Week 8 Persuasive Essay ENG

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Capella University *

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1000

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English

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Feb 20, 2024

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docx

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6

Uploaded by EarlTurkey3969

Running heading: Accessibility to Mental Health Resources 1 Accessibility to Mental Health Resources Shanell Campbell Capella University ENG1000 Christopher Moorelock November 29, 2023
ACCESSIBILITY TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES 2 MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES The healthcare system has long overlooked mental health, resulting in a significant gap between an individual's physical and emotional well-being. Regrettably, insurance providers often fail to recognize the importance of mental health treatment, despite its critical role in healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic has only served to heighten the need for therapeutic and pharmaceutical support, further highlighting the urgency of this issue. As the global mental health crisis continues to escalate, it's imperative that we take action to ensure mental health resources are accessible and fully covered by insurance. By doing so, we can assist countless individuals in receiving the necessary treatment and combat the rapidly growing crisis. PANDEMIC During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans found themselves facing isolation and uncertainty. Sickness and death brought on anxiety, depression, grief, and fear (Collier, 2020). In the early weeks of the outbreak, people were required to quarantine and distance themselves, disrupting their daily routines and overall way of life. Social interaction, physical activity, and physical touch were lacking, leading to feelings of hopelessness, fear, and distress (Hussong, Midgette, Thomas, Coffman, & Cho, 2021). Mental healthcare providers are anticipating a second pandemic-related crisis in the upcoming months that could overwhelm the nation's chronically underfunded mental health system (Collier, 2020). The pandemic and economic hardship have resulted in increased depression, alcohol abuse, drug misuse, and suicide, all of which can be attributed to mental health illness and the lack of treatment (Collier, 2020). In these uncertain times, access to mental health resources is crucial, and insurance should cover the cost of necessary treatment.
ACCESSIBILITY TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES 3 GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS Mental health is a pressing issue worldwide, with suicide rates skyrocketing. Depression alone affects around 264 million people globally, making it the main cause of disability (Rudd & Beidas, 2020). It's crucial to acknowledge that mental health is a public health issue as it can severely impact an individual's ability to function and work. To tackle this crisis, experts recommend three essential services: prevention, intervention, and intensive treatment for those living with mental health illnesses (Rudd et al, 2020). Early detection of psychological distress is vital in reducing suicides (Lyons, 2019). However, a significant obstacle to decreasing the global mental health crisis is the lack of affordability of these resources for individuals. That's why it's imperative for insurance companies to cover mental health treatment, ensuring that everyone can access the necessary resources to maintain their mental well-being. HEALTH CARE REFORM Historically, mental and behavioral health was not given the same importance as physical health. However, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 aimed to bring parity between the two. The ACA created opportunities for care and incentives for expanding services through Medicaid and health insurance exchanges, which was a significant step in the right direction. In 2008, the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act was signed into effect. This act required the coverage of services for mental health, behavioral health, and substance-use disorders to be comparable to physical health coverage. But despite being around for years, a survey showed that 90 percent of Americans were unfamiliar with the law. This is because not all health plans are required to follow this federal law, such as Medicare and other state government employee plans that many teachers fall under. The parity mandate still leaves people who need help with expensive co-pays and medical
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