Category: Mental health

Chronic conditions make it impossible for patients to lead healthy lives. Those who have these illnesses should be supported by skilled practitioners and dedicated family members. This discussion examines the issues surrounding the delivery of care to my loved one who has a terminal condition. The major challenges and concerns that might arise are also described.

Levels of Care and Natural Continuum of Care

My spouse by the name SK has severe chronic depression. The first level of care that can be available to SK is that of hospitals. This refers to institutions that provide short-term medical support (inpatient or outpatient) depending on the exhibited depression or stress (Garcia, de Freitas, Lamas, & Toledo, 2017). There are also long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) that offer adequate medical care.

The second level to consider is that of acute rehabilitation centers. Since SK has a chronic condition, these institutions can ensure that quality care is available. Therapies and medications can be obtained from these health facilities. The third level is that of assisted living or nursing homes. These institutions are managed by licensed nurse practitioners who provide special care. Certified home health agencies (CHHAs) form the next level of the healthcare system (Chapman, Chung, & Pincus, 2017). These facilities are capable of providing physical and medical support. The final level that can be available to SK is comprised of senior communities. As the individual ages, these facilities will offer evidence-based support throughout the lifespan.

A patient with a chronic mental condition such as depression should have access to the natural continuum of care (Garcia et al., 2017). The first service is offered in outpatient clinics where drugs are administered. I will ensure that my beloved spouse visits such offices once a month. Intensive care is the second service. Trained practitioners coordinate to offer a continuum of care services. Home-based treatment will also be required to support my spouse and my family members.

Day treatment programs or services are usually available in different societies. These aspects will ensure that the targeted patient receives adequate psychiatric support. Emergency services will be delivered when crises occur. Respite care will be provided whereby skilled individuals will offer support to this patient. Therapeutic groups or community residences offer direct care and support to individuals with mental conditions (Chapman et al., 2017). Hospital treatment is also relevant since it is designed to meet the needs of every patient. I will, therefore, consider these facilities and levels to ensure that quality care is available to my beloved spouse.

Potential Challenges

Although the above discussion has described the potential services available to SK, chances are high that positive results might not be realized. The first potential challenge might arise from the nature of existing support. Hassmiller and Reinhard (2015) indicate that many psychologists and providers of mental services usually deliver poor results. The healthcare system also fails to offer adequate measures to ensure that every health system level meets the needs of individuals with behavioral problems (Ulloa & Hammett, 2014). The second challenge might arise from my spouse’s inability to cooperate with different caregivers. This is a possible problem because SK is depressed.

In the United States, funding is a major predicament that makes it impossible for individuals with mental conditions to access high-quality services. Rural regions are not served by experienced practitioners and physiatrists. The current situation reveals that most of the existing healthcare levels do not support the needs of patients with chronic conditions such as depression. Many home nursing units in the community lack adequate resources to meet the needs of my spouse. With the decreasing number of human services professionals and social workers in the country, it might be hard for SK to get timely support (Garcia et al., 2017). The nursing shortage is a predicament that continues to disorient the nature of healthcare delivery. Such challenges should be analyzed carefully to ensure that the health needs of SK are met.

Discharge Planning and Procedures

For patients with mental conditions, discharge planning is something that should not be hurried. Practitioners should ensure that the objectives of the practice are achieved. These include delivering positive health results, improving the patient’s wellbeing, and modifying treatment regions throughout the continuum of care. The involvement of family members should also be taken into consideration. This means that several stages or procedures should be put into consideration to discharge by the patient. The first one is the initial treatment plan. During this phase, physicians and psychologists will focus on the patient’s long-term health goals and needs. Family members will also be informed about the process (Mackey & Bassendowski, 2017). A discharge plan will be formulated during this phase. The second stage is comprehensive planning whereby the treatment method is expanded. The needs assessment will be completed to monitor my spouse’s responsiveness. Training of different family members will be considered to support SK.

The third stage is called discharge planning. The case manager will prepare for the release process. Services will be initiated depending on SK’s health needs. A proper communication model is initiated during this phase. Post-discharge planning is done whereby follow-up services are taken into consideration (Mackey & Bassendowski, 2017). Continuous monitoring will be needed to ensure that my spouse moves into the targeted community or home-based treatment program.

Needs Assessment

A powerful approach will be considered to assess the needs of SK. Different psychotherapists will analyze my spouse’s current health status. They will go further to examine the exhibited symptoms and signs. This approach will make it easier for them to identify various needs that must be met (Hassmiller & Reinhard, 2015). The professionals will go further to form a multidisciplinary team to examine the critical areas that should be taken into consideration. This means that every unmet health demand or need will be examined. The next stage is to come up with appropriate objectives and models to deliver desirable medical support.

The needs assessment plan will describe how available resources and health system levels can be used to improve SK’s health outcomes (Sobekwa & Arunachallam, 2015). Priority areas will be identified to provide evidence-based medical support to SK. Once these health demands are identified, it will be easier for different health workers and community social workers to provide high-quality patient support.

JCI International Standards

The Joint Commission International (JIC) offers powerful standards that dictate the quality of services available to different patients. Institutions that want to be accredited must focus on these principles to achieve their goals. Such aspects also resonate with the care demands of patients with mental illnesses. The first section focuses on patient-centered support (Ulloa & Hammett, 2014). Such principles indicate that caregivers and physicians must be ready to deliver personalized medical support depending on the unique needs of the targeted patient.

Psychotherapists must, therefore, implement powerful models that bring on board different experts and practitioners to meet the demands of depressed patients. The standards go further to dictate the initiatives associated with healthcare management (Ulloa & Hammett, 2014). Organizations and hospitals providing mental health services should have adequate resources and competent practitioners whose competencies can result in improved health results.

Safety Issues

The concept of patient safety has been featured in literature since it dictates the quality of services available to different populations. Within the mental healthcare sector, the safety of patients must be taken seriously (Sobekwa & Arunachallam, 2015). The first issue is that of physical protection. I will ensure that my spouse lives in a safe environment to prevent injuries. Proper support and empowerment will be needed to deal with this challenge. Family members and practitioners should also be informed about the potential safety concerns that might arise whenever treating mental illness patients.

Care delivery models must also be designed in such a way that medical errors are minimized. Nursing homes and facilities must also meet the needs of these individuals. I will ensure that tools and dangerous equipment are stored properly (Sobekwa & Arunachallam, 2015). Continuous medical care is also required whenever providing holistic support.

Conclusion

Mental health problems explain why proper medical support is needed to empower every patient. Multidisciplinary teams should be formed to ensure that positive results are realized. Institutions that embrace every JCI international standard will deliver superior care to more patients with mental illnesses. Safety issues should also be taken seriously by relatives and healthcare providers.

References

Chapman, E., Chung, H., & Pincus, H. A. (2017). Using a continuum-based framework for behavioral health integration into primary care in New York State. Psychiatric Services, 68(8), 756-758. Web.

Garcia, A. P., de Freitas, M. I., Lamas, J. L., & Toledo, V. P. (2017). Nursing process in mental health: An integrative literature review. Rev Bras Enferm, 70(1), 209-218. Web.

Hassmiller, S. B., & Reinhard, S. C. (2015). A bold new vision for America’s health care system. Nursing Outlook, 63(1), 41-47. Web.

Mackey, A., & Bassendowski, S. (2017). The history and evidence-based practice in nursing education and practice. Journal of Professional Nursing, 33(1), 51-55. Web.

Sobekwa, Z. C., & Arunachallam, S. (2015). Experiences of nurses caring for mental health care users in an acute admission unit at a psychiatric hospital in the Western Cape Province. Curationis, 38(2), 1-9. Web.

Ulloa, E. C., & Hammett, J. F. (2014). The effect of gender and perpetrator–victim role on mental health outcomes and risk behaviors associated with intimate partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 31(7), 1184-1207. Web.

The use of a patient-centered approach to education in mental healthcare presents a highly beneficial practice because it helps increase the mental health literacy of clients and involves them in shared decision-making with healthcare specialists. In other words, providing consumer-centered education to patients allows making the latter feel more responsible for their mental state, which can positively impact patient behavior and lifestyle habits. Informing healthcare clients and their relatives about treatment options, their benefits, and potential challenges is pivotal because minimizing the impact of patients on decision-making can deteriorate their mental health even more. The given paper is aimed at discussing patient education for depressed clients with special attention to its benefits, barriers to implementation, skills needed to provide it, and the practical importance of findings.

Patient Education on Depression and Its Benefits

Depression has a wide range of adverse health effects, and it heavily impacts people’s self-esteem, causing a sense of worthlessness and other negative feelings. Mental health education targeted at individuals with depression usually touches upon the key symptoms of the illness, factors that contribute to the development of the condition (both internal and external), and treatment options (Lopez, Sanchez, Killian, & Eghaneyan, 2018). In terms of the treatment options, they involve psychotherapy and medications. The practice of providing patients with detailed information on treatment options plays an important role in provider-patient communication, helping to prepare depressed clients for treatment and related life changes.

Consumer-centered mental health education provided to clients diagnosed with depression has a range of benefits since it helps patients to shape more informed opinions on psychotherapy and its effects. In the modern world, many people tend to associate depression with social deprivation, feeble-mindedness, and demonstrative attention-seeking behavior, which stigmatizes this condition. To put it in other words, there is a popular opinion that depression develops in weak-minded individuals who are unable to get themselves together or presents a problem of overestimated importance (Na & Chasteen, 2016). Thus, a significant benefit of mental health patient education is presented by its ability to reduce the degree to which depression is stigmatized and, therefore, help patients with this diagnosis to accept things as they are and stop feeling worthless due to the disease.

According to Lopez et al. (2018), the stigma associated with depression remains one of the key barriers to treatment, and interventions aimed at improving mental health literacy help to make negative stereotypes about depression less popular. The study conducted by Lopez et al. (2018) reveals a tradeoff between depression knowledge and the prevalence of negative stereotypes about the disease in adult patients of Hispanic origin. Different ways of presenting information can be used in patient education programs for depressed individuals, and there is evidence that providing education with the help of stories or self-awareness exercises is effective in reducing stigma against depression (Na & Chasteen, 2016).

Another significant benefit of consumer-centered education for depressed individuals is its ability to debunk myths concerning the use of antidepressants. Recent studies show that from 50 to 75% of patients diagnosed with depression fail to adhere to their medication regimens (Martinez, Xu, & Hebl, 2017, p. 451). This tendency is strictly interconnected with stereotypes about antidepressants, addiction, and their effects on mental and physical health. The impact of the latter on patients’ adherence to healthcare recommendations is successfully reduced with the help of printed materials, video/audio lectures, and personal conversations with healthcare professionals (Martinez et al., 2017). Therefore, by providing customer-centered education to depressed individuals, it is possible to debunk harmful stereotypes about depression and the use of medications during treatment, provide patients with emotional support to help them accept their situation, and, therefore, improve the outcomes of treatment.

Barriers to Education

Even though consumer-centered education on depression involves numerous benefits for both patients and their relatives, certain factors can impact the effectiveness of education programs negatively. The most common barriers to patient education are related to the organizational climate in healthcare organizations, the absence of skills needed to provide effective education, and limited access to educational resources (Livne, Peterfreund, & Sheps, 2017). Importantly, the quality of patient education can be adversely impacted by the presence of inadequate workload in healthcare facilities.

The most significant barriers to patient education are strictly interconnected with the current situation with the nurse shortage in mental healthcare in many English-speaking countries. The shortage of qualified mental health nurses continues to grow due to numerous factors, including high risks of occupational burnout, nursing students’ unrealistic expectations, and role ambiguity (Hooper, Browne, & O’Brien, 2016). The reality of mental healthcare often runs counter to the expectations of nurses since there are numerous qualities that mental health nurses should possess to be effective.

Apart from the above-mentioned barriers, the ability of healthcare specialists to provide consumer-centered education to patients with depression is also impacted by the prevalence of preconceived opinions about depression among common people. Heedless of the fact that mental health education is effective in reducing negative attitudes to depression and people who have this diagnosis, certain stereotypes still impact patients’ decision-making.

In the modern world, almost no attempts are made to ensure that common people take depression and its symptoms seriously, and this lack of awareness can turn depressed patients off and, therefore, make it even more difficult to provide effective education. The study conducted by Tobin and Lyddy (2014) shows that many media texts devoted to depression still create the links between depression, suicidal thoughts, alcohol abuse, and aggressive behavior. Contributing to the formation of stereotypes about individuals with depression, the representation of the disease in media presents another barrier to consumer-centered education in mental healthcare.

Providing Patient Education: Necessary Skills

As it is clear from the section devoted to benefits, the high quality of patient education in mental healthcare can make a significant contribution to positive patient outcomes. With that in mind, a great responsibility rests with nurses who provide customer-centered education to patients with depression and their relatives, and success cannot be achieved without special skills. In addition to vast professional experience and profound knowledge of depression management, nurses are expected to have advanced interpersonal and language skills.

To begin with, patients are different in terms of linguistic proficiency, personal experience, and education level. Thus, mental health nurses should be good at expressing thoughts, listening to their patients, and paraphrasing or summarizing information on treatment options and symptoms to make specific terms more clear to non-professionals (Townsend & Morgan, 2017). Apart from that, it needs to be noted that mental health nurses who provide patient education should be capable of recognizing and using non-verbal signs to achieve better outcomes. To some extent, nurses should act as good psychologists who keep track of their patients’ reactions and change the approach to teaching if necessary.

Also, an important skill is presented by the ability to consider both medical conditions and specific needs to construct individualized patient education strategies (Rupp, 2015). According to Rupp (2015), paying more attention to medical conditions than to patients’ learning abilities is among the most common mistakes that nurses make when providing patient education. Considering that clients with depression often have a lack of concentration, assessing patients’ educability prior to providing education is critical to success.

Findings and Professional Development

The findings reported by previous researchers in the field indicate the great role of patient education for clients with depression and other mental conditions, and they can be used to facilitate my further professional development. Given that customer-centered education has numerous benefits, it is important for nurses from different countries to make concerted efforts to overcome the barriers to its implementation. It can be done in different ways, including popularizing mental health nursing, supporting initiatives aimed at destigmatizing mental illness, or polishing one’s patient education skills.

In reference to the skills, all specialists working with depressed clients and their families can improve the quality of patient education by using a comprehensive approach, in which medical conditions, specific psychological needs, and educability are assessed to make education plans more individualized. Also, attention should be paid to the further development of verbal and non-verbal communication skills that include paraphrasing, summarizing information, and recognizing nonverbal cues that indicate certain emotions or concerns. The development of the above-mentioned skills helps mental health nurses to get on the right side of clients with any level of language proficiency or psychiatric knowledge.

Conclusion

To sum it up, the importance of customer-centered education for clients with depression cannot be overstated because it helps them to feel more responsible for their health or accept their situation and increases their mental health literacy. Ultimately, patient education successfully debunks myths about people with depression and antidepressant addiction, which is extremely important since many people fear to accept their problems and follow medication recommendations strictly. In terms of barriers to education, nurses have numerous opportunities to overcome them by developing their patient education skills and supporting the spread of accurate information about depression, its nature, and the necessity of pharmaceutical treatment. Many findings discussed in the paper are also applicable to general nursing, which increases their practical importance.

References

Hooper, M. E., Browne, G., & O’Brien, A. P. (2016). Graduate nurses’ experiences of mental health services in their first year of practice: An integrative review. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 25(4), 286-298.

Livne, Y., Peterfreund, I., & Sheps, J. (2017). Barriers to patient education and their relationship to nurses’ perceptions of patient education climate. Clinical Nursing Studies, 5(4), 65-72.

Lopez, V., Sanchez, K., Killian, M. O., & Eghaneyan, B. H. (2018). Depression screening and education: An examination of mental health literacy and stigma in a sample of Hispanic women. BMC Public Health, 18(1), 1-8.

Martinez, L. R., Xu, S., & Hebl, M. (2017). Utilizing education and perspective-taking to remediate the stigma of taking antidepressants. Community Mental Health Journal, 54(4), 450-459.

Na, J. J., & Chasteen, A. L. (2016). Does imagery reduce stigma against depression? Testing the efficacy of imagined contact and perspective-taking. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 46(5), 259-275.

Rupp, S. (2015). Tips to help nurses improve patient education skills. NueMD. Web.

Tobin, G., & Lyddy, F. (2014). Media representation of depression in young people: A corpus-based analysis of Irish newspaper coverage. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 31(1), 21-30.

Townsend, M. C., & Morgan, K. I. (2017). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice (9th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: FA Davis.

Introduction

Reflecting on a learning process is not always an easy task as it requires staying objective to the case and never forgetting about personal preferences. My practice at the private clinic promoted an understanding of mental risks and needs of younger patients and their families. It is not enough to gather clinical findings and examine vital signs. It is important to be ready for multiple emotions, fears, and uncertainties and collaborate with other professionals.

One of the last cases where a 5-year-old boy has needle phobia, and injection anxiety shows that the development of certain practical skills like compassion, communication, confidence, and attention is required to achieve positive outcomes and reduce the level of anxiety.

The decision to use cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is based on several factors, including parental support, nurse assessment like chief complaints, pain scale, or a review of systems, theoretical and practical knowledge, and even personal feelings. Therefore, this reflection is not just the evaluation of my nursing skills and practical achievements, it is a story of my personal growth as a medical worker and the peculiarities of recovery process among young patients with mental health issues.

Learning Process

I think that a learning process about any health concern should begin with giving clear statistical data to realise the scope of the chosen topic. According to O’Brien, Harvey, Howse, Reardon, and Creswell (2016), the majority of mental health problems usually begin at early ages and affect more than 13% of children. It means that more than 10 million paediatric patients need to treat such diseases as anxiety, depression, anger, bipolar disorder, or paranoia. Unfortunately, the list of mental health problems is long and complex, and a learning process should be effective enough to cover all these issues.

One of the most important lessons was the recognition of the role of primary care practitioners and nurses in managing patients’ diseases. Having an opportunity to see a patient at different periods, medical workers may recognise the presence of a mental health problem and help parents choose the right direction and advance a child’s well-being (O’Brien et al., 2016). Such a level of responsibility and expectations made me I feel very proud and confident in the decision to connect my life with mental health nursing field. I thought that it was my prior responsibility not only to follow the prescriptions of doctors but try to develop my observations and give recommendations. I had to be ready to communicate with patients, listen to them, distinguish their needs, and create an environment to promote recovery.

In the case with the allergic boy, immunotherapy was an essential part of treatment that lasted about five years. Injections had to be given every 6-8 weeks to achieve the desired effect. Boy’s phobia of needles turned out to be a serious obstacle for the medical staff. As a nurse who had to give him injections regularly, it was my high priority to find a solution, make a fast decision, and understand how to help the boy.

Any nurse has to follow a plan and remember about the improvements after case evaluation. My task was not only to do the injection for a kid and report on his reactions. I was responsible for his emotional and mood changes and attitudes toward needles and associated outcomes. My behaviour was critical for the boy’s and his family’s understandings of the issue and its effects on the quality of life. As a nurse, my learning was based on the evaluation of the current situation, work with outside sources and medical experts, and thoughtful decision-making.

Clinical Decisions and Specific Contents

Every clinical decision has a considerable effect on nursing practice. In the case of a 5-year-old boy, it was necessary to deal with several allergens with the help of immunotherapy that included injections. The patient had needle phobia and negatively reacted to any type of injection. I did all injections, and it was my responsibility to help the boy get over his anxiety and receive every procedure with no fear.

The beginning of immunotherapy was associated with a number of emotions and negative responses like tension, tears, or fainting (Cook, 2016). Each time, my decision whether it touched upon his treatment plan or his direct participation in treatment was a solid contribution to his recovery. I learnt that an effective solution to one problem at the present moment could improve the quality of life in the future.

The main thing that I discovered during my learning process and taking care of the patient was the importance of shared decision-making in nursing care. It could influence many clinical decisions and promote new mental health outcomes. On the one hand, patients may follow the prescriptions and complete the recommendations without demonstrating their concerns or fears. Nurses have to understand this choice and support patients.

On the other hand, some patients would like to perform a distinct role in choosing appropriate treatments and protecting their health. This situation was observed during my communication with the boy. Parents were interested in every aspect of a treatment process and wanted to help. They were ready to learn and identify as many options as possible for their child to deal with allergies. My decision on cognitive-behavioural therapy for managing the kind’s needle phobia was based on the attitudes of parents toward their child’ health conditions, needs, and worries.

Cognitive-Behavioural Theory and Its Impact

In the patient’s case, despite being involved in child care, parents were not able to give a clear reason why the kid was afraid of injections. They denied past negative experiences with needles but mentioned that almost every vaccination during the first years of life was associated with tears and cries. However, the parents usually explained such outcomes as the change of the environment, new people, or unpredictable feelings.

Needle phobia is observed among many children and adult patients, and there is no definite opinion about its causes and the most effective treatment effects (Cook, 2016). Patients could demonstrate various reactions to needles’ use in therapy. One day, the boy fainted during the first two minutes after he saw the needle for immunotherapy. The next few days, slight tachycardia was observed without the possibility to normalise the condition. Therefore, treatment of this mental health problem had to cover different behavioural and emotional aspects. After a thorough analysis of recent clinical findings, I succeeded to identify cognitive-behavioural theory (CBT) as one of the possible interventions to be applied to the case of needle phobia.

The fear of needles is based on some discomfort and pain, and it is not a surprise that many children suffer from injection phobias from time to time. Orenius, Säilä, Mikola, and Ristolainen (2018) admit that these mental health problems could show a certain decreased with age, but the promotion of cognitive management of emotions cannot be neglected. CBT was found effective in treating different mental health disorders, including the boy’s anxiety.

There are many strategies that nurses could use to apply this theory to practice. In regards to the case under consideration, first, it was necessary to provide the patient and his parents with enough information about the nature of his disease and the role of immunotherapy. Psychoeducation is a good chance to underline the reasons why needles are not dangerous. Second, cognitive reconstructing should help to identify and replace negative thoughts with new positive, realistic goals. Exposure and activation of behavioural changes were two important stages in treatment and my nursing practice.

To avoid treatment refusal, patients have to be provided with several alternatives and explanations. Immunotherapy has to be combined with psychological treatments to develop pathological fear response and control the subjective experience of fear (Orenius et al. 2018). I identified three components to discuss the boy’s phobia of needles. I guided thoughts and changed irrational beliefs about the pain associated with needles, stimulated positive behaviours and provoked situations when needles were used without any discomfort being experienced and promoted effective physical responses through relaxation and regular breathing.

I was responsible for the explanation of every new technique and expected outcomes in immunotherapy and phobia treatment. CBT has a number of benefits, including the possibility to treat mental health disorders when alone medications or therapies do not work or to restructure thoughts and change feelings. However, such obligations as full commitment to the process, the presence of confronting emotions, and the inability to address past experiences but focus on current problems only can limit the work of nurses.

Important Lessons

Being a nurse means being ready for a number of tasks to be completed in a short period with total respect and recognition of patient needs. During this course, the necessity to promote mental health among younger patients made me think about my future development of a career as a nurse. My case was a good source of information about the multimodal approach to nursing. The mental health risks of the patient included the possibility of phobia progression and the inability to continue immunotherapy against allergies. It was expected to reduce the level of anxiety connected with injections and follow an immunotherapeutic plan of care.

The unexpected outcome was parental involvement in CBT with a burning desire to learn more and support both the child and nurse in communication. CBT was relevant to the case because it was necessary to provoke changes from several perspectives simultaneously. The patient could benefit from my knowledge of this theory and skills used because I was able to improve his attitudes toward injections, give several reasonable explanations, and support him during each step taken.

To strengthen the chosen interventions, I addressed the web and found several recent discoveries and evidence. Orenius et al. (2018) admitted that more than 60% of children were afraid of needles, and my goal was to explain to the child that there was a chance to deal with that fear and become better than other children. Cook (2016) underlined the role of distractions like television or interactions with family or friends. In retrospect, I would probably add watching TV as a practice to distract the patient and complete the intervention. Every injection could be associated with a new episode of his favourite animation in addition to the already chosen parental support and relaxation techniques.

Future Needs

To be a successful nurse, it is necessary to focus on life-long learning and constant improvement in my skills and knowledge. The end of this course does not mean the end of my education, and I have to identify new goals in the chosen field. The contents learned helped me recognise mental health issues among younger patients as a global concern for nurses to deal with. My future nursing practice can be based on the analysis of treatment techniques used in different parts of the world.

Every culture or nation is characterised by unique features, specific languages, and traditions. Nurses should never demonstrate their prejudice or biases to some groups of people. Therefore I want to direct my future learning to the evaluation of cultural diversities in mental health issues. In the case with the 5-year-old boy, no attention was paid to his cultural roots and traditions. However, it was possible to improve his attitude toward needles if I used several histories or myths that did not contradict his beliefs and prove my awareness of his needs. Trust is the key to success in managing mental health issues in children.

Conclusion

In general, my learning and practice at the private clinic become a serious contribution to my professional development and personal growth. Paediatric patients with mental health risks and needs have to receive special attention from general physicians, nurses, and medical practitioners. My achievements in treating needle phobia along with immunotherapy against allergies prove that the completion of multiple tasks and attention are direct responsibilities of nurses. Regular collaboration with families and medical workers, a constant need of gaining new knowledge and searching for evidence, and application of theories and practical skills are the key points in nursing learning that can never be neglected.

References

Cook, L. S. (2016). Needle phobia. Journal of Infusion Nursing, 39(5), 273–279. Web.

O’Brien, D., Harvey, K., Howse, J., Reardon, T., & Creswell, C. (2016). Barriers to managing child and adolescent mental health problems: A systematic review of primary care practitioners’ perceptions. British Journal of General Practice, 66(651), 693–707. Web.

Orenius, T., Säilä, H., Mikola, K., & Ristolainen, L. (2018). Fear of injections and needle phobia among children and adolescents: An overview of psychological, behavioural, and contextual factors. SAGE Open Nursing, 4, 1-8. Web.

In the current world of technology and civilization market strategies for various services have been put in to focus, in an attempt by the service providers to secure and manage the markets for the services they offer. The current market strategy for mental health services has further been an issue; which the service providers have put in to consideration; as it will help ensure their efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of health services (Hinkle, 2008).

Considering the current trend of competition and increased legal requirements for the running of some technical businesses like the provision of mental health services; a strategic plan of action on the best positioning and distribution of mental health services institutions is of a crucial importance. In this context therefore, various articles have been written to address the strategic markets for health service providers, where they depict the rationale necessary for the marketing of health services (Hinkle, 2008).

In the article “Strategic Market Positions for Mental Health Services” by David Ambrose and Lennox Linda; the issue of strategic positioning of health services is deeply talked about. In this article, the key considerations during the positioning of a mental health service institutions include the size of population within the area selected, the availability of social and infrastructural networks and the level of civilization among the people in the area selected among others (David, 2008).

More so, this article addresses the issue of the competition level expected in the position selected for offering the mental health services in which the mental health provider has to consider the existing similar services; within the selected area to offer these mental health services. On this basis therefore, the health service provider should consider the current increasing competition levels among various individuals. This is the case because the provide should consider not providing similar services, following the increased global demand for these services as a result of the high technology and civilization among the various communities within the society (David, 2008).

The second article that addresses the issue of strategic marketing for mental health care services is called “Developmental Marketing Strategies for community Mental Health” by Mark Hayes. In this article, Hayes addresses the issue of the factors that the community health providers have to consider, so as to market their services effectively. More specifically, the article talks about the techniques that health providers for mental disorders should consider and apply so as to ensure that they give their services most efficiently (Hayes, 1984).

Perhaps, the articles stress much on the application of sophisticated and the most efficient equipments necessary for the improvement of the services to be provided. Considering the current technological world, the article stipulates the use of very efficient clinical equipments within the provision of mental health services; so as to compete effectively within the current highly competitive world (Hinkle, 2008).

Generally, the two articles are inter-related in the sense that; the key concept stressed in the two books for health service providers is the way they can attain an optimum marketable position within the society in the provision of mental health services. Further, this linkage between the two articles indicates a common perception to mental health services by both the service providers and their clients; in which a strategic plan by the mental health service providers is necessary so as to achieve their goals (Hinkle, 2008).

As it has been observed, a good marketing plan for mental health provision is necessary as a consideration will be given to the available competitors, the availability of clients and the use of sophisticated clinical equipments; in the pursuit of achieving the set goals and objectives.

Reference list

1. David, A. (2008). Strategic Market Positions for Mental Health Services. Springer New York 15(1), 5-9.
2. Hayes, M. (1984). Developmental Marketing Strategies for Community Mental Health. Health Marketing Quarterly 1(2), 57– 66.
3. Hinkle, A. (2008). A Marketing Strategy for Consultation and Education Services. Springer New York 9(2), 10-12.

This paper introduces the description of the study concentrated on the role of psychiatric and mental health nurses. It defines the research problem and proves its timeliness. The document lists the objectives of the study and identifies its primary focus. It introduces research methods and explains their usefulness, as well as discusses the chosen forms of data collection. Finally, the paper identifies the utility of the study by presenting its determining factors.

Research Description

Research Problem Definition

The proposed research will concentrate on the evolution of the role of psychiatric and mental health nurses in Canada. The timeliness of the study is based on the fact that mental health services changed their focus after deinstitutionalization in the 1980s (Goutler, 2015). The shift towards community care played a significant role both for patients and care providers (Boschma, 2011). Although the primary principles of care have not undergone great changes, it is necessary to understand how mental health nurses’ role has evolved and what the effects of the shift on medical professionals are. Thus, the research problem is to identify the contemporary tendencies in caregivers’ practices and the factors contributing to them.

Objectives

The primary objective of the study is to investigate the changes in caregivers’ role in the treatment of patients with mental health disparities. The research aims to focus not only on nurses’ experiences in care but also on the effects of the changes they face. Another study’s goal is to prove that the role of nurses has undergone severe shifts since the end of the twentieth century and that the impact of those changes is significant both to patients and to medical professionals. It also aims to suggest effective strategies of the nursing practice improvement based on the evidence collected from the interviews and the relevant literature.

Primary Focus

The study will focus on the reasons that cause changes in psychiatric nurses’ role. The researches by De Nesnera and Allen (2016), and Happell and McAllister (2015) suggest that there are several factors contributing to the issue, including physicians’ shortages. The changes also concern nursing ethics, scope, and standards of practice (Kane, 2015). Changing social and disease-type demographics are driving forces of the transformation as well (Salmond & Echevarria, 2017).

The new tendencies in treatment require caregivers to meet high demands for patient-centered, safe, and quality care. In Canada, nurses do not have national standards for their role, which means that there is inconsistency between their educational preparations (Parker & Hill, 2017). Thus, it is necessary to discuss the impact of change on their responsibilities, approaches to treatment, as well as their personal experience.

The analysis of historical data will be also included in the research, as it is essential to trace and discuss the transformation over time. For example, in the 1970s, community mental health services only started to emerge in Canada (Boschma, Davies, & Morrow, 2014). Their occurrence was caused by the rise of scientific psychiatry and required the new understanding of treatment (Boschma, 2010). Since the 1990s, the adoption of principles for the protection of individuals with mental illnesses, mental health has been considered a human rights issue and required the improvement of care services (Smith & Boschma, 2016).

As the attention to psychiatry increased, the patients became more involved in their care planning due to the predominant focus in mental health practice (Newman, O’Reilly, Lee, & Kennedy, 2015). These facts explain the significance of the analysis of historical data along with the recent methods of treatment.

Research Methods and Data Collection

To conduct the study, the qualitative research methods will be used. For the context of mental health-related practices, such format is the most effective as it can provide the insights of complex and poorly studied areas (Crowe, Inder, & Porter, 2015). This study will utilize the methods of thematic and content analysis. Thematic analysis will be implemented to interpret the available qualitative data found in evidence-based resources. It will include the findings presented in the works of Hunter, Weber, Shattell, and Harris, (2015), Hart and Warren, (2015), Boschma (2010, 2011), and other researchers. Content analysis will be used to describe the findings to represent the current tendencies in medical care and report on the changes in nurses’ role.

Interviews with mental health nurses with over five years of experience, both individually and in focus groups, will be utilized to collect the data as well. It ensures that the data will include individual perspectives and the information about nurses’ shared experience. The critiques of the qualitative approach will be considered to provide evidence and avoid common mistakes in mental health studies (Grant, 2014). The chosen methods of research and data collection follow the objectives of the study and ensure its accuracy and relevance.

Research Utility

Several significant factors determine the utility of the study. Nurses remain the largest professional group within the mental health workforce, so it is crucial to address their roles in treatment (McAllister, Happell, & Flynn, 2014). The research will provide valuable insight into the conditions psychiatric nurses experience during their practice. The problems of occupational stress and burnout can be caused by the expanded caregivers’ responsibility and are necessary to address (Byron, Ziedonis, McGrath, Frazier, & Fulwiler, 2015). The study will also reveal other issues associated with psychiatric nursing, including stigmatization and discrimination (Mårtensson, Jacobsson, & Engström, 2014).

These factors can have a severe impact on medical professionals’ performance and influence their self-perception and identity (Sercu, Ayala, & Bracke, 2015). Moreover, the study will discuss the alternative methods of treatment nurses use in their practice, such as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy suggested by Gu, Strauss, Bond, and Cavanagh (2015) and journaling (Folke et al., 2018). The research will suggest the strategies for improvement based on the findings from the investigation.

Conclusion

The study will concentrate on the role of psychiatric and mental health nurses. It is designed to provide valuable insight into the changes that caregivers’ practice has undergone in the past decades and the factors contributing to them. The objectives of the research are to investigate the changes in psychiatric nurses’ role in Canada, prove that their role has undergone severe transformations, and suggest effective strategies of the caregivers’ practice improvement.

Its primary focus includes the reasons that are causing changes and the factors contributing to them, the historical background of the issue, and the impact the shift has had on medical professionals. The research will use qualitative methods, including thematic and content analysis, as well as individual and group interviews. The research utility is determined by the necessity to address the role of nurses and the methods they use in treatment, reveal the problems they face, and suggest the effective solution strategies for them.

References

Boschma, G. (2010). The rise of mental health nursing: A history of psychiatric care in Dutch Asylums, 1890-1920. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Amsterdam University Press.

Boschma, G. (2011). Deinstitutionalization reconsidered: Geographic and demographic changes in mental health care in British Columbia and Alberta, 1950-1980. Histoire Sociale/Social History, 44(2), 223-256.

Boschma, G., Davies, M., & Morrow, M. (2014). “Those people known as mental patients…”: Professional and patient engagement in community mental health in Vancouver, BC in the 1970s. Web.

Byron, G., Ziedonis, D. M., McGrath, C., Frazier, J. A., & Fulwiler, C. (2015). Implementation of mindfulness training for mental health staff: Organizational context and stakeholder perspectives. Mindfulness, 6(4), 861-872.

Crowe, M., Inder, M., & Porter, R. (2015). Conducting qualitative research in mental health: Thematic and content analyses. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 49(7), 616-623.

De Nesnera, A., & Allen, D. E. (2016). Expanding the role of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners in a state psychiatric system: The New Hampshire experience. State Mental Health Policy, 67(5), 482-484.

Folke, F., Hursti, T., Kanter, J. W., Arinell, H., Tungström, S., Söderberg, P., & Ekselius, L. (2018). Exploring the relationship between activities and emotional experience using a diary in a mental health inpatient setting. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 27(1), 276-286.

Goutler, N. (2015). Patterns of care: Primary research in mental health nursing. Web.

Grant, A. (2014). Troubling ‘lived experience’: A post‐structural critique of mental health nursing qualitative research assumptions. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 21(6), 544-549.

Gu, J., Strauss, C., Bond, R., & Cavanagh, K. (2015). How do mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction improve mental health and wellbeing? A systematic review and meta-analysis of mediation studies. Clinical Psychology Review, 37, 1-12.

Happell, B., & McAllister, M. (2015). The challenges of undergraduate mental health nursing education from the perspectives of heads of schools of nursing in Queensland, Australia. Collegian, 22(3), 267-274.

Hart, S. M., & Warren, A. M. (2015). Understanding nurses’ work: Exploring the links between changing work, labour relations, workload, stress, retention and recruitment. Economic and Industrial Democracy, 36(2), 305-329.

Hunter, L., Weber, T., Shattell, M., & Harris, B. A. (2015). Nursing students’ attitudes about psychiatric mental health nursing. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 36(1), 29-34.

Kane, C. (2015). The 2014 scope and standards of practice for psychiatric mental health nursing: Key updates. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 20. Web.

Mårtensson, G., Jacobsson, J. W., & Engström, M. (2014). Mental health nursing staff’s attitudes towards mental illness: An analysis of related factors. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 21(9), 782-788.

McAllister, M., Happell, B., & Flynn, T. (2014). Learning essentials: What graduates of mental health nursing programmes need to know from an industry perspective. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 23(23-24), 3449-3459.

Newman, D., O’Reilly, P., Lee, S. H., & Kennedy, C. (2015). Mental health service users’ experiences of mental health care: An integrative literature review. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 22(3), 171-182.

Parker, J. M., & Hill, M. N. (2017). A review of advanced practice nursing in the United States, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong special administrative region (SAR), China. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 4(2), 196-204.

Salmond, S. W., & Echevarria, M. (2017). Healthcare transformation and changing roles for nursing. Orthopedic Nursing, 36(1), 12–25.

Sercu, C., Ayala, R. A., & Bracke, P. (2015). How does stigma influence mental health nursing identities? An ethnographic study of the meaning of stigma for nursing role identities in two Belgian psychiatric hospitals. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 52(1), 307-316.

Smith, K. M., & Boschma, G. (2016). Toward community-based practice: The changing role of the registered nurse in psychiatry and mental health. In S. B. Lewenson, A. McAllister, & K. Smith (Eds.), Nursing history for contemporary role development (pp. 93-119). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

Burnout at work appears to be an increasingly severe problem for US employees. An article by Vavra (2019), “Burnout is an Official Medical Diagnosis Under WHO Handbook Updates,” provides a brief description of burnout according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) handbook. Moreover, the author recounts symptoms and contributing factors, as well as possible medical conditions that can be caused by this mental issue if left unresolved. Therefore, this article presents practical information allowing managers to obtain the necessary knowledge on such a widespread problem and motivation for workplace environment improvement.

WHO defines burnout as a specific syndrome that forms in the context of severe work stress experienced for a prolonged time. The inclusion of this condition in the International Classification of Diseases will allow medical professionals to recognize and manage this state before it leads to significant health complications. The author mentions the following symptoms: “feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion increased mental distance from a person’s job or feeling negative or cynical in relation to work and reduced efficacy” (Vavra, 2019, para 4). It should be noted that these signs are relevant to the diagnosis only in the work context, and this condition is distinct from other mental disorders.

There are contributing factors that can worsen the psychological state of an employee, such as lack of autonomy and peer support, unstable workplace dynamics, mixed job demands, and disrupted work-life balance. People with monotonous jobs and extreme workloads are at higher risk of developing symptoms of burnout. Being in such a state without appropriate mitigating measures may lead to feelings of sadness, anxiety, and anger, along with consequent fatigue, insomnia, and possible substance abuse. Experiencing burnout chronically is associated with heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and general susceptibility to different illnesses.

The first step to address such a problem should be inducing and promoting employees’ awareness of both personal needs and healthy mental practices. This can be encouraged by relevant information on self-care and adequate training. If an employee’s responsibilities appear to be a potent and constant stressor, he or she should feel motivated and entitled to discuss this issue with the supervisor. A simple act of bringing attention to the matter makes it possible for managers to offer a solution or help employees to prioritize their tasks.

The costs of poor mental state and benefits of a burnout-free environment are essential not only for workers but for business owners as well. Staff meetings and group events are valuable methods of establishing good communications among workers within the organization. Moreover, creating schedule opportunities for taking breaks and participating in quick, unwinding activities will foster wellness in the workplace and create a positive atmosphere. Undoubtedly, employees’ vacations can take their toll on business operations. Still, in the long run, the guaranteed possibility for a person to have some time away from work can further strengthen measures of burnout prevention.

In summary, adding work burnout to the list of WHO-recognized disorders establishes a firm ground for better management of such a prevalent mental health problem. Work-related stress is often a part of many jobs in the service sector, including health care professionals. It is crucial to address the contributing factors and manage the working environment in a timely manner at any organizational level. Therefore, appropriate steps should be arranged and enrolled on both the employee and the employer’s side.

Reference

Vavra, K. (2019). Burnout is an official medical diagnosis under WHO handbook updates. Daily News. Web.

In order to treat mental diseases, medications that belong to the category of sedatives and depressants are actively used in medical practice. These specific drugs are prescribed because of their ability to reduce the symptoms of various mental illnesses due to slowing the brain function and decreasing anxiety. The group of sedatives/depressants covers medications including benzodiazepines and barbiturates, as well as non-benzodiazepine sedatives. Those individuals who are diagnosed with a mental disease may be prescribed to take sedatives/depressants because they affect the brain function, stabilise mood, and help to overcome the symptoms of depression, anxiety and insomnia.

The facts that sedatives/depressants can be easily overused and they can provoke addiction in a short term allow for discussing the advantages and disadvantages of taking these drugs when having a mental health problem. The pros of taking sedatives/depressants are numerous, and these medications are among the most prescribed drugs in Western countries. The advantages include comparably quick and prolonged effects on a patient’s mood, behaviour, and the overall state. When taking sedatives/depressants regularly, according to the prescription, it is possible to decrease symptoms of a mental illness or eliminate them for a certain period of time. Positive outcomes associated with using sedatives/depressants include decreased headaches, slowed brain functioning, decreased alertness, anxiety and stress symptoms, the absence of insomnia, the stable mood, and relaxation. Thus, sedatives/depressants are popular choices for prescribing in order to achieve these outcomes and expected effects on patients.

However, in spite of the presence of obvious positive effects for the health of individuals with mental illnesses, it is important to note that sedatives/depressants are often viewed as harmful. The reason is that these medications may cause addiction when consumed inappropriately. In addition, the problem is that tolerance to different types of sedatives/depressants develops rather quickly, and patients need to increase doses in order to achieve therapeutic effects. As a result, the risks of developing addiction also grow, along with threats of overdosing and even death. It is also important to note that sedatives/depressants have many side effects, such as dizziness, the loss of coordination, chronic fatigue, and nausea. When these drugs are taken for a long period of time and doses are high, they also provoke insomnia, rapid mood changes, aggressiveness, panic, breathing difficulties and hallucinations, among others. The high rate of side effects occurrence makes healthcare providers pay much attention to educating patients on how to take sedatives or depressants to treat a mental health problem.

Furthermore, much attention should be paid to the specifics of consuming sedatives/depressants in combination with other medications. When consumed along with other drugs, sedatives/depressants cause side effects more frequently, and the overall risk of overdosing sedatives also increases for patients. Moreover, individuals with mental illnesses should remember that the consumption of sedatives/depressants along with alcohol is also prohibited because of harmful effects on a patient’s health and possibilities of complications.

The analysis of the specifics of taking sedatives/depressants to cope with mental illnesses indicates that these medications can effectively treat depression, anxiety and insomnia among other mental disorders. The reason is that these drugs affect the brain function, they can stabilise a patient’s mood and decrease symptoms. However, the focus on potential side effects and the cons of using sedatives/depressants is also important because these drugs provoke addiction in many cases, and risks of developing undesirable negative symptoms are high.

Introduction

The government of Scotland recognises the need to develop a comprehensive system to address mental health issues throughout the region. Contemporary medicine and technology allow for the prevention and treatment of almost all mental conditions. To achieve this task on a national scale, however, there should be a common framework for handling prevalent issues. To address these concerns, the government of Scotland developed a 10-year mental health strategy. This paper will provide an overview and critique of the plan. In short, the strategy published by the Scottish government is comprehensive, but there are questions about its feasibility.

Summary

The Scottish Government’s Mental Health strategy spans from 2017 to 2027. The document prioritises early intervention and prevention, and thus, emphasises the importance of schools in early diagnosis and counselling. For those individuals who professionally support young people, the government is to develop training programmes to elevate their skills and expertise. The second element of the strategy is the development of convenient mental support services and improving the accessibility of treatment options. This part includes increasing the number of mental health workers, improving the quality of self-help materials, and providing funding for vulnerable segments of the population. Three other critical sections of the document are the treatment of physical issues that resulted from mental conditions, advancing relevant legislation, and developing a data framework for future use.

Critique

The strategy can be considered to be comprehensive because it handles all aspects of treating and preventing mental health issues. The document can be visualised as a pipeline – mental conditions are attempted to be dealt with at early stages. As individuals move through the pipeline, they receive treatment and materials for self-help. The last point in the pipeline is the systematic collection of data. Information about individuals with mental health conditions and their experience from childhood to adulthood can contribute to the understanding of psychological problems. Having a database with multidimensional data is a significant advantage in terms of investigation opportunities and the feasibility of research projects.

Despite the relatively short length of the plan, it encompasses multiple planes of the same issue. For the prevention of mental health conditions, the authors propose to focus on factors contributing to poor mental health. For instance, poverty is considered to be the most significant contributor to adverse mental well-being. Therefore, the Scottish government is to focus on all aspects, including facilitating the elimination of poverty throughout the region, improving social security, increasing the quality of public education, and ensuring that all people are provided with employment opportunities. Only concentrating on treatment options is not enough to solve mental health issues on a national scale. Therefore, the ambitions of the Scottish government presented as part of the strategy are favourable. However, the paper does not provide detailed information about how these ventures will be funded. This raises questions about the strategy’s financial and technical feasibility.

Conclusion

The number of individuals with mental health conditions has been rising globally and the same problem is affecting Scotland. Realising this fact, the Scottish government presented a comprehensive plan of how it is going to tackle mental health issues on a large scale between 2017 and 2027. Although the programme is extensive and is full of details, the government does not provide information about the feasibility of this long-term project.

The research on the Identification of the Mental Health Patient as a Culturally Unique Population in the Post-Anaesthesia CareUnit by Tomes Montei and Dawn Woten (2013) was approved by the relevant institutional review board. The researchers obtained informed consent from all participants of the study, but no information was provided regarding anonymity or confidentiality. The vulnerability of the subjects was factored in the research design, and this affected the approach to this research. However, despite this fact, there was no coercion on the part of the researchers (Broyles, 2006). The subjects had no opportunity to ask questions irrespective of the fact that they were informed on the importance of the study and could obtain the research findings.

The research problem was clearly identified with a succinct problem statement. The study variables were clearly defined, and it was clear from the design of the research that this was qualitative research. Empirical data was also used, and the study’s approach indicates that it was an ethical study. On the same note, a feasibility study was not conducted.

A concise literature review is evident, but it was not comprehensive. The sources used were relevant to the study, and they were critically appraised in addition to having a logical flow. Furthermore, the author used current resources with little use of direct quotes from them. They could be easily identified as primary or secondary sources and were cited correctly on the reference page.

There was a clear identification of a nursing theory framework that was appropriate. The concepts were exhaustively defined, with the relationships between them clearly explained, and the research question was supported by a hypothesis that was clearly stated. Moreover, the study findings were adequately related to the study framework, and they served to actually help the framework (Nieswiadomy, 2012).

The hypothesis was stated through the use of a declarative statement. The idea and study problem went hand in hand. It is also worth pointing out that two variables were used in the population. The nature of the hypothesis could be empirically tested, and it was a unidirectional hypothesis.

The study design was elaborated clearly, and the research question can be answered without necessarily having to test the hypothesis. In addition to that, the research sets a cause and effect relationship between the research variables. Moreover, the study employs the use of a non-experimental design. However, the most appropriate approach to be employed would be an experimental design. The control of extraneous variables in this design approach draws the researchers to use descriptive methods to control various aspects, such as subject characteristics.

The phenomenon being studied can only be addressed most appropriately through the use of a qualitative design strategy (Tomes, Montei & Woten, 2013). The qualitative approach used in carrying out the research was not explicitly mentioned. The study findings will indeed have a significant impact in the field of nursing and, precisely, the approach of nursing towards mentally ill patients. Sick mentally patients require special care that can be offered through this approach. There is no evidence of bias in the data collection strategy. Finally, the research goes ahead and makes suggestions for further studies on the same. However, there is a need to use various study methods in such an endeavor so as to test as many approaches appropriate for mentally ill patients as possible.

References

Broyles, R. W. (2006). Fundamentals of Statistics in Health Administration. New York: Jones & Bartlett.

Nieswiadomy, R. M. (2012). Foundations of Nursing Research (6th ed.). New York: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Tomes, C., Montei, V., & Woten, D. (2013). Identification of the Mental Health Patient as a Culturally Unique Population in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit. Web.

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to study the main issues related to the delivery of medical services in low- and middle-income countries. During the study, the authors conducted significant work in different sectors of the population of such countries. They interviewed both people in need of assistance and medical workers and social activists. Several problems are common in these countries and require resolution. Among them, an insufficient number of doctors and poor quality of medical services can be noted. Thus, the main expectation of the residents of these countries is the availability and prevalence of quality medicine. This problem is acute, because now the level of medical services in the field of mental health, as in other areas, is quite low. To improve the quality of life of the population, it is necessary to resolve this issue.

Main body

One of the crucial challenges for medical workers is the introduction of the proposed system into the current healthcare system. This requires a long and complex process of training and practice. Researchers propose a model in which medical professionals consult patients together with inexperienced doctors. During the process, the latter learn to work with various types of patients, obtain sufficient knowledge in the required areas, and, after that, can consult patients themselves. The main benefit of this model of cooperation is the higher quality and availability of medical services in low- and middle-income countries. It will allow the doctors to work more efficiently and the patients to get a better result of treatment. Thus, this model is supposed to positively influence the entire health care system as a whole.

However, some complex issues can make changing a healthcare system more complicated. Some of the people surveyed noted that social stigma is a crucial factor for them. This means that when they start looking for help with an existing mental disorder, society draws negative conclusions about them. This makes the process of going to the doctor more psychologically difficult, and often people stop trying to solve their problems. Doctors also have particular preserves that can interfere with patient treatment and learning new things. According to the study, some of them are afraid of poor teaching quality and management errors. Low-quality services of professional doctors can adversely affect both patient treatment and public attitudes towards this area of ​​medicine. Thus, the level of trust in medical workers must be increased by working on their professional and personal qualities.

The research results reflect a wide range of problems and a significant number of solutions. This paper may be helpful for use by health systems in low- and middle-income countries. Firstly, it describes the main problems of mental healthcare noted in these countries. The government needs to be aware of this to know which areas need improvement. Secondly, researchers describe ways to solve these problems, which can also have a positive impact on society. Thirdly, the study compares the results of surveys in different countries. This allows them to consider the issue more broadly, adopting the best aspects of the health systems of other countries and avoiding the worst. Thus, the study enables researchers to fully consider the issue of mental healthcare and various ways to solve related problems.

Conclusion

The paper considers only the problems associated with the prevention and treatment of mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries. However, there is a significant layer of issues associated with other areas of the functioning of medicine in these countries. They are related to the cost of medical services, their low quality, and the insufficient number of doctors. There is also the problem of illiteracy among people in the field of health. Residents of these countries may not be aware of potential diseases, their prevention and diagnosis, and the need for treatment. A comprehensive study of these issues can be even more useful for further research in these countries and help develop their health systems.

Reference List

Mendenhall, E., De Silva, M. and Hanlon, C. (2014) ‘Acceptability and feasibility of using non-specialist health workers to deliver mental health care: stakeholder perceptions from the PRIME district sites in Ethiopia, India, Nepal, South Africa, and Uganda’, Social Science & Medicine, 118C, pp. 33-42.