Barriers to Effective Mental Health Inventions and Treatment

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Barriers to Effective Mental Health Inventions and Treatment

The mental disorder sheer magnitude and the enormous economic and social burden it causes communities and families sanctions urgent national and global mental health initiatives (Berry, 2001). There exists a cost-effective intervention for care and treatment of almost all individuals with mental disorders. Miguel and Killapsy (2009) explain that the major challenges that affect policy makers are ways of increasing accessibility to quality mental health care secured in communities where mental health individuals exist. Globally, there are substantial mental health intervention benefits that will decrease the burden of the condition. According to WHO (2001), this disorder accounts for 160 million years of healthy life lost with at least 30% of it being possible to avert with available interventions. 

Providing a long-term health care for mentally ill persons is still one among the biggest challenges aimed at the systems of mental health reforms in the past decades. Stigma and discrimination of the mentally ill are among the major barriers discouraging individuals from seeking treatment. Studies show that two-thirds of people diagnosed with this disorder do not receive treatment (WHO, 2001). Stigma refers to prejudicial and stereotype attitudes alleged by the public that induce the mentally ill with fear, distance, and rejection. This negativity deters them from seeking treatment and encourages them to engage in harmful activities. It also causes the society to discriminate against them in employment and housing. Community illiteracy in mental health, especially, implies the lack of adequate knowledge in recognizing mental disorders or mental health beliefs that are differential with physiologies.

Another barrier is the cost of care which economic analysis of mental health services has illustrated that the use is sensitive to price, and increasing prices causes a reduction in usage, and increasing the cost of insurance coverage causes an increase in the usage of the services. Another barrier as explained by Miguel and Killapsy (2009) is mental health services organizations that are fragmented and have become a “de facto” service system. Mentally ill persons have been reported to have long waiting times and frustrations as they sail across a disorganized service maze. Slower accessibility to mental healthcare services has led to individuals in rural areas displaying more suicidal attempts than those in urban areas. 

Another psychological help seeking barrier involves cultural value orientation that governs communication and emotional management norms that are highly important during the treatment of mental health. Value orientations differences form a barrier in accepting mental health services as an appropriate source of assistance for communities as stated by Miguel & Killapsy, (2009). Communities that hold more individualistic values have been found to possess negativity towards seeking professional psychological help (Berry, 2001). Communities that stress on collectivism contain perceived personal problem disclosure as a way of bringing shame to community and society.

Physical barriers are factors that affect psychological seeking behavior but are not related to social class or culture. These may include an individual’s lack of awareness to available sources and their failure of accessing services due to geographical and economic realities (Goldsmith, Pellmar, Kleinman, & Bunney, 2002). Clinicians in specialty care, primary care, and emergency care may pose as cases of multiple barriers. Primary health care has increased without improving the quality and intensity of treatment which has remained uneven and shallow. The shortage of mental health workforce especially psychiatrists has increased the number of suicides.  

Overcoming mental health barrier is equitable for all communities. Public education and awareness are made available to all people regardless of economic status, race, ethics, or cultural beliefs. Primary healthcare has been introduced by the World Health Organization to almost every locality globally. However, the authorities have not distributed these services to every area, especially in remote places. Culturally appropriate strategies are being used to increase utilization and access to mental health. Not all mentally ill individuals can afford the cost of treatment, and the gap has not yet been bridged.  

To curb this crisis globally, individual strategies have been adopted and continue to be employed. One strategy as explained by Berry (2001) is the use of evidence-based practice guidelines that are useful in increasing the quality of mental health services. Public awareness and education are being used to increase knowledge to all individuals, like the introduction of mental health units in schools. These will enhance the awareness of this disorder and the importance of seeking medical treatment, and will help in the reduction of stigma. Strategies against financial barriers have been developed where all mentally ill individuals are required to have health insurance and increased health incentives.

Mental health professionals are continually trained on delivering services to children, youths, and adults. This kind of profession has been unpopular unlike other professionals and more continue to be encouraged on this training like psychiatrists. According to WHO (2001), an evidence-based professional guideline for the risk of suicide, screening, assessment, and referral requires establishing and implementing in the primary health care settings. 

In my opinion, there is a need to view good mental health as an important goal in every society. It will ensure that the treatment of the mentally ill across the world leading to reduced suicidal rates. This goal will lessen the number of years that mentally ill individuals lose to illness. The rate of mental health illness is higher among individuals with diabetes, heart conditions, and asthma and treatment will improve the clinical outcomes as it reduces the cost of care. WHO (2007) explains that the global burden of disease study revealed that mental ailments account for more than 15% of the disease burden in developed countries and is higher than the cancer burden. This goal will reduce this burden, especially suicidal rates.

References

Berry, J. (2001). Overcoming Barriers to Community Integration for People with Mental Illness. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

Miguel, J. & Killapsy, H. (2009). Written by Jose Miguel Caldas de Almeida and Helen Killaspy Prepared under service contract with the IMPACT Consortium LONG-TERM MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH SEVERE MENTAL DISORDERS. European Union, 6-25.

Goldsmith, S. K., Pellmar, T. C., Kleinman, A. M., & Bunney, W. E. (Eds.). (2002). Reducing suicide: A national imperative. National Academies Press.

WHO,. (2001). MENTAL HEALTH: A Call for Action by World Health Ministers. World Health Organization. Retrieved from http://Website: www.who.int/mental_health