Mental Health Disparities Essay

Mental health is a state of psychological well-being. According to World Health Organization (WHO) mental health includes "subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, intergenerational dependence, and self-actualization of one's intellectual and emotional potential, among others." (Organization, WHO 2001) However, cultural differences, race, ethnicity, personal background, subjective assessment, and socioeconomic status all affect how mental health is defined. This variation in definitions of mental health between different sects of our society further causes drift in methods of treatment, and may cause the burden of mental health to be greater on some cultures.

The treatment team also may include a psychologist, social worker, psychiatric nurse and possibly a case manager to coordinate care. The full-team approach may be available in clinics with expertise in schizophrenia treatment. Medications Medications are the cornerstone of schizophrenia treatment, and antipsychotic medications are the most commonly prescribed drugs. They 're thought to control symptoms by affecting the brain neurotransmitter dopamine.

Describe the various classifications of antipsychotics and anxiolytic agents. What are the essential differences in each? Consider pharmacology, indications, dosing strategies, indications and contraindications Antipsychotics are classified into first generation (typical) and second generation (atypical) antipsychotics. Antipsychotics are indicated for the treatment of several mental health conditions such as: acute mania, Psychosis in schizophrenia, dementia, delirium, depression, drug abuse, bipolar, traumatic head injury and more (Perese, 2012).

B. Medication 1. Medications for schizophrenia can cause serious but rare side effects, people with schizophrenia may be reluctant to take them (“Diseases,” 2014) 2. Antipsychotic medications are the most commonly prescribed drugs to treat schizophrenia. They 're thought to control symptoms by affecting the brain neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin (“Diseases,”

Introduction Prior to the mid-1960 virtually all mental health treatment was provided on an inpatient basis in hospitals and institutions. The Community Mental Health Act of 1963 was established with its primary focus on deinstitutionalizing mentally ill patients, and shutting down asylums in favor of community mental health centers. It was a major policy shift in mental health treatment that allowed patients to go home and live independently while receiving treatment, (Pollack & Feldman, 2003). As a result of the Act, there was a shift of mentally ill persons in custodial care in state institutions to an increase of the mentally ill receiving prosecutions in criminal courts.

Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which an individual recognizes their potential, is able to cope with everyday stress, is productive and has a meaningful place within their community. As early as 1958, the relationship between low economic status and the elevated incidence and prevalence of mental illness became apparent. Numerous studies (Hollingshead & Redlich, 1958) have linked poverty with increased rates of emotional disturbance and identified the lack of treatment facilities available for treatment. There are fundamental hurdles that the poor face in regard to mental health. The poor are more often exposed to dangerous environments, stressful work surroundings, unrewarding jobs, and are frequently subjected to layoffs and unemployment.

The U.S. spend more on mental health services than any other area of physical health. According to WHO, "the United States spends nearly $2.5 trillion in 2010, with a projected increase to over $6 trillion by 2030" (One Mind, 2015). However, the care and treatment for people with mental problems is variable. "Many have trouble accessing services; interventions are not as effective, and people with health conditions are often neglected, leaving many untreated" (Mental Health Foundation, 2013).

Some people are prescribed mood enhancing medication. One of these are called Xanax or (alprazolam). This drug is in the class benzodiazepine. It is used to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorders. Many side effects can occur upon taking this drug.

For instance people who live with schizophrenia can be prescribed dopamine antagonists that reduce the symptoms and hallucinations that come with the illness. People who live with a social phobia can be prescribed

Mental Health Disparities Among Ethnic Minorities This paper addresses the mental health disparities among ethnic minorities and the advocacy for resolving these concerns. Access to mental health services refers to providers’ ability to give direct and timely services to consumers who request or need these services (La Roche & Turner, 2002). Mental health services have been significantly decreasing lately due to pressures to limit health care expenditures in general. The world has an ongoing growth of diversity.

n order to eliminate disparities in mental healthcare for Latinos, Researchers have to first document the scope of disparities, recognize factors and processes that cause Latinos mental health disparities in care. Then, mental health services and policies apply this data to develop and implement interventions aimed at eliminating the trends in care. In other words, by achieving this endeavor, policymakers and mental health services must be informed by research because research can provides best available evidences, documents specific trends in care, produce valuable information about the pathways that have the potential to reduce disparities, explains why and how the inequities occur, and how to deliver high quality mental health care

This generation of students is the unhappiest, most anxious, and least optimistic group of children in history. Every day, fourteen students take their lives in America. Suicide is the third most common cause of death for teenagers; rates have been steadily rising since the 2000’s. About a quarter of teenagers are mentally ill. America’s kids are dying, and what is being done to change this? Schools force students to forgo mental health and focus on grades, and companies believe that a suffering teenager is just another person to leech money from. In the end, all these students are left without help to serve the interests of others.

Certain federal government organizations such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and Medicare and Medicaid coverage have spent a total of 111.4 trillion dollars in support of the mental health programs with in the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and at most, 386 billion dollars on block grants with in each of the 50 states. Among the annual funds that are put into the justice system for mental health care plans, the more serious discussion is among the manifest of not having enough “community based” health care facilities for the mentally ill. “These people don’t think there’s anything wrong with them and these are disproportionately the ones who end up committing felonies or misdemeanors, ending up in jail or prison or even ending up homeless” – E. Fuller Torrey. According to a survey that was published by the US and District of Columbia, forty four out of the fifty states had been housing double the number of mentally ill patients than the state’s largest remaining psychiatric hospital.

Specific barriers relating to medication non-adherence include drug regimen complexity, patient forgetfulness, patient misconception/lack of understanding, adverse events/side effects and cost of therapy. These factors significantly affect a patient’s belief and concern with regards taking their medication which can result in worrying implications for

Approximately 62.5 million Americans with mental health needs are now eligible for that care. Affordable healthcare or universal healthcare for all now begged the question, whose going to care for these people? The shortage of primary healthcare and mental health providers added to the burden of who would care for all these newly eligible individuals. Pearlman (2013) says, “there will be a decrease of mental health providers by 18% to 21% in 2014” (p.332). The one exception to this is the increase of advanced practice psychiatric nurses (APPNs).