Mental Health in the Community

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Part 1:Objectives

The significance of mental health as a healthcare problem rests in its impact on cognitive processes and the capacity of individuals, families, and communities to effectively manage both environmental and social influences.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and other vital players in the health industry have created goals to improve mental well-being to acknowledge the importance of psychological well-being (Joury et al., 2023). This post centers around two primary objectives closely associated with mental health issues within my locality. The primary objective, MHMD-4.1, aims to decrease the prevalence of major depressive episodes (MDEs) among individuals aged 12 to 17. The second objective, MHMD-6, aims to enhance the accessibility of therapy for children with mental health issues.

These two objectives are the most important to my community because they address the problems that most Black teenagers face. Taylor and Charters (2020) discovered that younger persons experience mood and anxiety disorders at a higher rate than older people in their research on the prevalence of psychiatric illnesses among Black Americans. According to this study, Black teenagers are more likely than any other age to experience a major depressive episode (MDE) at some point in their lives. MDEs are depressed symptoms that persist for at least two weeks. Low emotions, exhaustion, despair, thoughts of committing suicide, sleep issues, sluggish mobility, and a great deal of guilt are some of them. Due to the high prevalence of MDEs among Black teens, I determined that MHMD-4.1 and MHMD-6 were the most crucial objectives for treating problems with mental health in my hometown (Taylor & Chatters, 2020).

As a working nurse, I would take several actions to aid my community in achieving these two goals. I would advocate for early diagnosis and treatment first. Early diagnosis enables people to seek medical care before symptoms worsen and become life-threatening. Second, I would build positive interactions with patients to advance their mental, emotional, and physical wellness. Patients may be persuaded to seek therapy for depressive symptoms via effective communication and confidentiality in the clinical setting. Finally, I would advocate for public health to educate community leaders and healthcare professionals about the value of psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. These actions would play a crucial role in reducing adolescent mental problems.

Part 2: The Connection Between Mental and Physical Health

Physical and mental health are intertwined since each condition’s prevalence might operate as a risk factor for the other. Mental and physical health are closely related and have both direct and indirect effects, according to Nelson et al. (2020). According to the researchers, those with a history of mental disorders are far more likely to lead unhealthy lifestyles and have weaker social connections than the general population to develop chronic physical ailments. The fact that people with psychological illnesses are more likely than healthy patients to forgo therapy and health-promoting behaviors lends credence to this conclusion.

Similarly, those with physical health issues are more susceptible to mental health issues. Due to the direct effects of insufficient physical exercise and poor nutritional choices, underlying physical diseases are significant predictors of mental disorders, according to Nelson et al. (2020). According to the study, physical health issues are frequently linked to the increased burden of illness that decreases patients’ and their families’ socioeconomic level and psychological well-being. Patients with physical health issues are more likely to experience stress and anxiety under these economic and social circumstances, which, if poorly managed, could result in severe psychological problems. As a result, there are strong connections between mental and physical health and interactions between them.

An example of a physical condition that may cause a mental health breakdown is diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition, making people with diabetes susceptible to emotional and mental distress brought on by variations in blood sugar and unfavorable drug interactions. Diabetic individuals are susceptible to diabetes distress (D.D.), a psychological condition accompanied by constant concern and nervousness, according to Joury et al. 2023 in their investigation of the emotional requirements of people with diabetes. People with diabetes often endure emotional loads, regimen-related distresses, and decreased social engagement, which increases their risk of exhibiting depression signs if they are not adequately reinforced. Diabetes is an illustration of this relationship between emotional and physical well-being.

Part 3: Trauma Informed Care(TIC).

The term “trauma-informed care” (TIC) refers to a strategy that acknowledges the ubiquity and adverse effects of trauma while also attempting to address mental and emotional anguishes in a way that is successful given the knowledge that exposure to trauma is likely the root cause of depressive symptoms (Báez et al., 2019). As a result, ideas and procedures that support and encourage behavioral health issues linked to traumatic histories are included in trauma-informed care. Trauma is an emotional and psychological reaction to an upsetting occurrence, such as an adverse childhood experience (ACE), characterized by incidents like sexual assault or deadly accidents(Báez et al., 2019). Trauma-informed care recognizes that people frequently miss the connection between exposure to the previous trauma and the present behavioral and mental symptoms. The five guiding concepts of safety, cooperation, empowerment, trust, and choice are the foundation of trauma-informed care. The main subject of the book is the development of procedures and therapies that stop re-traumatization and support patients’ capacity to become resilient and strong. Therefore, trauma-informed treatment fosters a secure atmosphere for evaluating and treating behavioral and mental health issues presented by patients in collaboration between patients and medical experts.

I would examine and support the child using the concepts of trauma-informed care if I were a nurse tasked with helping a child who has experienced trauma. I would first try to ensure the child’s safety by demonstrating compassion and understanding in my speech and actions. I would improve cooperation between me, the child, and the child’s family by creating a safe environment. Collaboration would increase trust and speed up the evaluation process by enticing the child to express his or her feelings and opinions. I would strengthen the child’s capacity to become strong and resilient via ongoing collaboration and trust by promoting a deep emotional bond and encouraging fun, healthy pursuits. I think I can provide nursing services effectively. Care is required to develop the child’s capacity to deal with the effects of trauma by prioritizing the principles that govern trauma-induced care.

References

Báez, J. C., Renshaw, K. J., Bachman, L. E., Kim, D., Smith, V. D., & Stafford, R. E. (2019). Understanding the necessity of trauma-informed care in community schools: A mixed-methods program evaluation. Children & Schools, 41(2), 101-110. https://doi.org/10.1093/cs/cdz007

Joury, S., Asman, O., & Gold, A. (2023). Caregivers’ perceptions of compulsory treatment of physical illness in involuntarily psychiatric hospitalization. Nursing Ethics, 30(3), 423–436. https://doi.org/10.1177/09697330221140493

Nelson, C. A., Bhutta, Z. A., Burke Harris, N., Danese, A., & Samara, M. (2020). Adversity in childhood is linked to mental and physical health throughout life. BMJ, m3048. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3048

Taylor, R. J., & Chatters, L. M. (2020). Psychiatric disorders among older Black Americans: Within- and between-group differences. Innovation in Aging, 4(3). https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaa007

Mental Health in the Community

Paper details

Mental Health in the Community

Write a 1000 essay addressing each of the following points/questions. Be sure to completely answer all the questions for each bullet point. There should be three main sections, one for each bullet below. Separate each section in your paper with a clear heading that allows your professor to know which bullet you are addressing in that section of your paper. Support your ideas with at least three (3) scholarly sources using citations in your essay. Make sure to cite using the APA writing style for the essay.

Part 1:

1. Go to the Healthy People 2030website
2. Search for the option in \”M\” for Mental Health and Mental Disorders and click into this option
3. After reading the Overview section for Mental Health and Mental Disorders, click into the Objectives for this section.
4. From the Objective section, pick TWO objectives/goals from the list that you feel affect YOUR community (either your county, city, or state)
5. In your paper, note the number of the TWO objectives chosen as well as the names and explain why these TWO were chosen related to YOUR community.
6. As a nurse in your community, what can YOU do to help the community move towards these two objectives/goals? (this is about what YOU personally can do, ok to use first person)

Part 2:

1. Explain how physical health and mental health are correlated. What impact does each have on the other?
2. Give at least one detailed example of how either a specific physical ailment leads to a breakdown in mental health or how a specific mental health disorder can lead to physical issues. Be specific and detailed.

Part 3:

1. Explain Trauma Informed Care in detail.
2. As a nurse, how can YOU use Trauma Informed Care to assist a child who has been impacted by trauma? (this is about what YOU personally can do, ok to use first person)

Structure: Include a title page and reference page in APA format. These do not count towards the minimum word count for this assignment. Your essay must include an introduction and a conclusion.

References: Use appropriate APA style in-text citations and references for all resources utilized to answer the questions. A minimum of three (3) outside scholarly sources to support your claims.