Apple Ann Magistrado posted May 15, 2024 4:08 PM
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Healthy People 2030 outlines a comprehensive set of national health promotion and disease prevention objectives for the United States, aimed at significantly improving the health and well-being of all Americans (Healthy People 2030 | Health.gov, 2024). One significant focus is the disparity in access to mental health care, particularly among minority and low-income populations. Mental health disparities represent differences in access to and quality of mental health care experienced by certain groups compared to the general population. Contributing factors include socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, language barriers, cultural stigma, and lack of insurance coverage (Mongelli et al., 2020).
At the national level, Healthy People 2030 includes objectives aimed at reducing mental health disparities by improving access to mental health care services and increasing awareness and acceptance of mental health issues. This includes objectives such as increasing the percentage of individuals with mental health disorders who receive treatment and boosting the number of mental health providers in underserved areas (Mental Health and Mental Disorders – Healthy People 2030 | Health.gov, 2024). Locally, various initiatives and programs are implemented to address mental health disparities. Community health centers often offer integrated mental health services alongside primary care, making care more accessible to underserved populations (Lowther-Payne et al., 2023). Additionally, outreach programs and community education efforts work to reduce stigma and increase awareness of mental health issues, encouraging individuals to seek help when needed (Lowther-Payne et al., 2023).
Non-profit organizations and advocacy groups also play a significant role in addressing mental health disparities. They often focus on providing support services, advocating for policy changes to improve access to care, and conducting research to better understand and address the underlying causes of disparities (Mongelli et al., 2020). Overall, addressing mental health disparities requires a multi-faceted approach involving collaboration between government agencies, healthcare providers, community organizations, and individuals (Mongelli et al., 2020). By working together at both the local and national levels, significant progress can be made toward achieving the objectives outlined in Healthy People 2030 and ensuring that all Americans have access to the mental health care they need.
References
Healthy People 2030 | Health.gov. (2024, April 29). https://health.gov/healthypeople
Lowther-Payne, H. J., Ushakova, A., Beckwith, A., Liberty, C., Edge, R., & Lobban, F. (2023). Understanding inequalities in access to adult mental health services in the UK: a systematic mapping review. BMC Health Services Research, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10030-8
Mental Health and Mental Disorders – Healthy People 2030 | Health.gov. (2024). https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/mental-health-and-mental-disorders
Mongelli, F., Georgakopoulos, P., & Pato, M. T. (2020). Challenges and opportunities to meet the mental health needs of underserved and disenfranchised populations in the United States. Focus/Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing. Online), 18(1), 16–24. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20190028
