72. Inpatient Psychiatric Care Exposed: The Polarizing Views for Reform w/ Dr. Morgan Shields
In the realm of mental health care, the journey to emotional well-being is often fraught with numerous challenges and questions. The intricacies of inpatient psychiatric care and mental illness treatment are topics of paramount importance, not just for healthcare providers but also for patients, their families, and mental health advocates. In Part 2 of our ongoing dialogue with Dr. Morgan Shields, we delve deeper into the profound effects of psychiatric hospitalization and explore possible avenues for mental health reform.
Understanding Inpatient Psychiatric Care
Dr. Morgan Shields, an assistant professor at the Wash U Brown School in St. Louis, brings a wealth of knowledge and personal experience in the field of psychiatric care. Through her research, she highlights a pivotal concern: the lack of accountability in inpatient psychiatric settings. Often, there is an assumption that admittance into a hospital automatically benefits the patient—an assumption that is not backed by sufficient evidence. Instead, as Dr. Shields points out, the quality of care in psychiatry must be scrutinized and improved to truly serve those in need.
A Polarized Advocacy Landscape
The U.S. psychiatric healthcare system is divided between two major ideologies—expanding inpatient psych beds and abolishing psych hospitals altogether. The tension between these extreme viewpoints hampers accountability and the push for quality improvement. Dr. Shields argues that this polarization detracts from efforts to enhance patient-centered care and contribute to healthcare system challenges.
Exploring Alternatives: Peer Respites
One promising alternative to traditional psychiatric hospitalization is the concept of peer respites. These are community-based, non-clinical programs offering crisis support in a more humane and patient-centered environment. Staffed by individuals with lived experiences of mental illness, peer respites provide a supportive space that prioritizes dignity and personal empowerment—a sharp contrast to the often sterile and authority-driven hospital settings.
For-Profit vs. Non-Profit Hospital Models
A significant portion of Dr. Shields' research focuses on the differences between for-profit and non-profit psychiatric care facilities. Her findings reveal that for-profit hospitals tend to have lower staffing ratios and higher rates of institutional betrayal, highlighting healthcare disparities. These facilities often prioritize profit over quality of care, which can be detrimental to patient advocacy and overall patient experiences.
Patient Voices: The Core of Mental Health Support
Dr. Shields emphasizes the importance of listening to patients with lived experiences of psychiatric hospitalization. Her research includes unique insights drawn from surveys where former patients shared their experiences and suggestions for improvement. Many express the need for enhanced respect, autonomy, and communication within mental health care systems.
The discussion with Dr. Shields underscores the necessity of addressing mental health stigma and reforming the psychiatric healthcare system to provide more compassionate, trauma-informed care. As mental health awareness continues to grow, it is essential to advocate for policies that ensure quality care and safeguard patient rights. By doing so, we can not only foster mental health education but also empower those affected by mental illness, including those with conditions like bipolar disorder and psychosis, to seek the support they need.
Resources
PAPER: Patient Safety In Inpatient Psychiatry: A Remaining Frontier For Health Policy
PEER RESPITES: https://power2u.org/directory-of-peer-respites/
FIND HER OTHER PUBLICATIONS HERE: Google Scholar Profile
BOOK: A Mind That Found Itself
BOOK: Refusing Care: Forced Treatment and the Rights of the Mentally Ill
Dr. Morgan Shields is a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor at Washington University in St. Louis' Brown School and also serves on the Saint Louis Board of Health and Hospitals. She is a health services and policy researcher, focused on the quality and accountability of crisis mental healthcare services. While most of her work has focused on inpatient psychiatric care, she has been expanding her work to include community-based crisis services. Her research has been published in leading academic journals and has impacted local and national policy.