Introduction
Mental health in the United States has been a major issue that curtails access to treatment and delivery of services. Clifford W. Beers established a national movement to develop strategies for dealing with mental illness, particularly after experiencing bipolar disorder, which is sometimes referred to as manic depressive illness. The illness had grave impacts on the patient because it was accompanied by depression that resulted from the death of his brother. He tried to take away his life by jumping out a third-story window but the attempted suicide failed. Beers visited many public and private hospitals in Connecticut, and he asserted that he received inhumane treatment from the medical specialists due to the horrific abuse and dire experiences at the very hands of his providers. It is the maltreatment of patients with mental illness that impelled him to establish a national committee for mental hygiene, which later turned into a National Mental Health Association that is currently referred to as Mental Health America. The sector focused on achieving specific goals, including improving public attitudes towards mental illness and people suffering from the condition (Altiraifi & Rapfogel, 2020). The sector wanted to ameliorate the quality of services delivered to mental health patients and develop strategies to overcome mental health issues and promote health and wellness programs to support patients in need.
Historical development
Beers established the committee in 1908, setting the foundation for mental health reform to lessen the severity of the condition and create better conditions for millions of Americans who endured related diseases. In 1910, mental health America created several guidance clinics across the country to prevent mental health diseases and implement early intervention and treatment strategies. Later in 1917, mental health America established mental hygiene program to help army and navy officials during WWI (Mental Health America, 2021). In 1920, mental health America introduced specific laws addressing the status of patients with mental health illnesses and how to handle them. In 1947, mental health America established the National Institute of mental health that advocated for better conditions for patients and educate them about the complications and preventive strategies to deal with the illnesses. Congress constitutionalized the funding of mental health programs in 1955, and this was later strengthened in 1963 through the Community Mental Health Centers Act that expanded community services and supported deinstitutionalization and the introduction of the program into Medicare. In 1971, the public had gained an in-depth understanding of the mental illness and people with the condition received acceptance from their friends, family members, and the community at large (Mental Health America, 2021). Currently, mental health America advocated for mental health to be included in the Essential Health Benefit within the affordable care act. Fortunately, the institution ensures early screening, identification, intervention, and integrated treatment of mental health illnesses and offering the necessary support and services that improve recovery.
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Political influence
The government has introduced federal legislation and regulation programs to strengthen oversight across states and their respective facilities, such as schools, insurance firms, healthcare organizations, and providers. For instance, the government introduced the ADA, Rehabilitation Act, ACA, and MPHAEA to ensure equality and fairness when dealing with mental health issues (MHA, 2021). The government has greatly influenced the US healthcare system through federal protections, which include policies that cushion people with mental health from discrimination, abuse, ad mistreatment (MHA, 2021). In this regard, the federal privacy standards promote civil liberties and the inclusion of people with mental illness in all spheres of public life. The government protects the rights of people with mental health disorders and sets guidelines for standards of mental health practice. Again, Congress advocates for federal involvement in mental health research, and state governments have adopted the set strategies to improve mental health services, access to care, and the protection of patients through innovative programs that foster research.
Public Health’s role
The issue of mental illness currently contributes to a substantial disease burden. More than 450 million people suffered from mental disorders as of 2005. The public health sector has projected that at least a quarter of the global population will develop mental health and behavioral issues one day in their lives. According to the National Institute of mental Health (2021), 1 in 5 adults have a history of mental illness, and this contributes to 51.5 million Americans aged 18 years and above live with the condition. Approximately 29.4% of young adults aged 18-25 have a mental illness, and another 25.0% of Americans aged between 26 and 49 years have recorded a history of mental problems (National Institute of Mental Health, 2021). Mental illness causes brain injury and disability due to excessive depression. Therefore, the public health sector promotes suicide prevention at the community level to minimize the chances of suicide due to mental health complications. They also promote pediatric and adolescent mental health programs to help this population deal with substantial problems and advocate for improved mental health service provision (Keck School of Medicine of USC, 2020). Above all, the health sector promotes increased funding as a path forward to increase mental health awareness and improve the quality of treatments and strengthen prevention strategies to ensure better patient outcomes.
Future challenges and issues
The key challenge in delivering mental health services to patients is the lack of cooperation between community mental health facilities and psychiatric organizations, especially amidst the pandemic. The lack of cooperation curtails access to advanced life care support when the healthcare system is pressured; hence, limiting access to preventive services (Gautam et al., 2020).
Recommendations
Adopt the use of telepsychiatry to care for mental health patients during the pandemic.
Introduce digital mental health training and supervision.
Improve cybersecurity when offering telepsychiatry and communicating with clients.
Conclusion
Healthcare organizations strive to improve the quality of mental health services delivered to patients, and they develop strategies to overcome mental health issues and promote health and wellness programs to support patients in need. The mental health sector complies with the federal policies and programs focused on health promotion to ensure that mental health patients receive quality care with the utmost dignity they deserve. Above all, funding mental health programs can make a big difference in reducing disease burden and promoting commitment to address the issue globally.
References
Altiraifi, A. & Rapfogel, N. (2020). Mental Health Care Was Severely Inequitable, Then Came the Coronavirus Crisis. Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/disability/reports/2020/09/10/490221/mental-health-care-severely-inequitable-came-coronavirus-crisis/
Gautam, M., Thakrar, A., Akinyemi, E., & Mahr, G. (2020). Current and Future Challenges in the Delivery of Mental Healthcare during COVID-19. SN Comprehensive Clinical Medicine , 2. Springer Nature. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42399-020-00348-3
Keck School of Medicine of USC. (2020). Mental Illness and Public Health. The University of Southern California. https://mphdegree.usc.edu/blog/mental-illness-and-public-health/
Mental Health America (MHA). (2021). Mental Health America. Our History. Mental Health America. https://www.mhanational.org/our-history
MHA. (2021). The Federal and State Role in Mental Health. Mental Health America. https://www.mhanational.org/issues/federal-and-state-role-mental-health
National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Mental Illness. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
