Population-Health Approach: Mental Health and Addictions Sector

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Introduction

"Mental illness" describes a spectrum of mental health problems characterized by mood,

behavior, or thought changes linked to distress and reduced functioning. Addiction disorders include

gambling, solvent abuse, and narcotics. Doctors, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, nurses, and other

mental health professionals treat mental illness and addiction. As this paper analyses mental health

and addiction issues, the Population Health Template and Model will be used to develop a response

strategy. Interventions, outcomes, determinants, and accountable parties are also listed. This paper

aims to reduce health status inequality and improve mental health and addiction.

Issues

The following are the significant issues in the field of mental health and addiction:

 The public lacks access to mental health treatment due to the stigma associated with addiction

and mental illness. Despite increased awareness and more conversation about it, stigma, bias,

and discrimination still apply to those suffering from mental illnesses (Thompson, 2019).

 One of the leading causes of mental illness and drug use disorders is poverty and food

insecurity. It is a small part of the more significant issue of unemployment caused by a lack of

training or necessary skills, or maybe more often, by a lack of work prospects.

 Most individuals who require mental health treatments do not get them, partly due to a

workforce shortage. According to projections, there can be a shortfall of psychiatrists and

psychologists by 2026 to fulfill the population's need for mental health services.

 One of the leading causes of mental health issues is exposure to severe and ongoing stresses,

particularly at critical stages of a child's development.

 For treatment of mental illness and drug misuse, distinct publicly-owned health care systems

are maintained, unlike most other medical diseases. Federal, state, and municipal

governments are split into several systems, enabling private facilities to restrict health care's

behavioral coverage for their gain.

Interventions
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Clinical treatments, guiding concepts, and data supporting the efficacy of prevention,

treatment, recovery, and resiliency-based services for mental illness and drug addiction should serve

as the basis for population-based approaches to mental health (Alegría et al., 2021). The framework

should also include non-clinical activities and treatments to enhance mental health outcomes and the

factors that influence them among people with a familiar location, sociodemographic traits, or source

of obtaining clinical services.

Determinants

Mental health determinants can vary, from general emotional discomfort to satisfying the

criteria for a diagnosis of a condition in the DSM, as well as from symptom intensity of the disease.

The social determinants of psychiatric health are most important. These determinants of health

outweigh the reasons for ill health that are biomedical. The sources of the causes are the determinants,

which include constructed settings with overwhelming surrounding light and sound disturbance at

night-time, higher incidence of community violence, and proximal factors such as having an

inadequate sleep and being around stressful stimuli.

Implementing Population Health Approach

The changes required to address the issues are as follows:

 Medical schools in shortage areas and emphasizing clinical therapy would solve the

psychiatrist shortage long-term. Although it is hard to modify the number of psychiatric

students, it is possible to enhance recruitment by offering financial and lifestyle benefits.

 Fighting the stigma associated with mental illness and drug use requires raising awareness of

mental health issues and emphasizing their relevance to society. This change will also aid in

bringing in more workers for this industry.

 The healthcare industry should provide CBT and other programs to jobless individuals.

According to scientific research, this intervention lessens the signs of drug abuse and

depression. In a different context, economic changes are crucial to eradicate poverty and

unemployment at their source (Friesinger et al., 2019).

 Healthcare systems should educate the caregivers and teach effective parenting techniques

focusing on the social factors of mental health and addiction. In addition, fostering

dependable connections will offset the adverse childhood experiences.

 Policies must change to ban separate institutions for psychiatric illness and addiction issues.

Instead, all health condition treatments should be at the same institutions. This change will

increase accessibility, lessen exploitation, and help fight the stigma associated with this

industry.

 Monitoring and changing three aspects of the built environment—green spaces, environment

light conditions, and surrounding sound help enhance the population's mental health.

Accountability for Outcomes

The public sector plays a significant role in providing care for those with histories of

persistent psychiatric illness, intoxication, and drug addiction. The responsibility of the public sector

to develop several policies is key to getting the most remarkable outcomes in enhancing the quality of

healthcare in this industry. In addition, communities and other healthcare organizations are also

primarily liable. Healthcare organizations are accountable for developing population-based strategies

for mental health and ensuring positive outcomes.

Conclusion

The factors covered in this paper should provide a jumping-off point for discussions among

the many stakeholders and policy-makers interested in the mental health and addiction industries. A

broad change in social awareness will probably be required to implement population-based solutions

to mental health. The paradigm shift is from one where mental health is seen as an individual issue

that should only be addressed by therapists and psychiatrists to one where it is viewed as a public

health crisis that individuals and organizations from all fields must address.
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References

Alegría, M., Frank, R. G., Hansen, H. B., Sharfstein, J. M., Shim, R. S., & Tierney, M. (2021).

Transforming Mental Health And Addiction Services: Commentary describes steps to

improve outcomes for people with mental illness and addiction in the United States. Health

Affairs, 40(2), 226-234. https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01472

Friesinger, J. G., Topor, A., Bøe, T. D., & Larsen, I. B. (2019). Studies regarding supported housing

and the built environment for people with mental health problems: A mixed-methods

literature review. Health & place, 57, 44-53.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353829218306415

Last name, first initials of professor, 2022, 07 HEAL81301 [PowerPoint Slides]

Last name, first initials of professor, 2022, Week 10 Final [PowerPoint Slides]

Thompson, V.D., (2019). Health and health care delivery in Canada. Mosby Canada.

https://reader.texidium.com/dist/#/book/13950