencing-in-juvenile-court/#:~:text=They%20may%20order%20the%20juvenile,go%20with%20a%20verbal%20reprimand%20verbal%20reprimand 

MentalHealth.UK(n.d), “Children and young people: statistics”. Retrieved from:https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/children-young-people-statistics#:~:text=50%25%20of%20mental%20health%20problems,and%2075%25%20by%20age%2024.&text=10%25%20of%20children%20and%20young,at%20a%20sufficiently%20early%20age.

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, (July 2017), “ Intersection between Mental Health and the Juvenile Justice System”. Retrieved from: https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/model-programs-guide/literature-reviews/intsection_between_mental_health_and_the_juvenile_justice_system.pdf

Ruane Attorneys-at-law(n.d.), “Juvenile Charge and Mentally Ill Defendants”. Retrieved from: https://www.ruaneattorneys.com/connecticut-criminal/juvenile-defense/juvenile-charge-mental-illness/#:~:text=Some%20will%20go%20to%20a,treatment%20if%20it%20is%20necessary.

Smith H.(n.d.), “ Problems and Solutions in Juvenile Justice”. Resource Centre Partnership. Retrieved from: https://www.juvjustice.org/sites/default/files/resource-files/FINAL%20RCP%20Problems%20%20Solutions_08%2013%2013.pdf

[jhanniipblog]

The way forward-Recommendations for the future of Juvenile Justice

By providing alternatives to the typical juvenile justice system procedure, diversion efforts generally divert young offenders away from the court system. Although the purpose of diversionary interventions is to avoid additional interaction with or penetration into the juvenile court system and expensive out-of-home placements, diversion can take place at later phases of formal delinquency proceedings as well.

In comparison to adults, young adolescents require more complex and challenging treatments for mental health illnesses. Teenage disorders are more susceptible to change and interruption because adolescence is a special developmental stage marked by growth and change. 

The goal of screening is to locate the young people who need further assessment and prompt mental health care. Assessments provide a more thorough and in-depth look at the issues and behaviours that a young person exhibits. Assessing properly aids those who decide on risks, placement, and therapy.

Juvenile justice systems must respond to the mental health needs of children participating in the legal system with effective evaluation and intervention. The care and treatment of these young people can be improved via active collaboration with the mental health community and other child-serving organisations, which will lead to better outcomes for people as a whole.

[jhanniipblog]

You have to grow from the inside out.

Swami Vivekananda.

Mental Health in Children in Jamaica

Anxiety is a major contributor to impairment among 15–19-year-old boys and 10–19–year-old girls in Jamaica. For boys aged 15 to 19, depressive disorders are the main cause of disabilities. Over 15% of 13–15 year old boys and girls were found to smoke cigarettes, compared to a prevalence of heavy episodic drinking of 19% among 15–19 year old guys.( AstraZeneca, 2021)

"Around 3,500 kids use the services provided by the 20 Child Guidance Clinic locations on the island. As a result, over 95%, or just over 110,000 children and adolescents with a mental disorder, may not be identified or treated in government settings.( Brown, 2020) "To assess and treat these kids, there aren't many child and adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, or child and play therapists. Only a small number of them are employed in private settings, which may be out of reach for many parents.

[jhanniipblog]

Punishments for Mentally Ill Juveniles

A judge may impose a longer term of detention in a secure juvenile facility on a youngster who has committed a more serious crime. This period may last a year or longer. A child may be ordered to serve time in a normal jail or prison in some uncommon circumstances. 

They might get a mixed sentence if they are almost of legal age when they commit a significant crime. This implies that after they reach the legal drinking age, they are first sentenced to juvenile detention and subsequently moved to an adult jail or prison.(Ruane Attorneys-at-law, n.d.)

Depending on the circumstances, a mentally ill juvenile offender may be punished or treated first. Some people will be required to visit a hospital, receive their care in a timely manner, and then be released to serve their jail time. Some people will serve out their sentences first, and if they require medical attention, they will then go to a hospital.

Judges in juvenile courts frequently believe that sanctions other than incarceration will better serve the goal of the adolescent's rehabilitation. 

The minor may be required to pay a fine or make restitution, participate in counselling, perform community service, or wear a bracelet that tracks their whereabouts. A judge may even allow a juvenile go with a verbal warning if they have no prior convictions and have just committed a small infraction.( Justia, 2021)

[jhanniipblog]

Nature of Crimes committed by Juveniles with Mental Health Problems.

Take a look 

Percent of Juvenile Court Involvement Charges by Type for Youth Between the Ages of 12 and 17 in 2018

The chart above originated from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). It displays four main offences juveniles committed and the percent of them that did so. Offences against the person offences were committed by 31% of juveniles, property offences by 30%, Public Order violations by 25% and drug offences were done by 14% of juveniles. (Harp and Muhlhausen, 2020)

In 2014 a study was conducted by Coker etal. entitled, “Crime and psychiatric disorders among youth in the US population”. The aim of the study, was to investigate the associations between self-reported involvement in crime and psychiatric illnesses in a sample of young people that is representative of the US population. 

According to the study, 7.3% of the total sample reported being arrested for a crime, and 10.9% of those who had never been arrested claimed to have done so. Social phobia (14.5%), intermittent explosive disorder (14.1%), and major depressive disorder (MDD; 10.8%) were the 3 most common psychiatric diagnoses. 1.7% of reported arrests involved violent crime, 2.9% involved property crime, and 4.0% involved other sorts of crime. 1.7% of individuals who were never arrested admitted to having committed a violent crime in the past, as opposed to 6.6% for property crimes and 7.3% for all other crimes combined.

[jhanniipblog]

Age and Profile of Juveniles suffering from Mental Health issues

Males composed over three-quarters of the total number of delinquent cases. Males made up 541,700 of the cases handled by juvenile courts in 2018, while girls made up 202,800 of those cases. Both males and females experienced a 55% total relative drop in delinquent cases between 2005 and 2018; however, the decline in property cases was greater for females while the decline in drug cases was greater for males.

- Although 70% of children and adolescents who encounter mental health problems have not received the proper interventions at a young enough age, 10% of children and young people (aged 5 to 16 years) have a clinically diagnosable mental problem(Mental Health Foundation U.K., n.d.)

Comparative to their peers, youth involved with the juvenile justice system have greater prevalence rates for a variety of mental problems. The most prevalent mental health issue for these adolescents, in addition to having a high incidence of disruptive disorders, is drug use disorder (76%) followed by high anxiety (33%) ADHD (14%) depression (12%) posttraumatic stress disorder (12%), and mania (7 %)

[jhanniipblog]

Current Trends in Juvenile Delinquency and Mental Health

“Between 65 and 70 percent of the 2 million children and adolescents who are detained each year in the United States are suffering from a mental illness.”- Juvenile Justice Guide Book for Legislators

In the United States, 2 million children and adolescents are jailed each year, and 65 to 70 percent of them have a mental condition.  In contrast to the estimated 9 to 22 percent of kids in the general youth population, around two-thirds of youth in detention or correctional settings have at least one diagnosable mental health issue.

In 2018, juvenile courts in the US handled 744,500 delinquent cases involving young people accused of breaking the law, which is 5% less instances than in 2017. The number of delinquent cases decreased by 55% between 2005 and 2018, with drops in all four categories of offences: property offences (down 63%), public order offences (down 57%), person offences (down 46%), and drug law violations (down 45%). The majority of the delinquent cases in 2018 involved person offences (31%) followed by property offences (30%), public order offences (25%), and drug offences (14%).

Behavioural and Emotional Health in Juveniles

Behaviors that distress or damage other people, or that result in impairment, are signs of behavioural disorders. Conduct disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are common behavioural illnesses in young people. Approximately 5.4 million American children suffer with ADHD, and 4.8% of them take medication to treat their condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control. When a child's capacity to perform is hampered by worry or depression, emotional problems result. (Juvenile Justice Guide Book for Legislators, n.d.)

According to the Center for Mental Health Services, depression, a potentially dangerous mood condition that affects many adults as well, affects 1 in every 33 children and 1 in 8 adolescents. Juvenile offenders are substantially more likely than other young people to experience depression.

[jhanniipblog]

Juvenile crime is not naturally born in the boy, but is largely due either to the spirit of adventure that is in him, to his own stupidity, or to his lack of discipline, according to the nature of the individual.

Robert Baden-Powell

[jhanniipblog]

Introduction

Introduction to Juvenile issues with Mental Health

What is Mental Health?

The psychological, emotional, and social well-being of an individual are all included in their mental health, which has an impact on how they feel, think, and behave, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The problems or challenges that a person may encounter with his or her mental, emotional, and social health. (Ojjdp,2017)

Who is a juvenile?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary

“1: conduct by a juvenile characterized by antisocial behavior that is beyond parental control and therefore subject to legal action.

2: a violation of the law committed by a juvenile and not punishable by death or life imprisonment”

Most of the time, someone who is mentally ill may not fully comprehend what they are doing. Some would argue that punishing them in the same manner as a healthy person would be improper. As a result, there are various standards established for mentally ill children who have committed crimes.

[jhanniipblog]

Juvenile Delinquency and Mental Health

Welcome?

[jhanniipblog]

The End!

Thank you for reading!

[jhanniipblog]

Forensic Psychology-Officer Stress and Burnout-February 15, 2021

Burnout: What is it really?

The American psychologist Herbert Freudenberger coined the word 'burnout' in the 1970s. He used it in "helping" careers to explain the effects of extreme stress and high ideals. For example, police and nurses who sacrifice themselves for others will sometimes end up "burning out," tired, listless, and unable to cope. Nowadays, not just for these aiding occupations, or for the dark side of self-sacrifice, the term is used. From stressed-out career-driven individuals and celebrities to overworked staff and homemakers, this can impact everyone.

There are three main areas of symptoms that are considered to be signs of burnout:

Exhaustion: People affected feel drained and exhausted physically, unable to cope, tired and down, and not getting enough resources. Stuff like discomfort and gastrointestinal (stomach or bowel) issues have physical signs.

 Alienation from (work-related) activities:  Those suffering from burnout find their jobs increasingly stressful and upsetting. They can begin to be pessimistic about their working conditions and about their peers. They will gradually distance themselves emotionally at the same time, and begin to feel numb about their work. 

Reduced performance: Burnout generally affects regular activities at work, at home or while caring for members of the family. These individuals are very pessimistic about their duties, find it difficult to focus, are listless and lack inspiration.

Image Source:https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2018/04/25/the-stress-of-police-work-leads-to-higher-rates-of-depression-anger-and-burnout/

Stages of Burnout

Let’s take a look at these 5 stages:

 .1. HONEYMOON PHASE

We always start by experiencing high job satisfaction, motivation, energy, and innovation when we undertake a new mission. This is particularly true of a new job position, or the beginning of a company plan.

You may begin to encounter expected stresses from the initiative you are pursuing in this first phase of burnout, so it is crucial to start implementing constructive coping mechanisms, such as taking practical steps alongside your professional ventures to help your well-being.

 Commitment to the profession at hand

 Compulsion to express oneself

 • Free-flowing imagination

2. ONSET OF STRESS

The second stage of burnout starts with an understanding that certain days are tougher than others. As well as experiencing common stress symptoms affecting you physically, mentally, or emotionally, you can notice your hope dwindling.

Symptoms that are popular include:

 • High blood Pressure

Inability to concentrate

• Irritability

Career disappointment

Lack of sleep or decreased quality of sleep

3. CHRONIC STRESS

Chronic stress is the third stage of burnout. There is a marked shift in the levels of stress, from inspiration to an extremely frequent experience of stress. You can also experience symptoms that are more severe than those in stage two.

Symptoms that are popular include:

Absence of hobbies

Missed     work goals and/or targets

Persistent     fatigue in the mornings

Physical     illness

Anger     or hostile behaviour

4. BURNOUT

The burnout itself, where signs become critical, is entering stage four. In this state, continuing as normal is often not feasible as it becomes more difficult to cope. We all have our own unique tolerance thresholds, and it is vital for you to seek intervention at this stage (for clinical issues, please refer to our partner Thrive Your Life).

Symptoms that are popular include:

Creation of an escapist attitude

 Inner- Doubt

Social isolation

Social isolation differences

5. HABITUAL BURNOUT

Habitual burnout is the final stage of burnout. This means that burnout symptoms are so ingrained in your life that, as opposed to rarely experiencing stress or burnout, you are likely to experience a major continuing mental, physical or emotional issue.

Symptoms that are popular include:

Chronic     sadness

Depression

Burnout     syndrome

Chronic     psychological fatigue

Chronic     bodily fatigue

Image Source:https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/justice-studies/blog/police-stress/

1- Communicate with your friends in the force

This kind of tension is something that other officers are definitely going to appreciate. Opening up to your coworkers will help with the things you see on the job and how you are influenced by them.

2- Have a strong support system

People who care for you will note the pressure before it even happens to you. A strong support pillar for you could be your family, a good group of friends or a network from church or volunteer projects.

3-Exercise

Frequent exercise makes you alert and helps you make yourself feel better. Healthy physical fitness also allows you to recover quicker from an injury.

4- Enlist Psychological Help

Find a therapist to talk to when you know something is getting to you. Often a topic needs more effort than talking to friends or family will do.

5- Believe in something

It helps to have a religion or belief. Faith will help you consider more of the things that you can not manage. Even when bad things happen, you should understand that it's not the end of it, and there's a better future.

6- Practice Gratitude

To get into the habit of repositioning one's attitude with appreciation What is encouraging is reminding yourself of what a blessing it was to be a police officer, that people were looking for you to assist them.

7- Prioritize a good sleep schedule

Sleep deprivation, even mild sleep deprivation, influences mood and judgment negatively.As it is part of the job, prioritize your sleep and maybe even set some patterns around good hygiene for sleep.

8- Talk to persons in your community more

Get out and speak to individuals in your neighborhood. Get out of your car once in a while and get to know people even when you're preoccupied forms your perspective.( Flavin, 2018)

References

Calmer Blog, ( August 20, 2020), “What are the 5 stages of burnout?”. Retrieved February 15, 2021 from: https://www.thisiscalmer.com/blog/5-stages-of-burnout

Flavin B., ( May 14, 2018), “Police Stress: 9 Tips for Avoiding Officer Burnout”. Rasmussen University. Retrieved February 15, 2021 from: https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/justice-studies/blog/police-stress/

National Center for Biotechnology Information, ( June 18, 2020), “Depression: What is burnout?”. Retrieved February 15, 2021 from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279286/

University at Buffalo, ( September 29, 2008), “Impact Of Stress On Police Officers' Physical And Mental Health”. Science Daily. Retrieved February 15, 2021 from: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080926105029.htm#:~:text=the%20streets%20alone.-,The%20pressures%20of%20law%20enforcement%20put%20officers%20at%20risk%20for,of%20studies%20of%20police%20officers.

Walter, L., ( July 13, 2012), “On-the-Job Stress Negatively Impacts Police Officer Health, Study Suggests”. EHS Today. Retrieved February 15 from: https://www.ehstoday.com/health/article/21915261/onthejob-stress-negatively-impacts-police-officer-health-study-suggests

[jhanniipblog]

Forensic Psychology-Officer Stress and Burnout-February 15, 2021

Officer Stress

Image Source:https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/experiencing-burnout/ 

The law enforcement demands put for officers at risk. high blood pressure, insomnia, elevated levels of destructive stress hormones, cardiac problems, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicide at   In order to investigate the effects of stress on 464 members of the Buffalo Police Department, the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) study, led by the University of Buffalo, was carried out over a 5-year period. The results indicate that police officers undergo psychological stress on a regular basis, placing them at an increased risk of different long-term health effects, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, suicide, sleeplessness, and cancer.

40     percent of the police, compared to 32 percent of the general population,     were obese.

More     than 25 percent of the officers had metabolic syndrome, compared to 18.7     percent of the population, a cluster of symptoms believed to increase the     risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

The     risk of metabolic syndrome was higher for officers who worked night shifts     than for those who worked day shifts. Nearly half (46.9 percent) of study     officers served a non-day shift, compared to just 9 percent of U.S.     employees.

Female     and male officers with the highest level of self-reported stress were four     and six times more likely, respectively, to have poor quality of sleep.

Following 30 years of service, officers were at increased risk of developing Hodgkin's lymphoma and brain cancer.

Suicide rates for working officers were more than eight times higher than for officers who retired or left the police department.

[jhanniipblog]

Forensic Psychology- Intimate Partner Violence- February 14,2021

What is Intimate Partner Violence?

Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects millions of People as a serious, preventable public health epidemic. Physical abuse, sexual violence, harassment, or psychological damage by a current or former partner or spouse is defined by the word 'intimate partner violence.' Among heterosexual or same-sex couples, this form of violence can occur and does not involve sexual intimacy.

Video Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention( May 2018), Youtube. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuMCzU54334&feature=youtu.be

Forms of IPV

 Physical violence is when, by punching, kicking, or using some kind of physical force, a person hurts or attempts to hurt a partner.

Sexual violence involves or threatens to compel a partner to engage in a sexual act, sexual contact or a non-physical sexual occurrence (e.g., sexting) if the partner does not consent or is unable to do so.

Stalking is a pattern of a partner's frequent, unwelcome attention and contact that creates fear or concern for one's own safety or someone close to the victim's safety.

Psychological aggression is the use of verbal and non-verbal communication with the intention of psychologically or emotionally harming another person and/or exerting influence over another person.(Center for Disease Control and Prevention ,n.d.)

Statistics

Women's Health Survey 2016 Jamaica

A survey was conducted by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica under the technical and financial support of the UN Women and the Inter-American Development Bank through the Phase III of the Government of Jamaica’s Citizen Security and Justice Programme. The survey findings examine women’s most recent and lifetime experiences with intimate partner violence and abuse, as well as abuse and violence in a non-intimate context.

 The study revealed important patterns, such as a higher incidence of physical and sexual abuse experienced by women in urban areas than in rural areas (6.2% vs. 5.4%); and women who were 18 years of age or younger when they entered their first marriage (living together or married to a man) were twice as likely to encounter extreme violence as women who were older when they entered resistance. (CDC, n.d.)

IPV Effects on children- Short term

Image Source: Well Clinic San Francisco- https://www.wellsanfrancisco.com/use-stress-to-your-advantage-a-simple-technique/parents-fighting/

Children can feel afraid and anxious in families where one parent is abused. They will still be on alert, wondering when the next violent incident will occur. 3 Depending on their age, this may cause them to react in various ways:

Preschool children. Young kids who encounter intimate partner abuse may tend to do things they used to do when they were younger, such as bed-wetting, thumb-sucking, weeping and moaning more frequently. They may also have trouble falling or staying asleep; display signs of fear, such as stuttering or hiding; and display signs of extreme anxiety about separation.

School-aged children. Children can feel bad about the violence and blame themselves for it in this age group. Domestic violence and neglect hurts the self-esteem of children. They may not participate or get good grades in school events, have less friends than others, and more frequently get into trouble. They can even have a lot of stomach aches and headaches.

Teenagers. Teenagers who witness violence can behave in adverse ways, such as arguing with family members or missing school. They can also engage in risky activities, such as consuming alcohol or narcotics and having unsafe sex. They may have low self-esteem and find it difficult to make friends. They can start wars or threaten others and are more likely to get in trouble with the law. In teenage boys who are exploited in infancy, this form of behaviour is more common than in teenage girls. Girls are more likely to be withdrawn and to suffer depression than boys.

IPV Effect on Children- Long Term

In the United States, more than 15 million children live in households in which domestic violence has occurred at least once.5 By entering into abusive marriages or becoming abusers themselves, these children are at increased risk of continuing the cycle as adults. A boy who sees his mother being raped, for example, is 10 times more likely as an adult to assault his female spouse. A girl brought up in a household where her father beats her mother is more than six times as likely as a girl growing up in a non-abusive home to be sexually abused.

As adults, children who encounter or are victims of mental, physical, or sexual violence are at increased risk for health problems. Mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, may include these. Diabetes, obesity, heart disease, low self-esteem, and other conditions can also be one of them.

CDC Guidelines to combat Intimate Partner Violence(IPV)

Image source: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/fastfact.html 

How to help children who are witnesses to heal- Advice to Parents suffering from IPV

Helping     them feel safe. It is     important to feel protected for children who observe or experience     domestic abuse. Consider if leaving the child's abusive relationship will     make them feel better. Speak to your child about the value of     relationships that are safe.

Talking     about their worries . Let them     know it's not their fault or your fault, either. Learn more about     listening to your child and talking to him about domestic abuse

Talking     about healthy ties with them. Help     them benefit from the experience of violence by talking about what is and     isn't a healthy relationships. When they start intimate relationships     of their own, this will help them know what is safe.

Talking     about boundaries with them. Let     your child know that no one, including family members, professors,     coaches, or other sources of authority, has the right to harass them or     make them feel uncomfortable. Also, explain to your child that he or she     does not have the right to access the body of another human, and they     should do so immediately if anyone tells them to stop.

Helping     to find a strong support system for them. This could be a school counsellor, a therapist, or another trusted     adult, in addition to a parent, who can offer consistent help. Understand     that school counsellors, if they suspect it, are allowed to report     domestic violence or harassment.

·        Giving them professional assistance. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of talk therapy or therapy that may work better with children that have witnessed aggression or abuse. CBT is particularly effective with children who have trauma-related anxiety or other mental health issues. A therapist can work with the child during CBT to turn negative thoughts into more positive ones. The therapist will also help your child learn to deal with stress in safe ways.

If you are in need of help in these territories, please contact one of the following:

Jamaican Hotline for Domestic Violence-#876-553-0372 or #876-929-2997

U.S. Toll Free Hotline- 1-800-7999-SAFE(7233), 1-800-994-9662 ,or go to their website @ https://www.thehotline.org/

References 

Hodges, P. , ( November 23, 2018), “Nearly 15 Per Cent of Jamaican Women Experience Violence from A Male Partner”. Jamaica Information Service. Retrieved from:https://jis.gov.jm/nearly-15-per-cent-of-jamaican-women-experience-violence-from-a-male-partner/ 

Office of Women’s Health, (n.d), “ Effects of Domestic Violence on Children”. U.S Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from: https://www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/domestic-violence/effects-domestic-violence-children#8

UN Women, ( June 26,2018), “One in four women in Jamaica experience intimate partner violence, reveals the first national survey”. Retrieved from: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2018/6/announcement-jamaican-national-gender-based-violence-survey

[jhanniipblog]

Forensic Psychology- Sexual Harassment Cont’d- February 13,2021

What are some effects of sexual harassment?

Experiencing sexual harassment may cause some survivors to face emotional, physical, or mental health concerns. Some of them may consist of:

Emotional effects:

·        Anger

·        Fear

·        Humiliation

·        Violation

·        Shame

·        Guilt

·        Betrayal

Mental health effects:

·        Suicidal ideation

·        Anxiety

·        Difficulty concentrating

·        Loss of motivation

·        Depression

·        Panic attacks

·        PTSD

·        Substance abuse

Image Source:https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/depression/  

Physical effects:

·        Increased stress levels

·        Sleep disturbances

·        Eating disturbances

·        Headaches

·        Fatigue

Suggestions to combat sexual harassment

Ask the person that is doing the harassing to cease if you're comfortable doing so. This can be done orally (in person or by telephone) or in writing (i.e., by letter, text message, or email). Make copies if you do so in writing, in case you need additional evidence. You may want to ask a trustworthy co-worker to go with you to act as a witness if you do so verbally.

2. Look at the rules and complaint procedure of your firm. When you're first hired, most employers send you an employee manual or rule book. Review this to find out what policies to protect you might be in place. Make record of everything

3. Write down what happened, including the dates and times that the abuse took place, what exactly was said or done, who said/did it, what you said or did, and any witnesses that were present. Include as much information as possible and take notes any time it happens or occurs. Save any bullying emails, texts, letters, or calls, or between you and the bully. Gather them in one location, at home, on a personal email account, or in another non-working, protected location.

4.  Report the harassment to HR or your boss.  But we recommend reporting harassment to someone at work who is in a position of authority, because it is harder to make your employer take action unless you report the harassment internally first.

 5. You may anonymously report the abuse. If reporting harassment is not a secure or convenient choice for you, you could send an anonymous report to HR or a manager.

6. Collective Campaign. To request a meeting with your boss, file a petition, or take some other action, you may come together with one or more employees.

7. Go to the labor union. You should speak to your union leader or shop steward if you're an union member, and consider filing a complaint.(Equal Rights Advocates (n.d.))

8. Seek psychiatric help if necessary

References

Equal Rights Advocates, (n.d.), “ Know Your Rights at Work: Sexual Harassment”. Equal Rights.org. Retrieved from:https://www.equalrights.org/issue/economic-workplace-equality/sexual-harassment/

Rape, Abuse and Incest Network, (n.d.), Sexual Harassment”. RAINN. retrieved from:

https://www.rainn.org/articles/sexual-harassment

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, (n.d.) “Sexual Harassment”. Retrieved from:https://www.eeoc.gov/sexual-harassment

[jhanniipblog]

Forensic Psychology-Sexual Harassment- February 9, 2021

What is Sexual Harassment?

According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), sexual harassment has been defined as: Unwelcome sexual advances, applications for sexual favours, and other verbal or physical behaviour of a sexual nature when (a) submission to such conduct is made either expressly or indirectly a word or condition of employment of an individual, or (b) submission to or rejection by an individual of such conduct is used as a reason for employment decisions involving such indication

This form of harassment has the purpose or effect of unreasonably intrusive with an individual's work performance or creating an threatening, hostile, or disturbing working environment.

image source: https://minoritynurse.com/sexual-harassment-by-patients-what-every-nurse-needs-to-know/

What Actions are Considered as Sexual Harassment?

o   Actual or attempted rape or sexual assault. ·

o   Unwanted pressure for sexual favours. ·

o   Unwanted deliberate touching, leaning over, cornering, or pinching. ·

o   Sexual comments.

o   Hanging around a person.

o   Hugging, kissing, patting, or stroking,

o   Turning work discussions to sexual topics.

o   Sexual innuendos or stories.

o   Unwanted sexual looks or gestures.

o   Unwanted letters, telephone calls, or materials of a sexual nature.

o   Whistling at someone.

o   Cat calls.

o   Asking about sexual fantasies, preferences, or history.

o   Telling lies or spreading rumours about a person's personal sex life.

o   Neck massage. Giving personal gifts. etc.

The list goes on…

Image source: https://gfycat.com/gifs/search/sexual+harassment+don%27t+touch+me

What is the difference between sexual harassment and sexual assault? What about sexual misconduct?

Sexual harassment, including several forms of inappropriate verbal and physical sexual attention, is a broad word. Sexual assault refers to sexual contact or conduct, frequently physical, which happens without the victim's consent. Sexual abuse generally breaks constitutional codes, but in many cases it is not a criminal act, whereas sexual misconduct typically applies to criminal actions. You have the freedom to work or study without being abused. Sexual harassment involves some forms of: 

--Penetration of the victim's body( rape).

-- Attempted rape.

--Asking a survivor to carry out inappropriate activities, such as oral sex or the perpetrator's body intrusion.

--Fondling or emotionally inappropriate contact.

 A non-legal term used informally to define a wide variety of actions that may or may not include abuse is sexual misconduct. For instance, certain corporations, even though the arrangement is mutual, forbid sexual contact between employees, or between an employee and their supervisor. ( RAINN, n.d.)

[jhanniipblog]

BATTLES WITHIN PSYCHOLOGY: Forensic Psychologists in Court: Are they necessary?

Why are Forensic Psychologists Important?

In a crime scene, police officers who solve crimes are very good at paying attention to different signs. Still, in the human experience, they are not experts. By discovering what kind of a person someone is, one can find out if they are most likely to commit a certain form of crime and what their history might be, forensic psychologists help police officers close cases. This helps police narrow down their suspect list and helps them concentrate on those who are most likely to have committed the crime under investigation.

The conviction of the German-American psychologist Hugo Munsterberg was that psychology had led to the growth of forensic psychology with realistic applications in daily life. (Cherry, 2020)

Significant development in American forensic psychology did not occur until after the Second World War. Psychologists acted as expert witnesses prior to that period, but only in cases that were not viewed as infringing on medical professionals, who were regarded as more reliable witnesses.

Image Source:https://www.verywellmind.com/history-of-forensic-psychology-2795254 

Several psychologists testified for the plaintiffs and the defendants in the landmark 1954 case of Brown v. Board of Education. Later, in the case of Jenkins v. the United States, the courts provided protection to psychologists working as mental disorder specialists.

By examining or diagnosing persons who are accused of committing a crime, forensic psychologists also aid the legal system. This is critical since it helps the legal system to decide whether, when committing a crime, a person should be held responsible for his or her acts. By determining how likely it is that a person who has committed a certain crime would repeat the same offense if released(recidivism), the forensic psychologist may prove useful. It is an invaluable assest for the court system to know what dangers a person might pose to society. Hence, why they are so necessary for numerous civil and criminal cases. (Novotney, 2017) 

Most forensic psychologists are in private practice and are employed to test suspects by counsel or by the court system to provide clients with an expert opinion. For example, these views may examine whether a defendant has a psychiatric illness that prohibits him or her from going on trial, or what the mental state of a defendant may have been at the time of an offense. The client is not the person he or she is investigating, regardless of who employs the forensic psychologist; the client is the prosecutor or law enforcement.

"Our work is really about showing how psychology can be used to help courts and juries make more educated decisions about criminal offenders and civil litigants." David DeMatteo, PhD, president of APA's Div. 41 (American Psychology-Law Society).

References

Cherry, K. ( December 03, 2020), “ A Brief History of Forensic Psychology”. Verywell mind. Retrieved January 27, 2021 from: https://www.verywellmind.com/history-of-forensic-psychology-2795254

Novotney, A.( September 2017)“Helping courts and juries make educated decisions”. American Psychological Association. Retrieved January 27, 2021 from: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/09/courts-decisions