NR 582NP Week 6 Assignment; Health Policy Analysis PowerPoint and Presentation

Introduction • The purpose of this analysis is to review the statistical data regarding the high incidence of mental health in the Waterbury and Greater Waterbury communities and to utilize evidence based interventions to combat this problem. Background • The percentage of individuals experiencing anxiety and depression in the Waterbury and Greater Waterbury areas is greater than that of the entire state of Connecticut. (ctdatahaven.org) Background • Suicide from overdose has increased in the city of Waterbury. From Jan 2012 through June 2017, 350 residents of Greater Waterbury towns have died from drug overdoses with half being Waterbury residents. ( GWHP_Greater_Waterbury_Community_Wellbeing_Profile_2016_Web.pdf (ctdatahaven.o rg) . • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2021, Connecticut was ranked 10th in the country with 401 suicide deaths ( Suicide Rates by State | Suicide Prevention | CDC. Background • Patient care is negatively impacted because there are not enough hospital beds in state to accommodate patients requiring inpatient psychiatric or rehab care. • Emergency room staff are burnt out due to the increased number of behavioral health patients that are filling their departments which impacts the care they are able to provide patients who come in for emergency medical care. • Patients become upset because of the extended wait times in the Emergency Department waiting for a beds and become aggressive with staff, sometimes causing physical harm. Landscape • Local, state, and federal agencies can facilitate major reforms through legislation, funding, and public health initiatives. Agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) are key players in shaping mental health policy. • Organizations that advocate for the rights and wellbeing of people with mental illnesses can drive reform by raising awareness, lobbying for change, and holding stakeholders accountable (Walker & Druss, 2018). • Researchers contribute by evaluating the effectiveness of current treatments and policies and developing new interventions. Their findings are crucial for evidenced-based reforms. Options • Promoting an understanding and awareness of mental health issues through education can help combat the stigma associated with mental health. Well informed people are more likely to empathize and offer support to those individuals suffering with experiencing mental illness. • Making mental health services more accessible and affordable to people with mental illness will help these individuals get the care they that need (Woodbury et al., 2022). • Implementing programs that focus on early detection and intervention can prevent the escalation of mental health problems (Woodbury et al., 2022). • Utilizing preventative and early detection measures such as screening programs in schools and workplaces, as well as community-based initiatives would help reduce the incidence of mental health (Woodbury et al., 2022). . Recommendations • Increase funding and resources to address the increase in mental illness. • Invest in workforce development, recruiting, and retention by offering incentives for higher education, student loan paybacks, and retention and sign on bonuses. • Integrate mental health services into primary care settings for early intervention.