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Mental health is a growing concern in the United States. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiences mental illness in any given year. That statistic rises to 1 in 2 for adults aged 18-25. The number of people affected by mental illness is only increasing as the years go on.
The federal government has done a lot in recent years to battle mental health. For example, the 21st Century Cures Act was a law passed in 2016 that increased funding for mental health research and treatment. The Cures Act was a step in the right direction, but some say the government has not done enough to battle mental health.
This blog will explore the question of whether or not the federal government has done enough to battle mental health. It will touch on the various initiatives that have been undertaken by the government as well as the criticism that has been leveled at those initiatives.
The federal government has invested considerably in measures to address mental health across various initiatives within the past few years. The primary focus is increasing access to care and supporting individuals and families affected by mental illness. Some of these initiatives include:
Creating more access to mental health services: The federal government has invested in programs to increase access to mental health services and care nationwide, focusing on providing access to underserved populations. This includes initiatives such as the Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2017, which seeks to improve access to mental health services by providing Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement for mental health services.
Strengthening mental health systems: The federal government has funded programs to expand existing mental health services and create new ones, such as the Mental Health Block Grant and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Network for Excellence in Behavioral Health Services. These programs focus on increasing access to treatment, improving mental health outcomes, providing training and technical assistance, and coordinating state mental health services.
Supporting research and development: The federal government has invested in initiatives to support research and development in mental health. This includes expanding the National Institute of Mental Health to focus on researching the causes and treatments of mental illnesses and disorders and the Mental Health Research Network to build collaborations between stakeholders in the mental health field.
State and local governments also play an essential role in the battle to address mental health issues. In addition to federal initiatives, state and local governments have taken steps to improve services and access to treatment for individuals, families, and communities affected by mental health issues. This includes initiatives such as:
Enhancing access to mental health services: States have increased access to mental health services. This includes expanding telehealth infrastructure, improving insurance coverage for mental health services, expanding access to mental health providers and programs, creating school-based mental health programs, and increasing the availability of crisis services.
Strengthening mental health systems: States have also taken steps to strengthen the mental health system within their state. This includes initiatives to improve coordination and collaboration between state agencies and organizations, improve access to treatment, and create more resources and supports for individuals and families affected by mental ill health.
Addressing social determinants of mental health: States have also tried to address the social determinants of mental health, particularly in disadvantaged communities. This includes initiatives such as economic development, education, housing, access to health care, and support for community-based organizations and initiatives.
By integrating federal, state, and local efforts, we can ensure that all individuals and communities in need have access to the services, support, and resources necessary to promote better mental health.
In addition to the federal and state governments, several other organizations and initiatives actively engage in the battle against mental health.
Nonprofit organizations – Numerous organizations, such as National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mental Health America (MHA), are working to address mental health issues in their communities. These organizations provide outreach, advocacy, education, and support to individuals, families, and communities affected by mental health issues.
Mental health research – Many research organizations and initiatives are dedicated to understanding, treating, and preventing mental health problems. These include the National Institute of Mental Health, the Research Mental Health Institute, the Mental Health Research Network, and the American Psychological Association.
Private industry – Private companies have also addressed community mental health issues. For example, many companies offer programs and initiatives such as mental health education and awareness, stress management training, and access to mental health services.
These organizations and initiatives are crucial in highlighting the importance of mental health and providing resources and support for those affected.
The federal government has taken several steps to address mental health. But there is still more work to be done. Here are a few additional steps that could help to combat mental health better:
Collaboration – Government agencies, nonprofit organizations, private industry, research organizations, and academia must work together to address the complexity of mental health issues. The collaboration should start at the local level, with innovators in the community working together to develop and implement solutions.
Improved funding – Mental health research and services need increasing financial support. This could include additional government funding, philanthropic investments, or corporate donations.
Mental health awareness must be highlighted in the media and public discourse. This could be done by having more frequent conversations about mental health, organizing mental health awareness campaigns, and developing educational initiatives.
Mental health advocacy – Advocates for mental health need to be supported and empowered to advocate for those with mental health issues. This could include education initiatives, providing support and resources, or launching public awareness campaigns.
We have seen that the Federal Government has made necessary steps to address mental health issues, but there is still work to be done. Addressing the complexity of mental health issues will require collaboration, improved funding, increased mental health awareness, and more significant support for mental health advocates.
Ultimately, the goal should be to create an environment where mental health can be discussed openly and unreservedly, where people can access resources and support, and where everyone feels accepted and respected regardless of their mental health status. Creating such an environment requires a long-term effort and commitment from the Federal Government and the wider public.
The article first appeared on politcs2023.co
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Some might argue, and successfully, that the government has done too much, concerning mental health, along with a lot of politically charged mental health professionals. Read Psychology Today, if it still exists. It’s probably a federal agency, by now.
When culture meets politics and walks down the same path, certain terrible things happen to the definitions of mental health. By the time they get through with de-defining autism the whole population will be affected.
Others might also argue that the declining belief in God, through the pernicious cultural problems, associated with “do what you like”, the sexual revolution and too many problems of lacking moral restraint are much of the cause of what we call mental health problems. In more simple words, sin is more of a problem than most like to admit.
I’ll just stick with simpler ways to describe mental health, and say that evil has been made to be too comfortable for society to resist.
Mental health has become an industry, where pills cure everything, so they say. Truly insane people should have been kept in asylums, and the DSM should have been left with fewer words to describe diseases, especially mental disease.