Mental Health In America Essay

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Improving Mental Health Care in America Akua Amponsah-Adjei James Madison University Abstract Mental health is a state of effective performance of mental function. Mental illnesses are among the most common causes of disability in the United States. Mental illness provides a difficult set of challenges to society, the health care system and social institutions. Access to quality mental health care services is important for promoting and maintaining health, safety and achieving health equity for all Americans. According to Lieberman, Goldman, Olfson, Pincus and Sederer (2017), “Never before has it been so timely and important to improve health care for people with mental substance use disorders in the United States. The urgency …show more content…

There are several barriers to seeking treatment for mental illness such as cost, social stigma and the mental illness itself. Financial barriers are one impediment to receiving needed care. People often cite concerns about the cost of care or lack of health insurance coverage as reasons for not receiving mental health care. In the National Co-morbidity Study, for example, 47% of respondents with a mood, anxiety, or substance-use disorder who said they thought they needed mental health care cited cost or not having health insurance as a reason they did not receive that care. The percentage of people who forgo mental health care because of its cost may also be increasing (Rowan, McAlpine & Belwett, …show more content…

Nevertheless, there remains much opportunity for the future of the mental health care system. The advances in neuroscience and clinical sciences point an even more opportunity to intervene in the treatment of mental illness. Community support programs are especially important for people with mental illness. The support may include information, accommodation; help with finding employment, training, education, psychosocial rehabilitation and support groups. Understanding and acceptance by the community is also

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