Regarding the question that you asked referencing the bill up grassroots effort. It is evident that this bill is emotionally charged and that the community orchestrated a massive push for this legislation. The suicide of Dr. Breen drew nationwide press coverage, unlike most suicides that most often barely make the local paper. The family of Dr. Breen was social elites and prominent physicians themselves with the proper political representatives already in place to swiftly promote awareness of the suicide of Dr. Breen , and the devastating realization of effects of  COVID  has on us health care providers.  The family and community could mount the initiative with tremendous motivation (Moutier, 2021).

Although I steadfastly agree that this was a highly emotionally charged topic, the incident brought nationwide attention to the problems that face our health care workforce dramatically increased since the introduction of the COVID 19 pandemic. The stigma surrounding our physicians and nurses seeking mental health treatment, substance abuse, depression, and suicide paralyzes these individuals. The very people who have taken up the responsibility of caring for individuals with physical and mental health issues can’t depend on our medical community to intervene on our behalf. I have been a health care worker for thirty-five years, many of those years have been served in the Emergency Room and Psychiatry. I can personally testify to the stigmatization, the secret silent culture regarding health care professionals seeking mental health counseling/treatment. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, health care workers faced elevated rates of burnout, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and -suicide. Now more than ever, we must support the well-being of our health care workforce. The suicide rate is 2x the general population’s rate (Jennifer B. Feist, 2020).

Feist, J., C. Feist, and P. Cipriano (2020). Stigma Compounds the Consequences of Clinician Burnout During COVID-19: A Call to Action to Break the Culture of Silence. National Academy of Medicine, Washington, DC.

https://doi.org/10.31478/202008b

Moutier, Christine Yu MD; Myers, Michael F. MD; Feist, Jennifer Breen JD; Feist, J. Corey JD, MBA; Zisook, Sidney MD Preventing Clinician Suicide: A Call to Action During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond (2021). Academic Medicine: 96(5), 624-628

doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000003972

Week 7 Discussion Post

Mental illness and mental health concerns is a topic that is being discussed more frequently across all backgrounds. (Atkinson, 2019).  A mental health screening is a screening that is conducted often. This special screening has been identified as a pertinent one that can help identify specific needs that may require additional community Health Center Mental Health Screening Act is one that many people may benefit from. This particular Bill would award grants for mental health, behavioral screenings, and additional services to federally qualified centers. (Congress, 2020).

The implementation of this Bill would assist the public in a significant way. This current Bill was introduced to the House about one year ago, in February 2021. This Bill is key to assisting so many people. Many people would not have access to this type of service otherwise. There is enough evidence base to support the need for this current Bill. Currently,  mental health screenings are part of each screening process. That fact alone highlights the importance and necessity to allow more funds to be available.

Many do not visit a Provider regularly. More and more community centers are being built and equipped with services like the ones in this proposed Bill that can assist screening processes. A Public Health article highlighted that many people in the community have mental health needs that are not adequately addressed.(Martens, 2021) This Bill would provide recourse that may not be available and options to more cost-friendly resources to those in the community. An example of someone who would benefit from this Bill includes students, those on a fixed income, homeless individuals, insured, and uninsured individuals.

References:

Atkinson, M. (2019). Sport, mental illness and sociology (First edition.). Emerald Publishing.

Congress.gov. (2020, September 30). H.R.523.Community Center Mental Health Screening Act of 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2022. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-      congress/house-bill/

Martens, N., Destoop, M., & Dom, G. (2021). Organization of Community Mental Health Services for Persons with a Severe Mental Illness and Comorbid Somatic Conditions: A Systematic Review on Somatic Outcomes and Health Related Quality of Life. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020462

We are taking a top down look at legislation, but often times, bills start from the bottom-up with grassroots efforts. It is so important for the stakeholders to have a voice in how legislation is written. Do you think the community played a part in how this bill was written? If so, do you think the bill meets their needs?

For this discussion, I chose the Mental Health Justice Act of 2021. If passed, this bill creates a grant program for states and local governments to train and dispatch mental health professionals to respond, instead of law enforcement officers, to emergencies that involve people with behavioral health needs.

The Treatment Advocacy Center estimates that 1 in 4 fatal shootings involve someone with a severe mental illness, making the risk of death 16 times greater for these individuals than for others approached or stopped by law enforcement. Those who are arrested are often charged with minor, nonviolent offenses. As a result, jail and prison systems are overcrowded with thousands of individuals who would be far better served by other community resources. A mental health crisis is not a crime. In most cases, LEO presence may increase stress on those experiencing a mental health crisis, furthering the emotional response from the person in need.

I believe that this proposed Act was brought on by research. In my current town, this week alone we just had a man in mental health crisis get killed by an off-duty police officer. This recent event has caused such an uproar in our community, that the police department has already started to release statements about changes being made within their training to focus more on those experiencing mental health crises. I believe this bill should be passed, but I also believe there should be certain parameters for those reporting to the scene of a mental health crisis regarding their own safety.

References:

Rep. Porter reintroduces bill to reduce violence against individuals with mental illness and disabilities. U.S. Representative Katie Porter. (2021, February 25). Retrieved January 12, 2022, from https://porter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=297

Text – H.R.1368 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): Mental … (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2022, from https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1368/text

I lived in NC for most of my life. I remember years ago when the two largest inpatient mental health facilities down-sized, one closing all together. Patients who had not lived outside the facility for years were suddenly thrust into communities they were completely unfamiliar with. For some outpatient treatment worked well, for others, though, outpatient treatment was not enough. As you mention, rural areas are often lacking in access to mental health care, however, many nurses in urban areas that have larger numbers of mental health professionals feel access is still subpar. As you consider this bill, do you feel it goes far enough to help improve access and affordability for all patients who may need it?

Dr. Mooring

Great post, Gabriel. As a future mental health professional, it is important for us to know what resources are available in the community to assist with a mental health crisis and prevent potential violence. One of the key parts of your proposed bill that I found notable is that all districts that accept federal funds to allow for a crisis-response team of mental health providers have to provide proof of anti-racism and de-escalation training (Congressional Research Service, n.d.). This will help keep marginalized mental health patients safer when out in the community. I agree with your point that there is ample evidence to suggest that mental health crisis response teams, in lieu of immediate police intervention, can benefit patients and communities. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has come out in support of CRT teams due to their many benefits which include keeping mental health patients out of jail and on their treatment programs, preventing violent encounters with law enforcement, and even saving millions in tax dollars of preventable incarcerations (NAMI, 2021).

Reference:

Congressional Research Service. (n.d.). Cosponsors – H.R.1368 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): Mental … Congress.Gov. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1368?s=1&r=99

NAMI. (2021). Crisis intervention team (CIT) programs. NAMI. https://www.nami.org/Advocacy/Crisis-Intervention/Crisis-Intervention-Team-(CIT)-Programs 

On Monday, September 30, 2019, the President signed into law: H.R. 1058, the “Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2019 or the “Autism CARES Act of 2019,” which revised several programs and activities relating to autism spectrum disorder (Congress.gov, n.d.). This bill was implemented to expand autism spectrum research at the National Institutes of Health, data collection by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and education, early detection, and intervention activities supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (Congress.gov, n.d.). The bill also aims to improve services for the autistic community throughout a person’s lifespan and reduce health-outcome disparities across diverse populations.

According to Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), 1 in 54 eight-year-olds has autism spectrum disorder, which can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges (n.d.).  This link shows how HRSA supports the Autism CARES act of 2019 and works to implement these new policies through education and research.

https://mchb.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/mchb/programs-impact/autism-awareness-infographic2.pdf

The autism programs supported by HRSA address the needs of underserved populations and barriers to evidence-based interventions. Autism spectrum disorder is a lifelong neurological disorder that is notoriously underfunded and under-researched. A decade has passed since the U.S. Congress mandated a more coordinated and comprehensive approach to federal investment in autism research, but despite these federal mandates very little funding has been allocated to autism research (Cervantes et. al., 2021). The Autism CARES act of 2019 expands funding for research as well as treatment services, aiming to improve the health and well-being of children, adolescents, adults with autism spectrum disorder, and their families.

References

Cervantes, P. E., Matheis, M., Estabillo, J., Seag, D. E. M., Nelson, K. L., Peth-Pierce, R., Hoagwood, K. E., & Horwitz, S. M. (2021). Trends over a decade in NIH funding for autism spectrum disorder services research. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51(8), 2751–2763. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04746-3

Congress.gov. (n.d.). H.R.1058 – 116th Congress (2019-2020): Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2019. (2019, September 30). https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1058

Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health (n.d.) Autism. https://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs-impact/programs/autism

Hi Tricia,

I enjoyed reading your article on Autism legislation. I agree there seems to not be enough support or funding for autism research or treatment services. Surprisingly, only 25 percent of research funds have been geared towards initiatives that will actually improve the day-to-day experiences of those on the spectrum and their loved ones (Strauss, 2018). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has developed the Combating Autism Act and the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). This committee is a federal advisory committee that coordinates autism spectrum disorder efforts across HHS, partnering federal agencies and private stakeholder groups (The Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). Furthermore, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has a Medicaid program geared towards supporting children, youth, and adults with autism and related conditions who have limited income and resources, and meet eligibility criteria. Some resources include community-based services such as respite care and employment support (HHS, n.d.). Do you feel more funding should be geared more towards research or treatment services, or both?

References

Strauss, V. (2018, December 14). The huge issue that most autism research funding ignores. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2018/12/13/huge-issue-that-most-funding-autism-research-ignores/

The Department of Health and Human Services (n.d.). Our Commitment to Supporting Individuals on the Autism Spectrum and their Families. https://www.hhs.gov/programs/topic-sites/autism/autism-support/index.html.

Response

Hi Tricia thanks for your post. Having a child with disability is not an easy task, especially children with autism. As per an article, there is an increase in autism cases in each study conducted (Callaghan, & Sylvester, 2019). According to another article, “About 1 in 54 U.S. children have an autism diagnosis” (Walsh, 2021).  1 in 54 children is not a small number. I believe no mother should go through this problem, but unfortunately it happens and so care must be taken. More funds should be put into its research and the treatment to increase the lifespan. According to an article, fewer amounts of funds for autism research goes toward the lifespan and that this must be increased (Harris, et al., 2021). It is not easy to lose a child no matter what the situation; therefore more funds need to go toward the treatment and an increase in the lifespan.

References

Callaghan, T. & Sylvester, S. (2019). Autism spectrum disorder, politics, and the generosity of insurance mandate in the United States.  Plos one. Plos one. 2019; 14(5): e0217064. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6534322/

Harris, L., Gilmore, D., Longo, A., & Hand, B. N. (2021). Short report: patterns of US federal autism research funding during 2017-2019. Pubmed.gov. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33765838/

Walsh, M. (2021). Autism statistics 2021. Singlecare. https://www.singlecare.com/blog/news/autism-statistics/

One issue that arises in the discussion of maternal mortality is the lack of representation in congress for Women of Color. Nursing is a diverse profession made up of people from all ethnicities, religions and backgrounds. As nurses we can do our part at the bedside to improve outcomes and decrease maternal mortality. But, How can we work toward improving legislation in this area, as well. What can we do to influence things from a top down approach?

Dr. Mooring

Hi Yvonne,

I enjoyed reading your article and the information you provided on maternal mortality in the United States. I found it disheartening that many pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Also, that racial and ethnic disparities play a role as well. I reviewed more information on the Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness Act or “MOMMA’s” Act mentioned in your discussion. One of the most beneficial benefits of this bill is expanding Medicaid and CHIP coverage for postpartum care from 60 days to a year (Every mother counts, 2022). This has a tremendous impact on access to care for mothers through the postpartum period. “According to Urban Institute research, if every state adopts this new provision, approximately 123,000 uninsured mothers could become newly eligible for Medicaid/CHIP coverage during their infant’s first year” (McMorrow, Haley, & Johnston, 2021). Nurses can be instrumental in advocating for their state to expand Medicaid coverage if they have not done so already. This can only improve postpartum care and mortality for new mothers, specifically women of color.

References

Every mother counts. (2022). THE MOMMA’S ACT. Learn more about ongoing legislative efforts. https://everymothercounts.org/policy-and-advocacy/the-mommas-act/

McMorrow, S., Haley, J.M., Johnston, E.M. (2021, March 19). The American Rescue Plan Contains an Evidence-Based Policy Win for New Mothers. Urban Wire: Health and Health Care. https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/american-rescue-plan-contains-evidence-based-policy-win-new-mothers

Hello Yvonne,

One very unfortunate statistic is the fact that out of 11 high-income countries, maternal mortality rates have been increasing (instead of decreasing like in the other 10 countries) in the United States . There are a lot of reasons why this might be, and you touched on one of the more important ones: prejudice against women of different (minority) races. I remember watching a video of a mother who had recently given birth and had noticed something was wrong with her child, but after calling for help the nurses decided to stand around and convince her she was overreacting. Unfortunately the woman was correct and the nurses didn’t step in to save the child until after the child had already died. Situations like this, as well as neglect of the mother by the health care professional can make women suffer through horrific feelings, and depending on the severity can also lead to death. Another reason for this increased mortality rate is that “the U.S. is the only high-income country that does not guarantee paid leave to mothers after childbirth” (Tikkanen et al., 2020). Childbirth is a very stressful event, and mothers generally do not get adequate time to recover before they are required to get back to work. This can put the body into overdrive, and eventually can lead to a slew of other health problems including “Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and personality disorders, cardiovascular disease, including heart disease, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, heart attacks, and stroke” which all increases the chances of death (Marks, 2021). Because of all of this, I believe this bill would be highly beneficial in reducing the mortality rates of pregnant women.

References

Tikkanen, R., Gunja, M., FitzGerald, M., Zephyrin, L. (2020, Nov. 18). Maternal mortality and maternity care in the United States compared to 10 other developed countries. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2020/nov/maternal-mortality-maternity-care-us-compared-10-countries

Marks, H. (2021, Aug. 19). Stress symptoms. https://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/stress-symptoms-effects_of-stress-on-the-body

Medical marijuana is legal in the State of Florida. In 2019, a bill was passed to amend certain terms used for the use of medical marijuana also called MM. Bill 182 proposed several changes and one of them was the use of MM for pediatric patients. First of all, it states that it is illegal to prescribe MM in a form of smoking to patients under the age of 18 that do not have a terminal illness. If the patient does have a terminal condition, then the patient can be prescribed the smoking form of MM, but it must be approved by a second doctor that is a board certified pediatrician (The Florida Senate, n.d.). Consent must also be obtained from the patient’s parent or legal guardian (The Florida Senate, n.d.).

MM is usually prescribed in oncology patients to help with the side effects of nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy and to help control pain. There is not a lot of research done pertaining to the evidence base practice of smoking MM in pediatric patients. “There are no data indicating the rational and optimal way of MM dosing and administration, nor have dose finding studies been published in pediatric oncology patients so far” (Ofir et al., 2019). In this article, Studies were performed on oncology pediatric patients using cannabis in the form of oil, smoking, capsules, and vaporization (Ofir et al., 2019). Reasons for prescribing MM were nausea, vomiting, depression, sleeping problems, decreased appetite, pain, and weight loss (Ofir et al., 2019). The patients that used cannabis in the form of smoking were the ones that had the most side effects which included a “burning in their throat and anxiety attacks” (Ofir et al. 2019). On the other hand, some patients had positive feedback smoking MM and where able to sleep better, gain weight, and had decreased depression (Ofir et al., 2019).

It is hard to say whether MM helps the pediatric population because not much research has been conducted. One thing is for sure, no child should have to suffer the devastating effects of cancer and cancer treatment. At this point there is not enough evidence base to support the use of MM in the form of smoking in pediatric patients. There are studies that have been performed with people that smoke recreational marijuana. Long-term side effects of using recreational cannabis are measured by the levels of TCH to CBD (Aran & Cayam-Rand, 2020). According to Aran and Cayam-Rand:

Several large studies have demonstrated that the main risks of decreased motivation, addiction, mild cognitive decline, and schizophrenia are directly related to the THC and CBD concentrations in the strain used, i.e., the higher the ratio of THC to CBD, the greater the risk. The risk is also elevated among those with younger onset of use (<18 years) and in the presence of other risk factors, such as a family history of schizophrenia and concomitant use of alcohol and tobacco (2020).

References

Aran, A., & Cayam-Rand, D. (2020). Medical Cannabis in Children. Rambam Maimonides medical journal, 11(1), e0003. https://doi.org/10.5041/RMMJ.10386

Ofir, R., Bar-Sela, G., Weyl Ben-Arush, M., & Postovsky, S. (2019). Medical marijuana use for pediatric oncology patients: single institution experience. Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, 36(5), 255–266. https://doi.org/10.1080/08880018.2019.1630537

The Florida Senate. 2019 Bill Summaries – The Florida Senate. (n.d.). Retrieved January 13, 2022, from https://flsenate.gov/Committees/BillSummaries/2019/html/2067

This is interesting! There are many recent studies that support the use of “illicit drugs” in the treatment of mental illness. Marijuana is just one of them. How do we overcome the stigma of marijuana use that has developed over the years in order to enact meaningful, evidence-based legislation?

Dr. Mooring

Claudia,

The use of medical marijuana is a hot topic of discussion with mixed opinions, especially when it comes to use in pediatric patients. Policymaking is based on both public opinion, evidence-based data, and political agendas. Once Bill 182 was signed into law by Governor Ron Desantis, this comment was offered by Commissioner Nicole Fried in support of the patients who benefit from this treatment:

“Patients should be able to access medicine in the form their doctor determines best for them. Whether it’s smoking medical marijuana or other delivery mechanisms, treatment decisions should be made by physicians, not politicians”(2019).

Although the branches of government that formulate health policy have access to extensive information, data, and research, politics can still get in the way (Milstead & Short, 2019).  A policy may be blocked or repealed if legislature is dominated by one political party and ideological beliefs (Milstead & Short, 2019).

Over the past few years, there has been much talk about the use of marijuana for epilepsy in pediatric patients. According to Detyniecki and Hirsch (2015), there is data showing that two main biologically active cannabinoids—tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)— have anticonvulsant properties in acute seizures and epilepsy. 84% of children, ages 2 to 16 years with treatment resistant epilepsy, saw a reduction in seizure while using CBD enriched cannabis, and their parents reported other positive effects, such as improved alertness and better sleep and mood (Detyniecki & Hirsch, 2015).

More than half of U.S. states, including Florida, have legalized some form of medical marijuana. So far, clinical evidence only supports the use of marijuana in pediatric patients for life-limiting or severely debilitating conditions, such as epilepsy and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (Children’s Hospital Colorado, 2022). More study is still needed to determine if medical marijuana is appropriate for any other pediatric condition.

References

Children’s Hospital Colorado. (2022). Marijuana as medicine. https://www.childrenscolorado.org/health-professionals/professional-resources/charting-pediatrics-podcast/medical-marijuana-in-children/

Commissioner Nikki Fried on Signing of Smokable Medical Marijuana Bill. (2019, March 18). States News Service.

Detyniecki, K., & Hirsch, L. (2015). Marijuana use in epilepsy: The myth and the reality. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports, 15(10), 65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-015-0586-5

Milstead, J.A., & Short, N.M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Claudia,

I enjoyed reading your post. This is a very interesting topic with many conflicting views. Over the past few years marijuana has became legal in more and more states. MM is a great alternative for those dealing with nausea, appetite issues, pain, etc. There are plenty of new studies looking into the effects MM has on patients with seizure disorders. Many other illicit drugs are being explored as treatments for other mental disorders. A hot topic right now is psilocybin and use in treating PTSD, the research is very intriguing! What do you think needs to be done to get the use of MM legalized universally for pediatric patients?

The Florida Senate. 2019 Bill Summaries – The Florida Senate. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2022, from https://flsenate.gov/Committees/BillSummaries/2019/html/2067

A psychedelic drug may help treat PTSD. but questions … (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2022, from

https://www.science.org/content/article/psychedelic-drug-may-help-treat-ptsd-questions-remain-how-best-use-and-regulate-it

I chose to cover the TRIUMPH for New Moms Act of 2021 (S.2779). This bill aims to “coordinate federal programs for maternal mental health and create a national strategic plan for addressing maternal mental health disorders” (Wickramatilake, 2021). More often than not, women who have just delivered a child are expected to be knowledgeable on how to raise a child, and are expected to not feel any other emotion apart from happiness and joy. Dr. Michal Regev (2021) puts it best: The myth of motherhood, or society’s viewpoint of new mothers is that they are expected to feel fulfilled, happy, strong, in tune with their child, or like their life is now complete after they have their child. Virtually the expectation is for all new mothers to be supermom, and this expectation can be especially detrimental to the new mother because it’s unrealistic. Giving birth is an exhausting feat, and not everyone is in tune with their baby’s needs. The mental health of a new mom might also suffer tremendously, and they could fall into severe postpartum depression (PPD) which is more common than people realize. According to Jenna Carberg (2021), “Approximately 70% to 80% of women will experience, at a minimum, the ‘baby blues’”, many of which (~20%) will experience the more severe PPD.

For something that is as commonly experienced as this, the amount of resources, support and education around the mental health disorders new mothers might experience are few and far between. This bill aims to provide support at the federal level for new mothers, as well as bring more light to the issues new moms face so they won’t be suffering in silence. PPD also negatively affects everyone around the new mother, including their child, families and other relationships. Being able to bring awareness to this issue, and provide regular screening and support/resources to help deal with PPD and other mental disorders will enable new mothers the opportunity to heal and get better, and could help us as a society erase the stipulation that all mothers must be supermoms unable to feel sad, distraught, or any other non-happy/joyful feeling.

References

Wickramatilake, S. (2021, Sept. 24). Triumph for new moms act introduced in the Senate. https://www.mom-congress.com/blog/9/24/2021/triumph-for-new-moms-act-introduced-in-the-senate

Regev, M. (2015, Mar. 29). The myth of motherhood: The way unrealistic social expectations of mothers shape their experience. https://drregev.com/blog/the-myth-of-motherhood-the-way-unrealistic-social-expectations-of-mothers-shape-their-experience/

Carberg, J. (2021, June 3). Postpartum depression statistics. https://www.postpartumdepression.org/resources/statistics/

We are taking a top down look at legislation, but often times, bills start from the bottom-up with grassroots efforts. It is so important for the stakeholders to have a voice in how legislation is written. Do you think the community played a part in how this bill was written? If so, do you think the bill meets their needs?

Dr. Mooring

Blessing,

Thank you for bringing this topic into discussion.  I agree that more attention must be brought to maternal mental health and the TRUIMP bill will help to create a plan to recognize and address these disorders. Screening and intervention are crucial to ensuring new mothers get the support they need.

During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, there have been growing reports of the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on the general population, including increased depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances in individuals with and without COVID-19. Even under normal circumstances, the perinatal period is already filled with biological, physiological, psychological, and social changes. Mental health disorders are not uncommon during pregnancy and the postpartum period, ranging from 10 to 20%, and the global pandemic has created additional challenges, such as limited access to perinatal services and in-person support (Iyengar, Jaiprakash, Haitsuka, & Kim, 2021). Levels of stress may even be intensified by worries about the virus and the potential risks to mother and newborn baby.

Interventions that target stress reduction and enhance coping will be helpful for perinatal women experiencing increased distress during COVID-19, including mindfulness, distress tolerance skills, relaxation exercises, and interpersonal relationship skills (Iyengar et al., 2021).  we need to look at proactive mechanisms to identify mothers at risk of PPD. Public health nurses could play a vital role in recognizing and supporting women during the post-natal period. Familial support in the ante and post-natal period can be improved education through media, community engagement, and by incorporating a culture of a women-friendly home (Issac, Krishnan, Jacob, & Stephen, 2021).

References

Issac, A., Krishnan, N., Vr, V., Vr, R., Jacob, J., & Stephen, S. (2021). Postpartum depression amidst COVID-19 pandemic: What further could be done? Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 63, 102759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102759

). One Year Into the Pandemic: A Systematic Review of Perinatal Mental Health Outcomes During COVID-19. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 674194. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.674194Iyengar, U., Jaiprakash, B., Haitsuka, H., & Kim, S. (2021

The Men’s Health Awareness and Improvement Act was introduced on November 16, 2021, and referred to the house committee on energy and commerce. No other action has been taken at this time. Men’s health has been a concern for some time. According to the (ODPHP) Office of Prevention and Health Promotion, “men die an average of five years earlier than women.” Healthy People 2030 targets improving men’s health with several topics to focus on. The overall goal is to improve health and well-being for men. The leading causes for death for men include heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injuries.

One of the objectives for men’s health is improving; prostate cancer deaths have decreased from 18.3 deaths per 100,000 males to 18.3 prostates cancer deaths per 100,000 males (ODPHP, 2021). One of the differences in men’s and women’s health is that women are more diligent in getting regular medical care and getting preventive tests done (medline plus, 2021). Men are more likely to use alcohol and tobacco (CDC, 2020).

This bill has fourteen co-sponsors and is a much-needed health issue to be addressed. Both parties in Congress should support this and all other health policies. There is enough evidence to support the need for this policy. Hopefully, the bill will continue to advance. For now, the bill is still in the introduction stage.

References

CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020).

https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/mens-health.htm

(NIH) National Library of Medicine. (2021). Medline Plus. Men’s Health.

https://medlineplus.gov/menshealth.html

(ODPHP) Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2022). Healthy People 2030.

https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/topics/doctor-visits/regular-checkups/men-take-charge-your-health

References

Andy , K. (2021, April 5). H.R.2364 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act. Legislation. Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2364/text?r=5&s=2

Ayoo, K., Mikhaeil, J. S., Huang, A., & Wasowicz, M. (2020, April 27). The Opioid Crisis in North America: facts and future lessons for Europe. termedia.pl. Retrieved 2021, from https://www.termedia.pl/The-opioid-crisis-in-North-America-facts-and-future-lessons-for-Europe,118,40494,1,1.html

Summary of H.R. 2364: Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act – GovTrack.us. (2021). GovTrack.us. Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/hr2364/summary

Hi Melanie,

I do agree with you that we definitely need to keep going trying to prevent this issue of opioid abuse. One good step was making the physicians be held accountable and keeping up with all prescriptions on a nationwide database. I have seen way too many friends and loved ones suffer from addiction of opioids in this country.

Andy , K. (2021, April 5). H.R.2364 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act. Legislation. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2364/text?r=5&s=2

Ayoo, K., Mikhaeil, J. S., Huang, A., & Wasowicz, M. (2020, April 27). The Opioid Crisis in North America: facts and future lessons for Europe. termedia.pl. https://www.termedia.pl/The-opioid-crisis-in-North-America-facts-and-future-lessons-for-Europe,118,40494,1,1.html

Week 7 Main Discussion

I chose the S.2173 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)- Promoting Responsible and Effective Virtual Experiences through Novel Technology to Deliver Improved Access and Better Engagement with Tested and Evidence-based Strategies Act or the PREVENT DIABETES Act. This bill was introduced in Senate (06/22/2021).

This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to allow online or virtual diabetes prevention programs that meet standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to participate in the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Expanded Model. The model provides CDC-approved training on dietary changes, physical activity, and other behavioral strategies for beneficiaries who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. With the world moving more toward online or virtual methods of communication, especially since COVID-19 pandemic, this is a much-needed program.

Mr. Scott of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Warner, Mr. Cotton, Ms. Sinema, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Cramer, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, and Ms. Smith) introduced the following bill: which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

With the world moving more and more towards technology advances, online and virtual meetings are becoming more prominent especially since the pandemic of COVID-19. More virtual or “tele” health have came into play in the last few years. This not only allows patients to either stay at home and speak over the phone or through their computer to a physician but also allows physicians to see and treat patients hundreds of miles aways from each other. I think we will see this becoming more and more popular soon.

References

(n.d.). Congress.gov. Retrieved 2022, from https:/www.congress.gov

Milstead, J., & Short, N. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington,MA: Jones & Barlett Learning.

Telehealth Model. (n.d.). Rural Health Information Hub. Retrieved 2022, from https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org