Inroduction
About 10% of the world’s sick population suffers from mental, neurological, or substance use (MNS) conditions. In researching Country Peru, looking at both the mid to high-income and low and improvised areas was important, especially regarding mental health. The researcher looked through the lens of those within the community, those living in more rural areas, and the suburbs of the Capital of Lima. In a study completed in Peru, researchers explored attitudes and perspectives concerning psychiatric services for people at risk of suicide. Survey respondents indicated gaps in education, expertise, and experience related to suicide risk evaluation and management (Alonzo & Pratto, 2021). Health professionals have reported negative impacts from inadequate training and resources in institutions aiming to equip psychotherapists to deal with at-risk persons effectively.
Describing the Challenge of Accessing Proper Mental Health Services
One in five people in Peru have a diagnosable MNS; however, up to 85% of those individuals do not receive treatment. The lack of available mental health resources has been a major barrier to care for a long time (Saavedra & Galea, 2021). This treatment gap cannot be attributed solely to a lack of available mental health care or the stigma associated with having a mental disease. A mental health treatment gap develops when people with psychological health illnesses do not recognize they have a problem and do not seek help. Thus, how one evaluates their mental health crisis impacts whether or not they seek treatment for MNS.
Of the people who participated in the survey, just 3.6% used mental health facilities. Nearly 80 percent of those who suffer from alcohol use disorders did not consider or name their condition a mental health issue (Saavedra & Galea, 2021). Substance abusers’ low rates of seeking help may diminish the impact of prevention strategies that reduce alcohol abuse. Most respondents did not feel they needed treatment for depression, which is consistent with the fact that 26% of patients with mild to severe depressive disorder would not admit a diagnosis of depression. During therapy, families living in areas far from specialist clinics often face socioeconomic challenges, often known as fiscal toxicity, of two categories: subjective and objective. The objective category includes expenses not covered by insurance, such as those incurred for prescription drugs, doctor visits, and hospital stays (Falcón et al., 2021). The subjective aspect relates to prospective alterations in patient well-being and care quality. Suicide rates, especially among young people, are rising, and there is a clear and pressing need for specialized training to address this crisis in Peru.
Addressing the Challenge
Since most persons with mental health issues use primary care facilities (and, to a lesser degree, specialty clinics), mental health services should be fully integrated into the primary healthcare framework. Training employees (and staff development) to adequately address common psychiatric problems in outpatient clinics, the quality of mental healthcare provided, and user satisfaction are all crucial components of service integration (Saavedra & Galea, 2021). Social workers and psychiatric mental health nurses operating in Lima’s health care system are responsible for assessing the plight of patients seeking treatment there. They should consider the socioeconomic conditions that make the patients’ families more susceptible to the sickness. Healthcare providers can improve patients’ quality of life and care by coordinating and directing them to available support networks and intervening based on those systems’ strengths.
Conclusion
Inadequate training and resources provided by institutions aiming to equip psychotherapists to deal with at-risk persons negatively affect the treatment of MNS. Care for those with mental health issues has been hampered by a lack of accessible resources for a long time. Among those diagnosed with major depression, 26% refuse to acknowledge that they have the problem. Important aspects of service integration include training employees (and staff development) to properly address common psychiatric problems in outpatient clinics, the quality of mental healthcare provided, and the satisfaction of patients.
References
Alonzo, D., & Pratto, D. (2021). Mental health services for individuals at risk of suicide in Peru: Attitudes and perspectives of mental health professionals. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 67(3), 209-218.
Falcón, G. C. S., Espinoza, L. A. O., Siles, M. D. C. V., Chapoñan, R. Z., & Huaman, J. A. Z. (2021). Seeking cancer treatment for their children: Experience of parents from areas distant from Lima-Peru. Revista Gaúcha de Enfermagem, 42, 1-10.
Saavedra, J. E., & Galea, J. T. (2021). Access of mental health services by the adult population in metropolitan Lima, Peru: Characteristics, perceptions and need for care. Community Mental Health Journal, 57(2), 228-237.