HCM 340 Mental Health Services Essay

HCM 340 Milestone Two Guidelines and Rubric Overview: In Module Four, you examined some of the recent initiatives aimed at improving the performance of the healthcare system. As you learned in your module readings, healthcare should be safe, effective, timely, efficient, equitable, and patient-centered. These six key dimensions form the basis for all quality and payment reform strategies implemented since the release of healthcare improvement plans. Prompt: In this milestone, you will identify and analyze an initiative that addresses the gap you chose as the topic for your final project. Explain what the initiative is, identify the goals of the initiative, describe the circumstances around its development, and identify sources of funding. Tip: So far in the course, you have been introduced to the Kaiser Family Foundation and Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) websites.

These websites may also be helpful to you as you conduct your research on an existing initiative. Your milestone should address each of the following points in detail: • • • • • Explain an existing healthcare initiative that was put in place to address this gap in access. Explain the specific goals of the existing initiative in place to address this gap in access. Describe the circumstances around the development of the existing initiative. Consider when the initiative was developed and what factors were considered. Describe the resources required to fund the existing initiative. Explain why the existing initiative is not meeting its intended purpose and now requires improvement. Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Your paper must be submitted as a 2- to 3-page Microsoft Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and at least three sources cited in APA format. Critical Elements Existing Initiative: Address Gap Proficient (100%)

Explains an existing healthcare initiative that was put in place to address this gap in access Needs Improvement (75%) Explains an existing healthcare initiative that was put in place to address this gap in access, but explanation is cursory or contains inaccuracies Not Evident (0%) Does not explain an existing healthcare initiative that was put in place to address this gap in access Existing Initiative: Goals Explains the specific goals of the existing initiative in place to address this gap in access Explains the specific goals of the existing initiative in place to address this gap in access, but explanation is cursory or contains inaccuracies Does not explain the specific goals of the existing initiative in place to address this gap in access Value 18 18 Existing Initiative: Development Describes the circumstances around the development of the existing initiative Describes the circumstances around the development of the existing initiative, but description is unclear or incomplete Does not describe the circumstances around the development of the existing initiative 18

Existing Initiative:

Resources Describes the resources required to fund the existing initiative Describes the resources required to fund the existing initiative, but description is illogical or contains inaccuracies Does not describe the resources required to fund the existing initiative 18 Existing Initiative: Improvement Explains why the existing initiative is not meeting its intended purpose and now requires improvement Explains why the existing initiative is not meeting its intended purpose and now requires improvement, but explanation is cursory or contains inaccuracies Does not explain why the existing initiative is not meeting its intended purpose and now requires improvement 18 Articulation of Response Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas 10 Total 100% THE GAP IN EQUITY FOR VETERANS SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 1 THE GAP IN EQUITY FOR VETERANS SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 2 The Gap in Equity for Veterans Seeking Mental Health Services Access to mental health services is critical to securing the veteran’s wellness. The potential adverse consequences for a lack of access to mental healthcare among this vulnerable age group can be far-reaching. Veterans experience a range of mental illnesses and traumatic episodes that emanate from battlefield experience. Green et al. (2010) noted that American veterans are disproportionately impacted by mental health issues owing to the nature of their work. The strain of having to keep others and oneself safe, service injuries, and combat exposure intersect to increase the susceptibility of veterans to mental illnesses (Hester, 2017).

The objective of this paper is to critically examine the gap in veterans’ equitable access to mental healthcare, socioeconomic barriers, and potential implications of their health outcomes. History of Veteran’s Lack of Equitable Access The barriers to equitable access to mental healthcare services among veterans can be traced to various historical factors. The return of veterans after the end of the Second World War exposed the gap that existed between demand and supply of mental healthcare services. With thousands of soldiers rejoining communities from the battlefield, demand for services increased yet little in the direction of mental health in public health was forthcoming (Hester, 2017). The machoism culture that expected soldiers to demonstrate masculinity regardless of the circumstance brewed stigmatization towards mental health among veterans. The military culture of covering up the rising cases of mental illnesses among veterans contributed to underinvestment in the infrastructure to tackle this menace.

The widescale military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq over the past two decades further exacerbated the demand for healthcare among veterans (Kimerling et al., 2015). However, minimal investment was made in THE GAP IN EQUITY FOR VETERANS SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES essential areas such as training counselors with knowledge of the combat zones. Extended wars have contributed to post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) further increasing demand for this critical service. Impact of Socioeconomic Background The low access to mental health services among veterans is also attributable to their socioeconomic background. Modern warfare is replete with dangerous weaponry including improvised explosive devices that leave most veterans with limited mobility. Such injuries limit the quality of life and require long-term care dependent on support from family and friends (Green et al., 2010). The sudden turn of events for a maimed soldier can be traumatizing with devastating implications on mental health. With the onset of mental health challenges, many veterans experience family crises struggling to sustain meaningful social relationships (Hester, 2017).

Furthermore, veterans experience challenges in finding new jobs after leaving military service. The reduced income can significantly limit access to quality mental healthcare. How Gap Affects Healthcare Delivery Lack of adequate investment in mental healthcare facilities to cater to veterans has had direct impacts on limiting veterans’ access to service. While the stigmatization against mental illness continues to fade away, the number of qualified mental healthcare personnel to attend to veterans remains too low (Hester, 2017). The lack of mental health specialists adversely affects the much-needed supply of comprehensive mental care services. The imbalance between supply and demand of health services disproportionately affects veterans’ quality of care with projections indicating further deterioration in the quality of mental healthcare delivered to veterans and other demographics seeking mental health services. Additionally, the historical 3 THE GAP IN EQUITY FOR VETERANS SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 4 machoism culture in the military service discourages veterans from seeking early mental health services from care professionals until their conditions advance and worsen. Potential Implications Failure to address a veteran’s mental health can have devastating consequences on public health and the veteran’s quality of life. Mental illness can affect their ability to engage in meaningful economic activities (Green et al., 2010).

. They are also likely to develop more complicated forms of mental illnesses such as PTSD and other chronic ailments that are not only costly but also demanding. THE GAP IN EQUITY FOR VETERANS SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES References Green, G., Emslie, C., O’Neill, D., Hunt, K., & Walker, S. (2010). Exploring the ambiguities of masculinity in accounts of emotional distress in the military among young exservicemen. HCM 340 Mental Health Services Essay

Social Science & Medicine, 71(8), 1480-1488. Hester, R. D. (2017). Lack of access to mental health services contributes to the high suicide rates among veterans. International journal of mental health systems, 11(1), 1-4. Kimerling, R., Pavao, J., Greene, L., Karpenko, J., Rodriguez, A., Saweikis, M., & Washington, D. L. (2015). Access to mental health care among women Veterans: is VA meeting women’s needs?. Medical Care, 53(4 Suppl 1), S97. 5