4150 paper dr. royal

Introduction

The National Health act of 1946 was a monumental bill that was passed that changed the mental health landscape in this country. The National Mental Health Act of 1946 provides federal funding for psychiatric education and research. Mental illness is considered a common but undertreated health condition in the United States. According to the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, in 2014, approximately in 1 in 5 adults aged 18 or older in the U.S., around 43.6 million adults (18.1% of all adults in this country), had mental illness in the past year and roughly 9.8 million adults in the U.S. (4.1% of all adults in this country) had severe mental illness in the former year. Despite the magnitude of the frequency of this illness and the many evidence-based opportunities for applicable treatment and care, a significant proportion of individuals with mental illness do not receive the mental health services that they need.

Although there have been recent developments in mental health services and policy, there are still many problems with the U.S.’s mental health system. A persistent and major issue has been the lack of funding, which has resulted in a lack of access to services. For its time the National health act was ground-breaking as it ministered many and brought much awareness and improvement towards the field of mental health. However, now days we have a crippling mental health issue where there is a plethora of citizens suffering and not being treated along with affecting countless veterans, homeless, and convicts with no manner to receive help. Promoting local, state, and national collaborative efforts can aid in awareness of this issue and in the implementation of innovative solutions. By increasing mental health funding, the access and expansion of pertinent services and resources will lead to significant relief for those in need.

References: Behavioral Health Trends In The United States: Results From The 2014 National Survey On Drug Use And Health". Samhsa.gov. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 Apr. 2017.