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For the well-being of an individual, mental health plays a huge factor at every stage of our life. It includes social, emotional, and psychological well-being and how we act in different situations.
However, mental health has often been overlooked over physical health. Furthermore, due to stigma and taboos, people affected with mental disorders feel fear of sharing their problems and experiences.
Health is extremely important for the development of an individual. It comprises physical and mental health, and Mental Health America, one of the leading non-profit organizations, aims to aid the mental side of health.
What do we mean by mental health?
As described by WHO, good mental health is defined as a state of physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. It does not merely mean the absence of any disease or infirmity.
Suicide alone was responsible for 42,773 deaths in the United States in 2014, making it the 10th leading cause of death. Mental Issues may arise due to loneliness, depression, stress, or anxiety. It may also occur due to relationship problems, the death of loved ones, suicidal thoughts, or grief. One may experience it while having ADHD, some addiction, various mood disorders, or other mental illnesses of varying degrees.1
If dealing with mental issues, check out Best Mental Health Self Care Guide You Should Read.
Studies:
- Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States. In 2018, CVN and the National Council partnered to produce America’s Mental Health 2018. It was a survey involving 5,000 American adults. It had a secondary analysis of state mental health resources that measured America’s attitudes and access to mental health care.
- A study states that more than 50% of people have been diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime.
- Another study states that 1 in 5 Americans experience a mental illness in a given year.
- 1 in 5 children is either currently or at some point in life suffered a draining mental illness.
- In American history, mentally ill patients were religiously punished. This notion persisted through the 1700s, along with the human confinement and disapproval of such affected individuals.
- Mental disorders affect nearly 20 percent of American adults. Almost 4 percent are severely impaired and classified as having a serious mental illness. These disorders are often associated with chronic physical illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.
What is Mental Health America?
History
In 1908, Clifford Beers founded “Mental Health America – National Committee for Mental Hygiene.”
He opened the first outpatient mental health clinic in the United States. It was founded after the publication of his accounts as a patient in several Lunatic Asylum. It is dedicated to the welfare of individuals with emotional problems and advancing health research.
After the second world war, references to mental hygiene were slowly replaced by the term ‘mental health.’ It was due to the positive impact that comes from the promotions made by healthcare.
It was advocated at the national, state, and local levels for nearly a century. It has sought to protect the rights of individuals with mental illnesses. It seeks access to equitable, accessible, and culturally competent services.
The organization undid the decades of neglect and substandard care. It seeks new funding and reinvestment in both infrastructure and services in the community. There are more than 320 affiliates nationwide now.
It represents a growing movement of Americans. It promotes mental wellness for the health and well-being of the nation every day and in times of crisis.
Mental conditions should be treated long before they reach the most critical position in the disease process. Mental Health America is an affiliate of the nation’s oldest and largest community-based network. It is dedicated to helping all Americans live mentally healthy lives.
Mental Health America was founded in 1909.
It is a leading non-profit-based community in the United States. It is dedicated to addressing the needs of those who are living with mental illness. It promotes the overall mental well-being of all Americans.
The vision of Mental Health America is to understand people’s psychological issues and support them. It helps mentally ill people enrich their potential.
It is a community where effective and culturally relevant mental well-being services are available. They are accessible to people with mental problems.
The community supports and values the preventive and educational programs that are necessary to promote mental health.2
Mental Health America aims to promote mental well-being as a critical part of overall wellness. It includes early identification and intervention for those at risk. Also, it provides integrated services, care, and support for those who need recovery as a goal.
It believes that mental problems are medical problems that need to be effectively treated. And that mental health patients should have the same access to appropriate care as patients of other kinds of illnesses.
The work of mental health America is to support people with three primary areas of focus. These are policy and advocacy, education and outreach, and information and referral services.
It ensures the rights and dignity of individuals with life experiences. Their voices are integrated into all areas of the organization.
Policy and Advocacy
Mental Health America deletes per monitoring and improving systems. It collaborates with a huge number of affiliate audiences and supporters to advance policy recommendations. It promotes the mission of treating people with mental health problems3.
Mental Health America uses its unique position to increase cooperation. It collaborates among various diversified groups to address improving services for people with mental health and illness. But it does not compromise its role in advocacy.
Education and Outreach
The online Mental Health America screening program provides a collection of online, confidential, free, and validated screening tools. It helps a person understand and learn about their psychological well-being.
Mental Health America helps individuals of all age groups. It helps to understand better prevention, early identification, and intervention through various information events and online tools.
These include the early campaigns for mental health month, awareness month, and workplace wellness. We can also add minority mental health, back-to-school life, on campus, and the annual conference.
Information and Referral Services
Mental Health America works to give direct connections in communities through its affiliate networking.
It comprises more than 200 affiliates spread across more than 41 States, 6,500 affiliate staff Innova 10,000 volunteers. Their affiliates are committed to bringing advocacy and support to communities around the country.
The affiliate offices are an excellent resource for information. It includes direct services, community legal and advocacy services, treatment, prescription assistance, and other important community services.
Mental Health America affiliates serve as local leaders in the support and development of consumers and initiatives.
The Federal Role In Mental Health
The federal government works in partnership with the states to address mental health.
The federal government establishes and enforces minimum standards. It states can then expand upon as a major funding source for mental health services.
The federal government’s role in mental health includes regulating systems and providers, and protecting the rights of consumers. It provides funding for services and supports research and innovation.
In terms of mental health, rules issued by federal agencies cover a variety of topics. They are applied to several groups, including schools, treatment providers, employers, and insurance companies.
Mental Health America’s history is deeply rooted in protecting the rights of those with mental disorders.
The federal government establishes protections from the workplace to schools to treatment facilities.
States have the power to increase standards for protecting privacy, fighting abuse, and removing barriers and discrimination. This helps to promote civil liberties and inclusion.
The States’ Role In Mental Health
State psychological health systems are free to expand beyond what exists at the federal level. It improves services, access, and protection for consumers.
But they must meet certain standards set by the federal government.
State laws create changes and provide oversight within the state. In terms of mental well-being, state regulations can address a variety of issues. It includes medical records, treatment facilities, and standards for reflex treatment.
These rules help states to implement their mental health plans and provide guidance under the law.
The States play an important role in funding services. A state’s role in funding mental health services varies greatly across the U.S.
All states receive federal support via Mental Health Block Grants. The partial funding of services is provided through Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program). Each has freedom in designing and funding its mental health system.
It also funds the state hospitals. State funding is typically funnelled to county and local levels where services are offered.
States follow the protections established by the federal government, with many states increasing protections even more.
It ranges from discretion over civil commitment standards to determining duty-to-warn laws. It supports access to the least restrictive services that keep people in the community.
Preventive Measures By Mental Health America
Mental Health America is committed to focusing attention and resources on strategies that act as preventive measures.
It includes passing information about mental illness to giving individual skills that will prevent future problems.
Early identification of difficulties/problems and services to the high-risk groups are also a part of the prevention effort.
Mental Health America believes that the involvement of efforts of the community can help in fulfilling its mission.
It wants to spread the message about mental illness and mental health across a broad area-based group. It reflects community diversities and includes consumers and their families.
Conclusion
Like physical health, psychological well-being is very important at every stage of life. It affects the way individuals look at themselves, their lives, and others in their lives.
Mental Health America is the country’s leading non-profit dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives.
Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. It influences the way we handle stress, relate to one another, and make decisions. Therefore, taking care of one’s mental health is of utmost importance.
- Peterson, Bradley S. “Biomarkers in precision medicine for mental illnesses.” Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 61.12 (2020): 1279-1281. ↩︎
- Tennant, Ruth, et al. “A systematic review of reviews of interventions to promote mental health and prevent mental health problems in children and young people.” Journal of Public Mental Health 6.1 (2007): 25-32. ↩︎
- Pedrelli, Paola, et al. “College students: mental health problems and treatment considerations.” Academic psychiatry 39 (2015): 503-511. ↩︎
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
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