Ethnicity, marginalisation and mental illness in Hawaii

This study examines the characteristics, treatment and care of severely and persistently mentally ill patients at Hawaii's largest public sector psych iatric facility, Hawaii Slate Hospital. The implications of this informatio n are then discussed, in terms of treatment and care. Consistent with previ ous studies, the 88 patients included in this study were most often male, l ess than 40 years of age, with a high school education or less, and hospita lized under a penal code. More remarkable variations were revealed, however , when patients were grouped according to ethnicity and racial origin. For example, patients from marginalised groups had a significantly higher likel ihood of violence than patients from more politically, economically and soc ially powerful groups in Hawaii. The findings of this research challenge he alth care providers in general, and nurses in particular, to combine social advocacy with clinical expertise to ensure that patients receive effective and complete treatment and care.