Targeting People With Mental Health Conditions, Coursework Example

Introduction

Mental health funding in the United States is severely limited and must be addressed as part of any large-scale conversation of the healthcare system. Many patients with mental health issues are uninsured or underinsured, thereby creating limited or nonexistent access to the necessary services (The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2013). Furthermore, public funding sources such as Medicaid play a role in mental health funding in a significant manner and lead to a number of challenging complications (The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2011). There is much discussion regarding mental health funding reform, but little action has evolved that might be effective in addressing these issues and how they impact patients in need of services (Rosenberg, Hickie, & Mendoza, 2011). These factors require the development of new ideas and approaches regarding mental health and the current stigma that exists regarding this phenomenon in its current state.

Analysis

Mental health funding must be driven from a new perspective, one that encourages individuals to take risks and to recognize the vulnerability of this population group and how to improve their outcomes (Chan, 2010). Funding in this area is even more severely limited in rural areas; therefore, those living in these communities may not have any type of access to services (Harman et.al, 2010). The United States must focus on mental health as a key priority in its current and future objectives and to reflect upon the specific needs of this population in order to promote advocacy and support, including school-based programs that will aid children and adolescents through difficult mental health challenges (Freeman et.al, 2011).

Conclusion

Healthcare systems throughout the United States must revise their strategies regarding mental health and focus on other areas that may have a positive and lasting impact on outcomes for younger and older generations of people. Therefore, it is important to identify resources and opportunities that may positively impact those with mental health challenges and the development of other opportunities to achieve greater success within these populations. Most importantly, funding and advocacy must be targeted for mental health and any existing stigmas regarding this issue must be alleviated as best as possible.

References

Chan, M. (2010). Mental health and development: targeting people with mental health conditions as a vulnerable group. World Health Organization. Retrieved from http://www. who.int/mental health/policy/mhtargeting/development targeting mh summary. pdf.

Freeman, E. V. (2011). School mental health sustainability: Funding strategies to build sustainable school mental health programs. Washington, DC. Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health.

Harman, J. S., Dong, F., Xu, S., Ewigman, N., & Fortney, J. C. (2010). Assessment of the mental health funding marketplace in rural vs. urban settings. Wiche Center for Rural Mental Health Research.

The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (2011). Mental health financing in the United States: a primer. Retrieved from http://kff.org/medicaid/report/mental-health-financing-in-the-united-states/

The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (2013). The uninsured: a primer-key facts about health              insurance on the eve of coverage expansions. Retrieved from http://kff.org/uninsured/report/the-uninsured-a-primer-key-facts-about-health-insurance-on-the-eve-of-coverage-expansions/

Rosenberg, S., Hickie, I. B., & Mendoza, J. (2011). Viewpoint: National mental health reform: less talk, more action. Sign, (1).