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Mental Health In USA
Introduction
Mental illness is one of the leading causes of death among the young population in U.S. Youth mental health is worsening over time with over two million youths having Major Depressive Episode (MDE) with severe impairment. The adult occurrence of mental illness is relatively slow but suicidal thoughts among adults are slowly increasing. Although most Americans have insurance covers, their coverage on mental health is lacking. The number of privately insured youth whose insurance covers do not work for mental and emotional difficulties is notably high. Only a small percentage of youth with severe mental cases are said to receive consistent treatment, while a larger percentage of mentally ill patients still report unsteady mental health care.
Agenda Comparison Grid and Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief Assignment Template for Part 1 and Part 2
Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid
Use this Agenda Comparison Grid to document information about the population health/healthcare issue your selected and the presidential agendas. By completing this grid, you will develop a more in-depth understanding of your selected issue and how you might position it politically based on the presidential agendas.
You will use the information in Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid to complete the remaining Part 2 and Part 3 of your Assignment.
| Identify the Population Health concern you selected. | Mental Health Issue
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| Describe the Population Health concern you selected and the factors that contribute to it. |
Mental disorders are normally characterized by abnormal thoughts, emotions, perceptions, and behaviors. They include depression, bipolar disorder, and other developmental disorders.
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| Administration (President Name) | President Trump | President Obama | President Bush |
| Describe the administrative agenda focus related to this issue for the current and two previous presidents. | President Trump aimed at renovating Obamacare (Thompson, 2018). He came up with a new healthcare bill.
| President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare to extend the federal mental parity to Medicaid. | President Bush came up with a commission of experts from the field of mental health. In 2002, he came up with the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health to carry out a comprehensive study of the United States mental health service delivery system. He signed the Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addictions Equity act in 2008—all-inclusive legislation that covers health insurance. He also signed the Medicare Modernization act. |
| Identify the allocations of financial and other resources that the current and two previous presidents dedicated to this issue. | President Trump’s 2019 budget appeal called for a reduction in funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Programs of Regional and National Significance by $600 million. $500 million has been allocated for more health care institutions.
| In the 2016 budget proposal, President Obama suggested a $56 million funding for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Additionally, the budget proposed for a $70 million funding for the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. SAMHSA also saw a $44.6 million increase in funding. | In his 2003 budget request, he suggested a $212,000 increase in funding for the Center for Mental Health Services.
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| Explain how each of the presidential administrations approached the issue. | President Trump’s strategy involves reducing the amount of Medicaid (Thompson, 2018). This way, the health insurance plan is meant to cover only mental issues and substance use. Considering that low-income earners highly depend on Medicaid and ACA, Trump’s strategy is more likely to fail.
| President Obama’s budget requests involved making several proposals to agencies and programs that provide health care to mentally ill patients and their families. He also came up with a healthcare plan to rationalize the healthcare subdivision. | President Bush began an initiative in 2004 to screen the American population for mental illness. The idea was to incorporate mentally ill patients fully into the system by offering services at a community level rather than institutionally. |
Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis
Using the information you recorded in Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid, complete the following to document information about the population health/healthcare issue your selected
| Administration (President Name) | President Trump | President Obama | President Bush | |
| Which administrative agency would most likely be responsible for helping you address the healthcare issue you selected?
| The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC is a government agency responsible for compiling the USA mental illness data. It focuses on lessening the effect of mental illness making early identification and interventions for those at risk. CDC provides science-based strategies to help lessen the medical illness impact hence bridging the gap between research and healthcare.
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| How do you think your selected healthcare issue might get on the agenda for the current and two previous presidents? How does it stay there? | -Mental illness is a global issue (Heller, 2016) that needs immediate action to reduce its impact on the healthcare system. The need for good planning must be acknowledged by all political leaders all over the globe. Considering that several Americans especially the youth are at risk of mental illness, administrations have to consider the health issue as part of their agenda. Any healthcare issue can easily be considered through legislation and be developed into an agenda. -The Trump government is expected to establish new strategies on how to ensure that health insurance is available to all and that it serves all kinds of illnesses including mental disorders. -The issue of mental illness stays on the presidential agendas until a commendable solution is attained. | President Obama’s aim has always been to eliminate the threat of across-the-board cuts where issues such as medical illness are disregarded. Congress should never allow the cuts to happen in the mental health funding schemes.
| President Bush showed a great interest in mental health by initiating screening for the American population for mental illness. This should be the same spirit for all leaders to ensure that the initiative reaches the community. | |
| Who would you choose to be the entrepreneur/ champion/sponsor of the healthcare issue you selected for the current and two previous presidents? |
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A nNarrative with the Facts
Why the Mental Health Issue Is Important For the Legislation Agenda
- Mental illness is a global issue and can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or race.
- In the U.S., 46% of adults suffer mental illness in their lifetime. 5% of adults suffer mental illness every year.
- Mental illness in the U.S. affects more than 43 million individuals annually.
- 19% of adults in the United States suffered mental illness in 2018 with over 4% experiencing severe mental illness in the same year.
- Over 3% of adults in the United States experienced a co-occurring mental illness in 2018.
- Cockerham (2016) on the Sociology of mental disorder argues that mental illness leads to withdrawal from social life and may result in suicidal thoughts.
- In more severe cases, mental illness may lead to other illnesses such as stroke and heart attack.
- The number of cases on mental illness has progressively increased over the years.
Economic Implications
- Managing mental illness has proven to be costly for individuals, families and the federal government.
- Funding for mental health care projects calls for over 100 million annually for prevention, treatment, and improvement of mental healthcare systems (Thompson, 2018)
Nurse’s Role in Mental Health Agenda Setting
- Prevention and Early Recognition
Nurses have a significant role in early recognition and prevention of mental illness since they are at the first people to get into contact with patients and they end up spending most of their time with them.
- Monitoring
Nurses are accountable for patients’ recovery process and should monitor every step of their recovery process.
- Advocacy
Nurses are the main advocators for the implementation of mental health policies and strategies.
- Treatment and Control
Nurses are responsible for offering treatment to children and families. They are also at the frontline in ensuring that mental illness cases are controlled by offering public education and counselling services to individuals at the community level.
Conclusion
Mental health has been a major issue of concern to many US presidents, with most of them taking recommendable steps in improving access to treatment and support. Effective strategies have been put in place to prevent mental disorders. Also, effective treatments for mental health problems with good access to health care and suitable ways to lessen the suffering have been put in place. All Americans should be provided with access to mental health care services. Mental health services should be integrated into primary care to improve patient outcomes, reduce overall treatment costs and improve population health. The federal government should continue investing in mental health systems and services.
References
Cockerham, W. C. (2016). Sociology of mental disorder. Taylor & Francis.
Heller, B. D. (2016). Revolutionizing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. Seton Hall L. Rev., 47, 569.
Thompson, F. J., Gusmano, M. K., & Shinohara, S. (2018). Trump and the Affordable Care Act: Congressional repeal efforts, executive federalism, and program durability. Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 48(3), 396-424.