Final Paper: From Policy to Delivery

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH POLICY 1

MENTAL HEALTH POLICY 5

Mental Health Policy

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Summary on Mental Health Policy

Mental Health America (MHA) adopts a unique approach to policy such that its main objective focuses on what a person needs to live the life they want, and the policy seeks ways to support these people achieve them(Policy Issues, n.d.). Hence, the recovery process of the policy is found under the principle that a person can achieve a meaningful role even with a mental health challenge. The only condition is that they receive the support they need. Consequently, the objective of MHA is to achieve recovery for every person. The policy takes the stand that there is nothing more important than helping all people, including those individuals care about, have an opportunity to live the life they want with a significant role in society.

Historically, the United States system on treating people with mental health issues has performed poorly at defending them. The system's failure to protect individuals with mental health problems is based on the story of Mental Health Bell, which had asylums that restricted a person with mental illness with shackles and iron chains around the wrists and ankles (The Mental Health Bell, n.d.). It serves as a reminder that a person should not be mistreated, shacked, or otherwise forgotten. Consequently, MHA has endeavored to mend the system since 1909 for persons struggling with mental health issues. The struggle is mostly centered around moving the system towards a mode that treats a person with dignity and prioritizes timely prevention and intervention of mental health issues, reducing incarceration, discrimination, and homelessness, and ensures access to treatment.

Define the issue(s) clearly and specifically.

Mental Health America (MHA), a community-based nonprofit and handles the needs of persons with mental illness and encourages overall mental health, was founded in 1909. The main agenda is the commitment to promoting mental health that is an essential part of complete wellness. The policy includes prevention services for all, integrating the services, support, and care to persons needing it. Recovery is considered the main goal.

In response to George Floyd's murder and other people of color, MHA was reviewed on how its policy effectively promotes equity. Therefore, after various input from racial equity and mental health stakeholders, MHA developed an Initial larger framework and Initial rubric that provides more detailed instruction and guidance and promotes equity. Such developments enable the evaluation of public policy initiatives influencing behavioral health through an equity lens. Hence, MHA collaborates with various stakeholders such as advocates, scientists, community leaders, and policy experts in designing policy recommendations such as promoting recovery as the main objective, early intervention and identification efforts for individuals at risk, integrating treatment and care for persons with need and lastly promoting prevention for all persons.

One of the main priorities of MHA is making mental health care to be straightforward and affordable. Consequently, MHA works both at the national and state level to impose balance; This is evident from the efforts to support expansions of Medicaid and other proposals to fight the restriction on access to treatment and coverage. The policy fights for the employing digital equipment to achieve effective and accessible care and for the crucial care within mental health services and mental health care in primary care to be integrated. Another priority of the MHA policy is increasing the peer services Medicare and insurance coverage, especially in an integrated care setting. The policy seeks to address the barriers and secures the resources for training to achieve a higher level of employment, diversity in the peer workforce, and reimbursement.

Describe what you already know about the Mental Health Policy

The policy acknowledges the psychological impact that a workplace can have on an employee, considering that many of them spend a considerable part of their lifetime at work. Therefore, this increases the chance of a workplace environment influencing the psychological well-being of an employee. Therefore, I am aware that the policy works with the first responders and law enforcement to promote mental health among the working population. Consequently, countless proposals aligning with increasing access to mental health care, incentivizing workplace wellness activities, and improving culture have been developed.

Explain why and to whom the Mental Health Policy is important.

The Mental Health America (MHA) is important to the young adults, children, and youth; the main reason is that the policy aims at preventing and treating mental health condition before it reaches the severe points in the disease process (Early Identification and Intervention for Those at Risk, n.d.). Therefore, the prioritizes on how states can implement kindergarten to grade 12 school-based education, in-school mental health services, and the youth peer support for early interventions and preventions of mental health problems. The policy emphasizes availing mental health care to elementary and higher education. Hence, the policy to address negative childhood experiences and trauma and their impact on mental health support upstream efforts.

References

Early Identification and Intervention for those at Risk. (n.d.). Retrieved May 15, 2021, from https://www.mhanational.org/issues/early-identification-and-intervention-those-risk

Policy Issues. (n.d.). Retrieved May 15, 2021, from https://www.mhanational.org/policy-issues

The Mental Health Bell. (n.d.). Retrieved May 16, 2021, from https://mhanational.org/mental-health-bell