Week 7 (course 4410) Discussion

Sample Answer

Coombs, N. C., Meriwether, W. E., Caringi, J., & Newcomer, S. R. (2021). Barriers to healthcare access among U.S. Adults with mental health challenges A population-based study. SSM – Population Health, 15. https //doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100847

Mental health diseases are becoming more prevalent among the North American population. The article discusses barriers to healthcare access are the biggest contributors to mental health challenges. Several factors, including lack of finances to afford a consultation and psychotropic medications, often result in unaffordability to mental health facilities and services.

As a result, persons fail to seek psychiatric help and only do soon a need basis. Furthermore, the unaffordability of psychiatric treatment causes medication noncompliance and non-adherence to follow-up visits as the mental health challenges are considered unnecessary.

The high cost of the services has also been associated with increased psychological distress, worsening the initial prognosis. In addition, mental health services are scarce in available facilities, characterized by a shortage in the number of clinical psychiatrists and psychologists, which limits the number of people who can benefit from the services provided.

The shortage of professionals, especially in rural areas, further complicates the access to mental health facilities, resulting in poorer prognosis for the affected persons. The article describes that social stigmatization amongst persons with mental health challenges also contributes to challenges in seeking help.

The stigmatization leads to discrimination, which is often worse among persons belonging to the LGBTQ community and minority races. Additionally, there is a lack of empowerment and education on mental health diseases, which makes it difficult for the persons to identify the problem and seek help early.

Lastly, the lack of adequate social services to offer mental health services at the community level has also contributed to the rise in the burden of diseases

References

• Coombs, N. C., Meriwether, W. E., Caringi, J., & Newcomer, S. R. (2021). Barriers to healthcare access among U.S. Adults with mental health challenges A population-based study. SSM – Population Health, 15. https //doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100847