Executive Summary The policy analysis is based on the increasing numbers of cases on mental health issues in college and university campuses. The topic is supported by evidential data collected from various studies and peer-reviewed articles that show the statistical prevalence of the most common forms of mental health issues seen among the students, which shows that the prevalence rate is ever-increasing. The methodologies recommended for implementation include increased availability of resources and facilitating the accessibility of these resources through overcoming barriers. Some policy options have been suggested for consideration and recommendations have been made accordingly. The fiscal impact has also been considered and suggestions …show more content…
[3, 4] However, regardless the availability and accessibility of resources, many students feel discouraged towards accessing these services due to fear of adverse consequences, which may eventually have a huge negative impact on their future. [1, 5] Aside from the issue of availability and accessibility of services, another challenge is the lack of community awareness that adds to the threat against the mental health status of many students. [6] To add to the concern, most of the states in USA have scored poorly in the mental health report i.e. out of all 51 states, a total of 45 states scored either a C, D or F, but none scored an A. …show more content…
Currently, the coverage for preventive services only cover services in traditional settings i.e. the healthcare or clinical setting. However, services are only provided in these settings when damage has already been done. Therefore, expanding the healthcare coverage for preventive services in non-traditional settings will enhance mental wellbeing through accessibility of programs like the PEI programs. [10] Student Club(s). The establishment student-run groups on campus through the support and alliances of the mental health organizations will help to raise awareness among the students. Examples include clubs such as “NAMI on Campus” and “Active Minds”. Since these are student-run clubs, these are usually low-budget establishments and the liaison with external organizations helps provide community resources for mental health services. This also provides a comfortable setting for students to open up about their problems with friends or groups and thus raise awareness and reduce the stigma. [11, 12] ACHA Programs. The American College Health Association (ACHA) programs, in liaison with various campus communities, provide their professional expertise through advocating for policies, advocating for and educating students, and conducting research. [13,
...will have a very easy time of teaching students. Less time will be used by the teachers to issue punishment threats to the student. Studies have shown that students who attend mental health programs for a period of at least one year will have increased attendance rates in schools and have better grades in their exams. If the mental health care is introduced in schools, then the rates of violent incidents in school will decrease by about 15 percent.
Mental Health Funding Mental health is a subject a lot of people prefer not to talk about, which is a main reason that it is so underfunded. The severe underfunding affects not only the people suffering from mental illness, but also the government, the economy, and society as a whole. It is in the government's best interest to put more funding into mental health due to the health consequences on patients, including weight issues, drastic effects on bodily functions, and difficulties in pregnancy. As well as this
...e people advocating for better mental health care. Parents and teachers are more likely to recognize the development of depression and should be educated on what they can do to help their student and child. Since it is proven that depression can lead to violence, qualified psychologists should be readily available on campus to help students faster than outside of the school. If not that, then schools, like George Mason University, can spread awareness of depression and sponsor programs or info sessions where their students learn of depression and what they can do to help others who may be victims of depression. Baby steps like these, as well as implementing a solution practical in the modern technology-era, can accumulate and develop into a strategically effective means of preventing school shootings caused by depression across the country in each and every school.
According to an article by Josephine Marcotty in Minneapolis’ Star Tribune from April 10, college students lead “hyper-enriched lives,” said Greg Kneser, dean of students at St. Olaf College. That’s what makes this generation of students distinct from its predecessors, he said. That is why more students who cannot cope with these feelings end up at college counseling centers with “increasingly serious mental-health problems.” 15 to 20 percent of college students nationally were diagnosed with depression. The second most common diagnosis was severe anxiety. According to the article, it is not unusual for mental-health issues to become apparent during a student’s college years.
Social policies are regulations, procedures and principles that affect the living conditions in favor of human welfare. They are in place to improve and change problems seen in society. One such problem is the mentally ill population being placed in prisons for criminal activities. Mentally ill can be defined as any medical condition that interrupts a person’s intelligence, disposition, capability to communicate with others, feelings and basic daily activities. The prisons in United States are overly represented with people suffering from mental illness.
When contemplating the vastness of social policies that could benefit from advocacy for policy change and a thoughtful, responsive audience, there is one topic that situates itself to the forefront of the list of policies needing major reform. This topic is that of health care resources available to those coping with mental health concerns. Though this population faces a variety of challenges such as housing/ homelessness, employment/ training opportunities and educational attainment to suggest a few, each challenge cycles into the next, effecting one another, disturbing how an individual can cope medically. Health care rights for those with mental health concerns bubbled to the public consciousness around with the acknowledgement of “serious
Wadhwani, Sudha. Reaching Out to Diverse Students with Mental Health Services. 20 December 2010. Web. 16 November 2013.
Policymaking compromise of three major phases: formulation, implementation, and modification. In the United States policymaking is developed at a Federal, State, and Local government level and in the private sector (Shi, 2013). In this presentation, we will explore the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, also known as Murphy’s Bill. Murphy’s Bill Mental Health illnesses impact different population of society regardless of color, race, or nationality. An estimate of 11 million Americans has schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression (“Short Summary”, 2013).
The four articles within the Diversity section included the diverse nature and issues regarding the African American, Asian and Pacific Islanders, Latino American communities, and those who are victims of environmental disasters. The main ideas included in the African-Americans, Racism, and Mental Health chapter (Carten 2013) were: the need to recognize the unintentional/intentional racist ideologies that many Americans hold (referring to majority White-Americans), the long-term effects of historical racism in regards to slavery and the belief that Black people were of a less developed race. In regards to the Community Mental Health Services to Asian-Americans chapter (Russell F. Lim, Hendry Ton, & Francis G. Lu, 2013), the key concepts included
Can you picture the student voted “most likely to succeed” in your graduating class? This individual must have had everything going for them. They probably had good grades, popular, never in trouble, no health issues and socially and emotionally stable. However, twenty years later, after graduating college, a successful business owner, had a beautiful wife and three kids, he decides emotionally he is done and takes his own life. Mental health issues can manifest at anytime with varying degrees of significance on the emotional stability of a person. Factors such as socioeconomic status, biological and environmental issues all dictate mental health needs. Obviously, a variety of circumstances can evoke these mental health issues. Now imagine coping with these mental health issues and being expected to still be a normal student and conform to your peers around you. This is what we expect of our students dealing with a variety of mental health issues. The policies and procedures are established to meet the needs of all students. The mental health issues are recognized and evaluated based on the best placement for the student to receive an education. The public school system has the responsibility to provide a free and appropriate education. The school does the best they can to provide a whole school approach to deal with the increasing number of mental health concerns. However, the mental health concerns carry on beyond high school.
Implications of mental health include poor academic and social outcomes and aggressive behaviour (Brown, Cashin & Graham, 2012). Therefore, this leads to the question of
Mental health is defined as “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community” (World Health Organization, 2014). Mental health is a critical component to a student’s academic success and many post-secondary students are suffering from mental health issues. Every university across Canada is dealing with major mental health concerns. (McCloskey & Meissner, 2013). Although it may not be clear where students can get help, services are available in each community.
Mental health is defined, according to the Oxford Dictionary, as a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. The idea of mental health is constantly subject to changes based on social values and beliefs of individual responsibility. Perceptions of the topic change more than any other category of clinically recognized issues. Many people believe mental illnesses are not as severe as individuals claim and can be fixed by just a change of mindset, forcing people affected to adapt without guidance or aid. Society cannot fully grasp what mental health and related illnesses are and the degree of their effects on the day to day life of individuals, which is why people affected face many stigmas. The lack of knowledge
As it has been proven, students and depression across campuses are becoming more common daily, and it must be taken as a serious matter. There are many causes that result in depression, such as personal stress and academic stress. This severely influences a student’s life and can bring about extreme negative outcomes like suicide or eating disorders. Luckily, there are cures for this major issue. Counseling centers and mentors in the classroom and in residence halls can impact a student’s overall well-being and attitude towards his or her daily life. Depression, in conclusion, is an extremely dangerous mental illness that, if not cured with the correct treatments, could become detrimental to students across the globe.
Today, the numbers of people with mental health issues are considerably high. The problem increases the national and global social and economic burdens as governments try to find means of empowering the people with the issue and solve the problem. Today, one in five adults in the United States has a mental health problem (“Mental Health Facts,” 2016). “Mental Health Facts” (2016) also states that the adults that received mental health services are about 60%. Only 50% of the youth with mental health issues received mental health services in the previous year. Further, mental health issues are also related to drug use and addiction. Of all the mental illnesses and disorders, depression affects the most people and has the biggest burden globally. Due to the increasing burden and the gap in service utilization, the mental health policy seeks to address several factors. Some of the key issues to address include early diagnosis of mental disorders, provision of appropriate and adequate intervention a particular problem, education and counseling for the family members, and research to help reduce the numbers and reverse the trend. Another key area of focus is the use of mass media to create awareness about mental health issues and help clear the