Introduction
As the head of the task group tasked with enhancing community health, I have recognized a pressing need in our region regarding the availability and quality of healthcare. The chosen goal is to increase the percentage of primary care visits that include screening for adult and adolescent depression. This goal has been chosen since it presently has a “little to no detectable change” rating on the Healthy People 2030 website. With comprehensive mental health workforce development programs, insurance overage enhancements, and community-based mental health initiatives, it is possible to address the issue.
Objective Identification and Factors Contributing to Failure
Millions of adults and teenagers in the US suffer from depression each year. According to Healthy People 2030 (n.d.), screening during primary care visits and adequate follow-up care can help adults and adolescents with depression symptoms. The goal is to increase the percentage of primary care offices that conduct screening for adult and adolescent depression (Healthy People 2030, n.d.). According to the most recent data, the objective status is 9.1% of the increase in primary care visits, while the target is 13.5% (Healthy People 2030, n.d.). Therefore, there is a dire need to address the problem.
The statistics demonstrate how the issue continues to persist and affect the population. From 2009 to 2019, almost 170,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 were evaluated annually using nationwide questionnaires (Wilson & Dumornay, 2022). Adolescent depression rates rose from 8.1% in 2009 to 15.8% in 2019, which is a comparatively higher increase than that seen in an earlier study conducted between 2005 and 2014 (Wilson & Dumornay, 2022).
In 2020, young adults (18–25 years old) exhibited the highest prevalence of depression, closely followed by adolescents (12–17 years old) (Goodwin et al., 2022). These results point to a possible crisis in the mental health of adolescents, which is in line with other recent cohort studies conducted both domestically and internationally.
Events and difficulties in life serve as catalysts for the onset of depression. During the COVID-19 pandemic, symptoms such as sadness, anxiety, sleeplessness, and severe stress were more common (Dong et al., 2023). However, the problem is exacerbated by the shortage of mental health specialists (Dong et al., 2023). Access to mental health treatments is further hampered by the stigma attached to seeking mental health therapy, as well as the insurance field’s restricted coverage of mental health services (Dong et al., 2023). Thus, both external and internal factors contribute significantly to the issue.
Stakeholders and Their Roles
Several stakeholder groups can be involved in addressing the issue. For instance, the first group is patients since they are the main consumers of healthcare services. Engaging patients in policy development can be crucial, as they can offer valuable insights and perspectives (Wilson & Dumornay, 2022).
Another group of stakeholders that can be essential to addressing the issue is providers, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, advanced practice nurses, and licensed counselors (Wilson & Dumornay, 2022). Their contribution is significant, as their collaborative efforts can significantly improve access to healthcare services. Moving forward, payors are another stakeholder group. Insurance companies can enhance access to quality mental health care. For this reason, involving payors in the process can help improve coverage and reimbursement rates. Finally, policymakers are crucial to the process, as they can promote well-being in local communities.
Tactics for Addressing the Objective: Engaging Stakeholders
Creating comprehensive workforce development programs in mental health is the first step toward solving the issue. The range of mental health services schools offer can be expanded through collaboration between community mental health organizations and schools (Heatly et al., 2023). Through this partnership, it will be possible to reduce barriers to care, increase access to mental health services, and improve the identification of mental health disorders (Heatly et al., 2023).
Another tactic to address the objective is to enhance insurance coverage for mental health services. Legislation requiring insurers to provide equal benefits for both physical and mental health care is known as mental health parity legislation (Heatly et al., 2023). The given strategy aims to eliminate disparities in insurance coverage, allowing individuals to access the necessary treatment without financial barriers.
Finally, implementing community-based mental health initiatives can help establish outreach programs and promote early intervention and well-being. Consequently, such a method can be essential for reducing stigma and raising awareness (Heatly et al., 2023). To engage stakeholders, a collaborative platform can be created. Moreover, as an option, it may be crucial to include stakeholder meetings alongside relevant data and evidence-based practices to inform their decision-making.
Conclusion
In conclusion, addressing the issue requires robust workforce development in mental health, improved insurance coverage, and community-focused mental health programs. The target percentage is 13.5%, while the current data indicates that the objective is only 9.1% of the growth in primary care visits. According to the statistics, there might be a mental health crisis, which is in line with results gathered from recent cohort studies conducted both domestically and internationally. When addressing the issue, several stakeholder groups may be involved, including patients, payors, legislators, and providers.
References
Dong, P., Lin, X., Wu, F., Lou, S., Li, N., Hu, S., Shi, L., He, J., Ma, Y., Bao, Y., Lu, L., Sun, W., & Sun, H. (2023). Depression, anxiety, and burnout among psychiatrists during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Beijing, China. BMC Psychiatry, 23(1), 494.
Healthy People 2030. (n.d.). Increase the proportion of primary care visits where adolescents and adults are screened for depression — MHMD‑08.
Heatly, M. C., Nichols-Hadeed, C., Stiles, A. A., & Alpert-Gillis, L. (2023). Implementation of a school mental health learning collaborative model to support cross-sector collaboration. School Mental Health, 1–18.
Goodwin, R. D., Dierker, L. C., Wu, M., Galea, S., Hoven, C. W., & Weinberger, A. H. (2022). Trends in U.S. depression prevalence from 2015 to 2020: The widening treatment gap. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 63(5), 726–733.
Wilson, S., & Dumornay, N. M. (2022). Rising rates of adolescent depression in the United States: Challenges and opportunities in the 2020s. The Journal of Adolescent Health: Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 70(3), 354–355.