Mental Health Structure

My goal of becoming a mental health nurse practitioner stems as well from another belief I have of nursing; advancing for the betterment of patient care. The advanced practice nurse basis their practice on evidence to reach the therapeutic goal. Increasing skills through education and being a source for others to come to increases the quality of care throughout clinical setting. I want to be a resource for all my fellow nurses so that it is not just I who increases patient outcomes, but assist others in doing the same.

The provision of mental health services in the U.S. is a social justice issue that affects vulnerable populations in a variety of ways, including: limited access to quality mental health programs, especially in rural areas; the stigma associated with seeking mental health help; and discrimination against those with mental health issues. The far-reaching implications on our current system and policies of mental health care mean that it is a pervasive issue in the United States. According to the Scientific American, “Mental health care is one of the biggest

Contemporary Challenges in Mental Health Care Provision and Management 2 B73M20 Cohort 09/09 Student ID: 20328

One of the biggest contributors for poor healthcare is the stigma against mental health. This stigma allows healthcare providers to view those with a mental illness as having low relevance, thus creating disinclination towards providing adequate resources and/or care. This negative stance, based on misinformation and prejudice creates those that have a mental illness to lose their self confidence. Because of this loss, people with mental illness decide not to contribute to their health or livelihood. In the past fifty years, many advances have been made in mental healthcare. However, with the attached stigma, many people choose to not seek out treatment.

Problem Statement: The World Health Association defines ‘good’ health as: “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” However, in the United States, access to care and funding for mental health care are grossly neglected and underfunded in comparison to other aspects of health care.

As discussed in class, little advancement has been made in the field of mental health care over the past two decades. Rates of mental illness continue to be high especially among certain subgroups, but progress has been stunted by stigma and social environmental issues. Mental health disparities, like many other health disparities, are embedded within a trend of socioeconomic differences (Miranda, McGuire, Williams, & Wang, 2008). Racial and class disparities exist among those afflicted

The twenty-first century has certainly garnered a reputation. As the generation of acceptance, it has paved the way for many minorities and those previously shunned from society. This being said, America is far from perfect. With every step forward, towards a more equal country, two steps are being taken back and previously forgotten reservations will return. An example of the way America hasn’t progressed is in the way of mental health’s priority in everyday life as well as the services available to help those diagnosed cope.

Similar to healthcare in Appalachia, mental healthcare is greatly lacking in the region. Much of Appalachia is characterized by isolated areas that have shortages of mental health providers (Correll, Cantrell, & Dalton, 2011). Literature suggests that rural residents have higher rates of mental health concerns than their urban counterparts (Smalley, Yancey, Warren, Naufel, Ryan, & Pugh, 2010). Individuals often do not seek treatment, and often have difficulty gaining access care (Smalley, Yancey, Warren, Naufel, Ryan, & Pugh, 2010). Rural communities are also more likely to experience living conditions and engage in behaviors that increase risk for mental health issues. These risk factors are then augmented by harmful cultural behaviors such

Mental health has been a recurring topic in present society and it is a very large section of health care in general. Health can be termed as an absence of disease, but it really is much more than that and should encompass every facet of the human, mind and body. The WHO defines mental health as a state of well-being in which an individual can function properly and productively, cope with life stressors, and contribute to community. Mental health is dependent on many factors, mainly social, biological, and psychological (WHO). A mental disorder is a condition of alterations

A strong case can be made for investing in mental health, whether to enhance individual and world wellbeing, improve life span, or even to enable people living with mental illnesses to have a better quality of life. Mental health problems account for a quarter of all ill health yet they receive less than 6% of all health research funding, people with these health conditions usually experience poor access to help services and lower quality care than those with physical health problems. Addressing mental and physical health needs together would be more cost effective for the NHS and would benefit the increasing numbers of people dealing with untreated mental illness.

In 1978 the fırst multi-site mental health epidemiologic study in the U.S. reported that more than 50% of community respondents with depressive disorders were treated exclusively within the primary care system. As a result, primary care was labeled the “de facto mental health system” for Americans with the more prevalent but less severe mental health disorders. Subsequent re- search over the next decade found that only 25% to 50% of patients with depressive disorders were accurately diagnosed by primary care physicians. Moreover, among those accurately diagnosed only 50% received minimally adequate pharmacologic treatment, and less than 10% received a minimally adequate number of psychotherapy visits.

accessing care (NHRA, 2014). To this end, taking into consideration rural locales, and their unique (or lack of) public health offerings and a prevalence of mental health disorders (due to locale and military service), I would recommend, like Rishel & Hartnett (2015) that there be an additional 6,000 mental health practitioners so as to help meet the urgent needs of rural veterans.

Access to mental health care is not as good as than other forms of medical services. Some Americans have reduced access to mental health care amenities because they are living in a countryside setting. Others cannot get to treatment for the reason of shortage of transportation or vast work and household tasks. In some areas, when a

My ambition from secondary school onwards has been to become an adult nurse eventually specialising in A&E. Nurses inspire me because they make real and positive changes to people’s lives. I have an understanding of Nursing, thanks to my cousins who work within the medical field and have shared their experiences with me. One of the many things that I have learnt from them is that working within nursing offers a unique mixture of intellectual challenge and emotional reward. In particular it offers a focus on patient well-being and it brings a significant level of personal satisfaction.

With so many diseases and medical conditions to take care of, mental health often takes last place on the list of priorities. Dementia, depression, post-traumatic stress and other disorders affect every country alike. While developing countries need to develop access to mental healthcare, developed nations will need to improve their current facilities. Most westernized nations are experiencing a gradual aging of their population. As the populations aid, mental health will need more mental health professionals in place to handle their care.