In a booming economy, America is still not without its issues. The opioid crisis is a frequent topic of conversations amidst the new cycle, but adjacent to this epidemic there is another, related issue that is also on the rise. Mental health.
Mental concerns are a challenge to treat. They are varied, pervasive, and a threat to all demographics. Today we will look at some key data points and examine the types of concerns that are currently prevalent.
America’s Mental Health Problem
America’s tenuous relationship with mental health goes way back. The way that this issue is handled changed quite significantly back in the 1970s.
Up until then, the fitfully mentally ill could potentially be held against their will in mental health facilities.
There were obvious problems with this system, and in 1975 the Supreme Court recognized as much with a ruling that sharply curbed this practice.
However, this change in the system left the issue only partially addressed. The mentally ill were now being approached somewhat more humanely, but they also were being treated less.
And what happened? The prison population soared, with large quantities of the incarcerated suffering from diagnosable mental health issues.
There is a clear treatment problem, but there is also a lifestyle problem. Many people with extreme health concerns are being filtered in and out of the prison system.
However, there are also smaller but still pervasive mental health concerns that prominent in the workplace.
Technology is part of the problem. Modern workers are constantly connected to their profession thanks to broad internet access. Workplace environment is another issue, though creating a positive company culture has been keenly emphasized in the past few years.
There are fixes to workplace mental health concerns. A focus on sleep, and a designated time for putting down electronic devices are both steps that can help.
Still, it is clear that America has much work to do in this department.
Prominent Issues
When it comes to mental health, one thing to keep in mind is that the issues aren’t always so obvious. Stress, anxiety, and depression are all mental health concerns that most people will encounter at some point during their lifetime.
Drug addiction is also a major mental health consideration that is currently being spotlighted in America.
For good reason. In 2016 64,000 people died of drug addiction. Too put this in context, that is more than the figure of both gun and car accident related deaths.
The unfortunate reality is that the fix for this problem is not abundantly obvious. There are both government initiatives, and private operations that are working to address this problem.
However, even with all of the resources being allocated to this epidemic, the problem still endures.
Mental Health Concerns for Students
America’s youth is also currently suffering from mental health problems. The numbers are staggering. One in five Americans between the ages of 3-17 currently suffer from a diagnosable mental illness.
The vast majority of them, about 80%, are not receiving treatment. This is probably partially because symptoms are often misattributed to general teenaged moodiness.
Teenagers often express their acute depression through displays of agitation—a symptom that often goes unrecognized.
However, parents and educators will do well to take potential symptoms seriously. Teenagers are especially vulnerable, as half of all mental illnesses begin to manifest themselves around the age of fourteen.
Treatment
One of the biggest problems with mental healthcare simply relates to access. Treatment is expensive, creating a barrier that some families and individuals are not able to overcome. In fact, 45% of people who don’t get the care that they need site cost as a factor.
It’s no wonder. The average person seeking outpatient care might spend anywhere from $100-5000 in out of pocket expenses.
The United States government does spend robustly on mental health, but for now, access is still a major concern.
Because the need for adequate mental healthcare is so great, it has created a great need in the job market. Positions like that of the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner are in great demand.
The need for professionals in this department is only expected to grow, with a 31% rate of growth. While there are many things that need to change before the mental health crisis in America is overcome, an influx of highly qualified professionals will certainly be impactful.
