Mental Illnesses And Substance Abuse Discussion Paper

Discussion response #1

Hope Solomon 

RE: Discussion – Week 7

COLLAPSE

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With the increased incidence of mental illnesses and substance abuse in the United States, a health policy was addressed in Congress to help reduce this problem. The health policy, S.Res.518, was presented by Senator Warnock Raphael, on 17th February 2022, to the Education, health, labor, and pensions Committee (Congress.gov). The health policy aims to address the increased incidence of persons with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Based on this policy, the United States should be obligated to make historic financial investments into the care of mental health and substance abuse disorders and also prioritize this kind of care in a similar way it prioritizes physical health and other areas of health. This health policy is essential because of the rate at which citizens suffer from mental health illnesses.  Mental Illnesses And Substance Abuse Discussion Paper

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According to statistics, nearly 52.0 million adults in the United States live with mental illnesses, as discovered in 2020 (National Institute of Mental illness, n d). Such statistics are worrying about America; therefore, the government needs to invest in and prioritize mental health issues just like other issues in the healthcare scope. Mental health has become a concern as more and more people cave under the pressures of various environments, whether at home, school, or work. By making significant financial investments, the government will have heavily supported the mental health departments, giving them enough power and capacity to care for people experiencing various issues. Mental health issues have adversely affected many individuals, especially the youth, with suicide rates due to mental health problems arising. Apart from that, there is also a high prevalence of substance use disorders in the United States. For example, in 2017, approximately 38% of adults battled an illicit drug use disorder (American Addiction Centers, 2022). Therefore, with such statistics, this policy might be effective by allowing mental health centers and hospitals to have the necessary resources to solve the issue

References

American Addiction Centers, (2022). Alcohol and Drug Abuse Statistics (Facts About Addiction). Retrieved From: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/rehab-guide/addiction-statistics#:~:text=About%2038%25%20of%20adults%20in,an%20illicit%20drug%20use%20disorder.&text=That%20same%20year%2C%201%20out,and%20drug%20use%20disorders%20simultaneously.&text=In%202017%2C%208.5%20million%20American,%2C%20or%20co%2Doccurring%20disorders.

Congress.gov. (n.d). S.Res.518 — 117th Congress (2021-2022). Retrieved From: https://www.congress.gov/

National Institute of Mental Health. (2022). Mental illness https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness  Mental Illnesses And Substance Abuse Discussion Paper

Discussion response #2

Molly Lutgen 

RE: Discussion – Week 7

COLLAPSE

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Module 4- Evidence Base in Design

Health care issues and the proposed policies that aim to improve healthcare issues are complex and multifaceted. Various factors affect healthcare issues and policies, such as the economy, religion, social movements, education, and availability of resources. In turn, solutions to lower healthcare costs and provide all Americans with accessible, affordable, quality care is quite challenging. Using evidence-based practice data and literature via electronic health records is essential to gathering the information needed to devise a health policy (Milstead & Short, 2019).

The health policy I choose to discuss aligns with current political issues regarding women’s rights. H.R 7894- Affordability is Access Act (117^th Congress 2021-2022) is a prosed bill requiring health plans, group, and individual insurance coverage to provide over-the-counter contraceptives. The bill would ensure timely access to affordable birth control without cost-sharing for daily use. Furthermore, birth control, regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, would not require a prescription and be affordable and easy to obtain (Congress.gov). Mental Illnesses And Substance Abuse Discussion Paper

The birth control benefit enacted under the Affordable Care Act (AAC) was a significant step in increasing access to birth control. It has empowered many women to decide for themselves when to have children. However, still, some barriers make it harder for some people to access and afford birth control, such as lack of insurance, gaps in coverage, and difficulty accessing healthcare providers (Congress.gov). While many birth control options are generally covered by insurance or affordable without coverage with a prescription, not all forms of birth control are included. For many uninsured women, visiting a clinic, even a community clinic such as Planned Parenthood is not an affordable option. Passing the H.R 7894 bill may help more women access free birth control without a clinic visit and the need for a prescription (Fletcher, 2022).

There is a significant evidence base to support this policy. Unintended pregnancies have a considerable impact on public health. Women with unintended pregnancies have a higher risk of morbidity and mortality and experience substantial financial difficulties. Although any woman is at risk for unintended pregnancy, rates are often higher among those with a lower income, minorities, adolescents, and people living in poverty (Troutman et al.,2020). Decreasing barriers to affordable birth control options without a prescription could benefit many women and young girls with limited resources. Supporters of the bill argue that legislation could help support women’s reproductive rights at a time when those rights are at risk (GovTrack, 2022). Mental Illnesses And Substance Abuse Discussion Paper

References

Congress.Gov. (n.d.). H.R. 7894-affordability is access act. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7894

Fletcher, J. (2022). Where to get free or low-cost birth control: What to know. https://medicalnewstodat.com/articles/free-birth-control#factors-in-access

GovTrack. (2022, June 23). H.R. 7894: Affordability is access act. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/hr7894/summary

Jeri A. Milstead, Nancy M. Short & Jeri A. Milstead, Nancy M. Short. (2019). Health policy and politics (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Troutman, M., Rafique, S., & Plowden, T. (2020). Are higher unintended pregnancy rates among minorities a result of disparate access to contraception? Contraception and Reproductive Medicine, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40834-020-00118-5

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According to Rosenberg et al. (2019), mental-related health issues have become a significant concern in the US. This trend has prompted diverse players to actively participate in devising a lasting solution to strategies to deliver quality care to mentally identified patients and those with substance abuse-related issues. In agreement with your point, it is critical for government agencies and other stakeholders in the health industry to devise a mechanism to improve mental health care and prioritize such services just as primary care has been addressed. One approach to reverse this trend and improve substance abuse and mental health services is through adopting policies such as ‘The health policy, S.Res.518’ presented by Senator Warnock Raphael on February 17, 2022 (S.Res.518 – 117th Congress, 2021–2022).

Adopting the policy would be an integral basis for providing prevention services to Americans. Early identification and intervention actions for the population at risk would be critical in providing successful mental health care, integrated services and treatment for people identified with mental relate issues (Rosenberg et al., 2019). As you have mentioned, an estimated 52 million people living with mental illnesses is a worrying statistic. In turn, the government and other stakeholders should intensively invest in strategies, mental health experts, and programs to cater to mental health needs in the country. With the problem (mental illness) affecting more youth and the working group, there is a dire need to find a remedy to the worrying trend of increasing substance abuse, and suicidal rates, among other adversaries. Mental Illnesses And Substance Abuse Discussion Paper