...The American Healthcare System and Access to Mental Health Services Abstract Within the American Healthcare system there are three key components. The key components include access, cost, and quality. Access to healthcare is the ability to obtain healthcare services in a timely manner when one needs it. Cost refers to many things in healthcare. It depends upon the individual, national, or provider’s perspective of costs. Quality is the desired healthcare outcomes of an individual or the healthcare outcomes of the population. Access to mental health services is a major issue in the United States. Children are greatly affected by this and often fall through the cracks in the system. Less than half of all children receive the mental health services they need. The Affordable Care Act initiated by President Obama is setting strides to improve the availability of mental health services within communities. This law requires that all health insurance providers cover mental health services. Congress has also increased funding to improve access of child mental health services. Improvements with access include, but are not limited to, integrating primary care physicians with mental health providers and the expansion of child mental health services. These improvements will educate primary care physicians on the available mental health services in their surrounding communities, allowing them to refer their patients as needed while providing a continuum of care. The expansion...
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...Children’s Mental Health A recent report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ([CDC], 2013) provides one of the most comprehensive reviews of child mental health in the United States. Specifically, the report provides an overview of mental health surveillance in the US between 2005 and 2011, uncovering some shocking facts about the issue and how it is currently addressed. For instance, data provided by the CDC indicates that each year between 13 and 20 percent of children and adolescents are diagnosed with some type of mental health problem (“Mental health,” 2013). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common disorder diagnosed in children between the ages of three and 17-years-of-age (6.8 percent)...
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...Evolution of Mental Health Care University of Phoenix HCS/531 Mental Health care in the United States has evolved from a period where people with mental illnesses were considered to be possessed and shunned from society, to lobotomies, and community-based care. The stigma associated with mental illness and the limited public awareness that mental illnesses are treatable deters individuals from seeking care for mental illnesses. In the early 19th Century, many states built asylums which were housing units for individuals with mental illness. They were subjected to poor living and treatment conditions such as bloodletting and purging (Novella, 2010).With increased knowledge and education about mental illnesses, effective treatments are available. Various changes have occurred in the mental health field like societal attitudes, support, and service delivery which has made it more likely for those with mental illnesses to seek treatment. There has been significant progress in improving access to mental health services. In the early 1990s, there was a move toward deinstitutionalizing mental health patients. Patients institutionalized in state-run psychiatric facilities were moved and cared for in community settings versus the asylums (Knapp et al. 2011). The belief here was that if mental health...
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...Canadian criminal justice system is unknown, evidence clearly points to the fact that it is not only existent, but it is also significant. Although mental illness is invariably defined, the broadest definition which includes substance abuse and antisocial personality disorder leads to the conclusion that at least 90% of offenders in the Canadian criminal justice system in Canada have a history of mental illness. Antisocial personality disorder is the most common diagnosis and is estimated to plague at least 80%of the population of prisoners within the Canadian criminal justice system. In addition, other infrequently diagnosed conditions include brain injuries, low...
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...population has a mental illness. However, an estimated 44% of those in jail have a mental illness (About Criminal and Juvenile Justice). The topic of mental health in criminal justice is crucial because it intersects with several fundamental aspects of society, including justice, public safety, and human rights. Caring about mental health in the criminal justice system reflects our commitment to support the well-being of all individuals. While recognizing the profound impact of mental illness on society, it is essential to ensure that mental illness does not serve as a justification for any crime. With this understanding in mind, the complexities of mental health issues while maintaining the integrity...
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...and adolescents in the foster care system are at a higher risk for psychopathology than other children in the general population in our country. In February of 2015, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) introduced the bipartisan legislation to improve foster care services for thousands of vulnerable youth in America. This bill would improve health care and mental health services to children and young people in the foster care system to ensure that effective community-based options are available for them and their families. “Therapeutic foster care, often referred to as treatment foster care (TFC), is the evidenced-informed trauma-informed and highly effective placement of children and youth with serious medical,...
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...The future of the US Criminal Justice System considering current affairs is influenced by various injustices and disparities. The U.S. Criminal Justice System is mainly influenced by the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights. The assumption of innocence, due process of law, double jeopardy, mass incarceration, inequity and gun law disparities to name a few are constantly at odds with current affairs. The U.S. Constitution shapes the U.S. Criminal Justice System with rights and due process for all citizens. The US Criminal Justice System is currently faced with challenges of prison overcrowding, mental health, drug offenses, inequity and gun violence. American society keeps asking for changes to be made to each part of the system. Changes and the...
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...The term “mental health care” may mean many things in different peoples perspectives or opinions, it may mean more common treatments such as therapy, family or individual, or it may entail more specific types of treatments for more severe mental illnesses such as Major Depressive disorder(MDD), Bipolar, and Schizophrenia. The way mental health care will be referred to in this paper is the care, treatment, and conditions of any type of mental illness patient. A very small amount of these mental illnesses may include any form of dementia, autism, Major Depressive Disorder(MDD), Schizophrenia, and attention deficit disorders(ADD). This term also refers to the quality of care given to any patient no matter in which situation it is given, inpatient,...
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...Community Mental Health Act of 1963 Post University Community mental health center act of 1963 was a significant milestone in America’s record of mental health rights. On 31st October 1963, the act was signed into a regulation by President John F. Kennedy. The law was the pioneer among other many federal policy alterations that helped ignite a significant transformation of the communal mental health arrangement by shifting resources outside huge organization toward community-based mental health action line up. The act lead to the increased improvement in the rights and treatment options for youth, children and adults living with mental sickness, though full guarantee of community-base concern has not been fully captured. This paper seeks to explain the rationale of community mental health center act of 1963. President Kennedy referred to the law as a bold new approach and it was the first federal bylaw to promote community-based mental health care. The Act offered donations to state for the building of (CMHC) community mental health centers, special facilities designed for treatment, diagnosis and delivery of mental health prevention to persons living in the community. The centers were built to provide the following indispensable services: inpatient services, emergency services, education and consultation on mental health, outpatient services, partial hospitalization and emergency response. The donations were projected to provide 1500 more community mental health centers across...
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...Asian American Mental Health: What We Know and What We Don’t Know Joyce P. Chu and Stanley Sue 2011 Myiesha Shante Melvin PSYC 400-D1 History and Systems in Psychology Department of Psychology Fayetteville State University November 19, 2015 What are the issues regarding the mental health of Asians in the United States? Asian Americans have experienced many conflicts between their ethnic culture and the “mainstream” Americans. According to Chu & Sue (2011), there were a few research findings that arose: * There weren’t many Asian Americans who exercised their right to use the mental health system. * Those of the Asian American population that do utilize the mental health services are “highly disturbed in terms of psychiatric disorders”. (Chu & Sue, 2011) * The low utilization is what appeared to be influenced by cultural factors. * “The rates of mental disorders among Asian Americans are not extraordinarily low” (Chu & Sue, 2011). This is proven by epidemiological surveys. There are many Asian subgroups in the United States and they are Japanese, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Laotians, Filipinos, Chinese, Asian Indians, Koreans and many more. Over 30 languages are spoken throughout the many different Asian subgroups in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013), the estimated population of Asians in the United States, including those of more than one race, was 18.2 million. In 2011, Asian Americans...
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...Prison Abstract The increase in incarcerated individuals with mental illness in the preceding decades has made the prison system a prevalent mental health provider even though they are not prepared or equipped for such task. Prison life is tough on an individual’s mental health; overcapacity, lack of privacy, violent behavior, lack of activity, inadequate health services, seclusion from family and friends, and the insecurity of what life holds after prison contribute to the inmate’s mental health. Inmates whose judgment is altered or impaired by depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other severe mental illnesses are impacted more severely by the tribulations of prison life. Inadequate mental health services is also something mentally ill inmates face, this absconds them undertreated or mistreated. Numerous prisoners do not receive proper psychotropic medication due to the lack of mental health services and care, further impairing their capability to function. The security mission of prisons tends to overlook mental health considerations. Prison rules and codes of demeanor teach staff about security, safety, supremacy, and power. Coordinating the needs of the mentally ill with prison regulations and goals is almost impractical. Factors of the sources and effects of the concern between prison and mental illness will be observed in this research proposal. Reforms will be provided to improve mental health requirements and defend the rights of the increasing population...
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...Summary According to the Mental Health and Addictions statistics of Canada, most of us will suffer from some kind of mental illness in our lives. Every family from every corner of the globe will have someone that will be affected by a mental health issue in their lifetime. Without support for the families and help keeping the family unit strong, it can crumble. When a family unit breaks down, so to does our society and for the individual, could mean becoming displaced and homeless or incarceration. We need to be supportive of the families and help them learn to cope so as to become the major caregiver of their loved ones. This paper outlines the important role of family, the impact of mental health and addiction problems on families, the needs of families, and the benefits they have in care provision and decision-making. It will state the importance of the needs for a support group in which the family members can become the greatest allies to their loved ones who suffer from mental illness and addictions. Introduction Mental health and addiction is in every corner of the globe. It is a disease that is staggering in numbers but you would not hear someone say they have a sister that is sick with bi-polar or an uncle that has the disease of addictions. It is a disease that is in some cases as serious as cancer and kills just as many. It is in every family unit and it still has a stigma that keeps people feeling shameful and makes it harder for them to accept when someone in...
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...The American mental health care system has undergone many changes throughout history. At first, individuals were locked in asylums and forced to take whatever treatments were deemed appropriate including restraints, seclusion, and cages (Eaton, 2012). During these “Dark Ages” every state in the country had at least one state-funded mental health hospital (Eaton, 2012). This period that ended around 1825 did little more than detaining the mentally ill so that they didn’t affect the community. The Institutional Era (1825-1960) expanded the number of asylums as well as the number of institutionalizations across the country. The development of chlorpromazine, used to treat severe schizophrenia, increased state funding for asylums (Eaton, 2012)....
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...and describe services provided by mental health, discuss interoperability and human services, describe three modes of interoperability, describe how each model could be integrated into the organization, and possible back up plans should technology fail. Mental Health Provider and Services Provided The mental health organization provides services to adult, children, adolescents, and families as a unit. The service varies according to the need of the individual or family. A mental health provider may work in different settings, such as private practice, hospitals, community agencies, or other facilities. They include but not limited to: psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric mental health nurse, physician assistant, licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional counselor, or clergy. According to Mayo Clinic (Staff, 1998-2015), the psychiatrists diagnose and treat mental disorders, provide counseling, and provide medication to the client. The psychologist can diagnose and treat the disorder while providing counseling. They are unable to provide medication but can make a referral. A psychiatric mental health nurse is a registered nurse with specialized training in mental health issues. There services vary but they can diagnose and treat mental illnesses depending on their education and can prescribe medication if state law allows (Staff, 1998-2015). According to the Mayo clinic, the physician assistant can diagnose and treat mental disorder, provide...
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...the community” (Alarid & Del Carmen, 2011, p 3). With the number of offenders growing community corrections seeks to reduce recidivism, impose appropriate punishment upon offenders, as well as prepare offenders for re-entry into society. These missions or goals of probation and parole agencies are diminished due to an emergent amount of offenders with mental illnesses entering the community corrections system. “Within the context of the overall grown in community corrections populations, probation and parole officers are coming into contact with a disproportionately high number of people with mental illnesses (most of whom have co-occurring substance use disorders)” (Prins & Draper, 2009, p 1). Moreover research has found that offenders with mental illness are some of the most complex group to supervise within community corrections (Prins & Draper, 2009). “More than 60 percent of severely mentally ill offenders released from prison in 2005 returned to prison within two years” (Missouri Department of Corrections, 2011). In addition to higher recidivism rates than offenders without mental illness, offenders with mental illness are more likely to be violent recidivists (Ditton, 1999). Nearly 1 in 5 violent offenders on probation were identified as mentally ill (Ditton,...
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