NR 601 Week 6 Discussion Mental Health Care Paper

NR 601 Week 6 Discussion Mental Health Care Sample

The provision of mental health care is of utmost relevance in primary care settings, as it is crucial to promptly identify persons requiring psychiatric assistance. This essay explores the practical application of knowledge gained in courses during clinical practicum settings. It focuses on the methods used for mental health screening and the quality of care observed. Additionally, it examines discrepancies in the delivery of care to various demographic groups. Moreover, it seeks to offer practical adjustments to increase the frequency of mental health screenings and provide more equitable care by analyzing lost screening opportunities in disadvantaged populations.

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Clinical Practicum Setting and Population

I work in a primary care clinic in Virginia that serves a varied clientele, including adults, older adults, and adolescents, as part of my clinical practicum. The patient population is diverse, encompassing both low-income and private insurance holders, which contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the demands of mental health care across age ranges and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Mental Health Screening Tools

At the clinical site where I work, we predominantly utilize standardized screening techniques to evaluate the mental well-being of our patients. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is frequently utilized for diagnosing and determining the severity of depression (Ford et al., 2020), whilst the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) is utilized for evaluating anxiety (Johnson et al., 2019). In addition, the Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD) is used to screen for post-traumatic stress disorder (Bovin et al., 2021), while the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) is employed to identify problematic alcohol intake (Verhoog et al., 2019). These tools facilitate healthcare providers in identifying patients who may require additional assessment or referral to mental health experts.

Quality of Mental Health Care and Disparities

The observed quality of mental health care at my clinical site exhibits variability. Although certain healthcare providers are conscientious in employing screening methods and addressing mental health issues with their patients, there are occasions where limited time and a high volume of patients result in overlooked chances for comprehensive mental health evaluations. Furthermore, I have observed discrepancies in the quality of care given to various segments of the community. Underprivileged demographics, including persons with restricted healthcare accessibility and low socioeconomic status, frequently undergo less extensive mental health assessments. The difference can be ascribed to multiple variables, such as partiality from healthcare providers and insufficient resources for vulnerable communities.

Recommendations to Increase Mental Health Screenings

To resolve the problem of missed mental health screening opportunities among susceptible populations, I propose the integration of behavioral health services within primary care settings. This would entail the utilization of certified behavioral health practitioners, such as social workers or psychologists, who can work in conjunction with primary care physicians, to administer mental health assessments and offer prompt assistance or recommendations. By having mental health professionals within the facility, the chances of overlooking screening opportunities would be diminished, and marginalized groups would be able to access more thorough healthcare.

Enhancing the frequency of mental health assessments in susceptible populations can also be accomplished through community outreach and education programs (Castillo et al., 2019). The primary objective of these programs should be to diminish the social disapproval associated with mental health problems and to advocate for the significance of routine mental health evaluations. In addition, the provision of complimentary or affordable mental health screening clinics in locations lacking sufficient resources would guarantee that those with restricted healthcare availability can readily obtain these services.

Conclusion

Based on the above discussion, evaluating mental health is a vital component in identifying patients who require psychiatric treatment, typically beginning in primary healthcare settings. To improve the standard of mental health care and tackle inequalities among various population groups, I propose integrating behavioral health services into primary care and implementing community outreach and education programs to boost the frequency of mental health screenings among vulnerable populations. These modifications can enhance the inclusivity and fairness of the mental health treatment system, thereby helping patients across all age groups and socio-economic statuses.

References

Bovin, M. J., Kimerling, R., Weathers, F. W., Prins, A., Marx, B. P., Post, E. P., & Schnurr, P. P. (2021). Diagnostic Accuracy and Acceptability of the Primary Care Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Screen for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) Among US Veterans. JAMA Network Open, 4(2), e2036733. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.36733

Castillo, E. G., Ijadi-Maghsoodi, R., Shadravan, S., Moore, E., Mensah, M. O., Docherty, M., Aguilera Nunez, M. G., Barcelo, N., Goodsmith, N., Halpin, L. E., Morton, I., Mango, J., Montero, A. E., Rahmanian Koushkaki, S., Bromley, E., Chung, B., Jones, F., Gabrielian, S., Gelberg, L., & Greenberg, J. M. (2019). Community interventions to promote mental health and social equity. Current Psychiatry Reports, 21(5), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1017-0

Ford, J., Thomas, F., Byng, R., & McCabe, R. (2020). Use of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) in Practice: Interactions between Patients and Physicians. Qualitative Health Research, 30(13), 2146–2159. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732320924625

Johnson, S. U., Ulvenes, P. G., Øktedalen, T., & Hoffart, A. (2019). Psychometric Properties of the General Anxiety Disorder 7-Item (GAD-7) Scale in a Heterogeneous Psychiatric Sample. Frontiers in Psychology, 10(1713). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01713

Verhoog, S., Dopmeijer, Jolien M., de Jonge, Jannet M., van der Heijde, Claudia M., Vonk, P., Bovens, Rob H. L. M., de Boer, Michiel R., Hoekstra, T., Kunst, Anton E., Wiers, Reinout W., & Kuipers, Mirte A. G. (2019). The Use of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test – Consumption as an Indicator of Hazardous Alcohol Use among University Students. European Addiction Research, 26(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1159/000503342

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Virginia

Mental health care is often initiated in the primary care setting. Screenings are a critical part of identifying clients who may require psychiatric care. Carefully read the questions below and address each in your initial post.

Application  of  Course  Knowledge
1. Identify your clinical practicum setting (primary care office, urgent care, etc.) and a population that you typically see (i.e., adolescents, women, older adults).
2. Discuss mental health screening tools used at your clinical site. If no screening tools are currently used, which ones would you recommend?
3. Describe the quality of the mental health care you have observed. Discuss disparities or biases, if any, in the care provided to different members of the population.
4. Screening opportunities are often missed in vulnerable populations and those with limited access to care. Describe at least TWO changes you recommend in your practice setting and community to increase the frequency of mental health screenings within vulnerable populations.
Cite 3 scholarly sources of <5yrs in the initial post.