The United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2020 initiative has broad goals for both disease prevention

The United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2020 initiative has broad goals for both disease prevention

Learning Goal: I’m working on a nursing discussion question and need the explanation and answer to help me learn.

Expectations

  • Length: A minimum of 180 words, not including references
  • Citations: At least one high-level scholarly reference in APA from within the last 5 years

Healthy People 2020 Objectives

The United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2020 initiative has broad goals for both disease prevention and health promotion. These objectives serve as a guide for public health initiatives and actions to enhance the health of the U.S. population. Key objectives of Healthy People 2020 include:

  • Increase physical activity: The goal is to boost the proportion of individuals participating in regular physical activity, thereby improving their health and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
  • Reduce obesity: The objective is to decrease the prevalence of obesity and overweight within the U.S. population, aiming to mitigate associated health risks and promote overall well-being.
  • Prevent tobacco use: The aim is to lower the use of tobacco products and exposure to secondhand smoke, thereby minimizing the burden of tobacco-related diseases and promoting healthier environments.
  • Reduce alcohol abuse: The objective is to decrease the proportion of adults engaging in binge or heavy drinking, aiming to prevent alcohol-related harms and promote responsible alcohol consumption.

These goals provide a framework for addressing major public health concerns and enhancing the health of individuals and communities.

Identifying and Researching the Mental Health Care as Health Disparity

Access to mental health care has been a significant health disparity in the United States, with many individuals facing barriers in receiving timely and appropriate mental health services. This disparity disproportionately affects certain populations, including racial and ethnic minorities, individuals from low-income backgrounds, and rural communities. Limited access to mental health care can exacerbate mental health conditions, lead to poorer health outcomes, and contribute to overall health disparities.

Addressing the Disparity at the National Level

At the national level, several initiatives and policies have been implemented to address the mental health care access disparity. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded insurance coverage for mental health services, requiring insurance plans to cover mental health and substance abuse treatment on par with other medical services (Mongelli et al., 2020). The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 ensures that insurance plans provide equal coverage for mental health and substance abuse disorders. These measures aim to reduce financial barriers and increase access to mental health care for underserved populations.

Furthermore, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a division of the HHS, has prioritized mental health care access and implemented various programs to expand the mental health workforce, enhance community-based services, and improve coordination between primary care and mental health providers. The goal of these initiatives is to broaden people’s opportunities to receive mental health care, regardless of where they live.

Addressing the Disparity at the Local Level

At the local level, communities have implemented initiatives tailored to their specific needs and resources. The stigma attached to seeking mental health care has been the focus of many efforts to raise awareness, education, and training led by local health departments, community organizations, and healthcare providers (Moroz et al., 2020). Community mental health centers, mental health programs in schools, and the incorporation of mental health care into primary care are common examples of such efforts. While the mental health care access disparity remains a significant challenge, efforts at both the national and local levels have been made to address this issue. Access to mental health treatment can be improved by the implementation of policies and programs that increase insurance coverage, develop a more capable mental health workforce, and include mental health services in primary care.

References

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, 18(1), 16–24. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20190028

Moroz, N., Moroz, I., & Slovinec D’Angelo, M. (2020). Mental health services in Canada: Barriers and cost-effective solutions to increase access. Healthcare Management Forum, 33(6), 282–287. https://doi.org/10.1177/0840470420933911

What If Our Healthcare System Kept Us Healthy?

Answer preview for The United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2020 initiative has broad goals for both disease prevention

APA

278 Words