Mental Health Treatment Disparities
1. Select an issue or trend that impacts psychiatric mental health practice. Examples include ethical issues, mental health treatment disparities, substance abuse, recovery, or wellness issues.
2. Select one of the phenomena of concern for psychiatric mental health nurses as described by the American Nurses Association et al. (2022) text on pp. 4-5.
Source: American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, & International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses. (2022). Psychiatric–mental health nursing: Scope and standards of practice (3rd ed.). American Nurses Association.
Include the following sections:
1. Application of Course Knowledge: Answer all questions/criteria with explanations and detail.
1. Describe the issue or trend.
2. Provide an example from practice.
3. Discuss how the phenomenon you selected relates to or impacts your selected issue/trend.
Mental Health Treatment Disparities
Disparities in mental health treatment significantly impact psychiatric mental health practice, creating challenges in providing equitable care. Socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and geographical location often dictate access to mental health services, resulting in underserved populations receiving inadequate care. For example, individuals with a mental health illness in the United States are likely to experience barriers such as unavailable services, high costs, and social stigma (CDC, 2023). It is particularly difficult for people of color to receive adequate and culturally appropriate treatment. While adults identify cost concerns and scheduling difficulties as primary barriers to mental health care, Hispanic, Black, and Asian adults disproportionately report additional challenges, such as finding a provider who can understand their background and experiences, lack of information, or stigma or embarrassment (KFF, 2024). This inequity can lead to worsened mental health outcomes for marginalized groups, including higher rates of untreated mental illness and lower overall mental health status. Psychiatric practitioners must navigate these disparities by advocating for systemic changes, promoting culturally competent care, and working to reduce stigma within these communities. Addressing these disparities is essential for improving mental health outcomes and ensuring all individuals have access to the care they need.
Mental health treatment disparities affect particular races more than others. It has been revealed that Blacks Hispanic and Asian experience more barriers to accessing mental health treatment compared to the whites. Based on this, phenomena of concern for psychiatric mental health nurses applicable is promotion of social inclusion of mentally and behaviorally fragile individuals. Social inclusion can having a strong sense of connection with others, safe and stable housing, support services and personal motivation and hope (Filia et al., 2019).
References
CDC. (2023). Prioritizing Minority Mental Health. Office of Health Equity. https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/features/minority-mental-health/index.html
Filia K, Jackson H, Cotton S, Killackey E. 2019) Understanding what it means to be socially included for people with a lived experience of mental illness. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. 65(5):413-424. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764019852657
Nirmita Panchal, Latoya Hill, Samantha Artiga, and Liz Hamel (2024). Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mental Health Care: Findings from the KFF Survey of Racism, Discrimination and Health. KFF. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/issue-brief/racial-and-ethnic-disparities-in-mental-health-care-findings-from-the-kff-survey-of-racism-discrimination-and-health/