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Write My Essay For MeHealth Issues in the Community
Clinical depression is one of the top public health issues. Clinical depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States. More than 19 million American adolescents and adults are affected. In 2016, 6.7 percent of adults and 12.8 percent of adolescents reported having at least one episode of depression. (Depression: MedlinePlus Genetics, n.d.)
Clinical depression is a severe mental health issue that, when untreated, can lead to illness, fatigue, and even suicide. Symptoms of clinical depression comprise of loss of appetite, lack of energy, restlessness, and loss of interest in activities. (12 Common Public Health Issues, 2021) Clinical depression has been on the rise in communities as an unfortunate residual effect of the pandemic. With quarantines, remote work, distance learning, and unyielding restrictions on social gatherings, people have undergone intense feelings of isolation and distress. (Goodwin University, 2021) Other factors contributing to clinical depression are being single, having no social network, especially around the holidays, experiencing a stressful or life-changing event, and having a serious illness. (12 Common Public Health Issues, 2021)
A nurse can improve the issue of clinical depression at the population level by first addressing the stigma related to mental health issues. Across the United States, at any given time, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of projects and programs aimed at reducing negative attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors concerning mental disorders. Yet, stigma and people with these disorders continue to face prejudice and discrimination in many areas of civic life. (Committee on the Science of Changing Behavioral Health Social Norms et al., 2016) An especially significant reason for nurses to work in mental health care is to combat stigma. (Sercu et al., 2015) A nurse can best combat stigma related to mental illness by educating the population. In order to rectify misconceptions or refute unfavorable attitudes and beliefs, educational anti-stigma programs give accurate facts about the stigmatized disease. They dispel false myths or prejudices by substituting accurate information. (Committee on the Science of Changing Behavioral Health Social Norms et al., 2016) The nurse can offer education through their practice or even through casual interactions with others. When the stigma surrounding clinical depression is decreased or even alleviated, people in the community will have the support they need to identify the problem and be more inclined to seek treatment.
Conclusion
Clinical depression is one of the top public health issues and one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States. A nurse can improve the issue of clinical depression at the population level by first addressing the stigma related to mental health issues. A nurse can best combat the stigma associated with mental illness by educating the population. The nurse can offer education through their practice or even through casual interactions with others. When the stigma surrounding clinical depression is decreased or even alleviated, people in the community will have the support they need to identify the problem and be more inclined to seek treatment.h
References
Committee on the Science of Changing Behavioral Health Social Norms, Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, & National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2016). Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders: The Evidence for Stigma Change. National Academies Press (US). Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)Links to an external site.
12 Common Public Health Issues. (2021, March 10). Maryville Online: https://online.maryville.edu/blog/12-common-public-health-issues/Links to an external site.
Depression: MedlinePlus Genetics. (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/depression/Links to an external site.
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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2014.07.017Links to an external site.
Goodwin University. (2021, February 23). 10 Public Health Problems of 2021. https://www.goodwin.edu/enews/modern-public-health-concerns/Links to an external site.
Hi Tawni,
Great discussion post. There has been an enormous increase in mental health issues, especially depression, since the Covid-19 pandemic. After battling depression myself after the loss of both my parents during the pandemic, I can say that this a serious health issue that, if not handled carefully, can lead to death. Being a nurse and suffering from this was hard, but I had to find ways to overcome it. I agree with you about addressing the stigma related to mental illness first. I was in serious denial at first. I researched and started exercising and meditating, which helped me fight it. In North Carolina, where I live, psychiatrists agree the youth mental health crisis is the latest pandemic wave. A report published by the COVID Collaborative said by the end of last year, more than 3,600 children in North Carolina had lost caregivers in the pandemic (Micheals, 2022). All these have led to an increase in mental health, especially depression. The nonprofit group Mental Health America ranks North Carolina 21st in the country in adult mental health care but 42nd in the country in youth mental health care. The group’s rankings rely heavily on access to care, which includes the availability of beds or programs for youth. The first step is identifying the issue and looking for solutions. To help prevent this issue, nurses have to encourage outdoor activities, even when their patient doesn’t feel like doing them, which is an excellent way to combat depression. A healthy diet and a regular eating schedule help to recognize any changes in eating patterns. Talking to patients about their feelings is a good first step in dealing with their depression. Being sympathetic helps them know that you understand their feelings rather than judge them for how they feel (Bettencourt, 2016). Nurses must be empathetic, accept the patient’s feelings, and be listeners. Because of my experience, I am no better at assisting patients who battle depression.
Micheals, W. ( October 2022). North Carolina’s youth mental health crisis: ” we need to spring into action”. North Carolina Public Radio 91.5. Retrieved from:
https://www.wunc.org/health/2022-10-27/north-carolina-youth-mental-health-crisis-covid-dhhsLinks to an external site..
Bettencourt, E. (July 2016). Dealing with depression patients. Diversitynursing.com. Retrieved from: https://blog.diversitynursing.com/blog/dealing-with-depressed-patients#:~:text=There%20are%20certain%20things%20that,any%20changes%20in%20eating%20patternsLinks to an external site..
Great post and well written. I agree that nurses can help by educating patients and the public about the symptoms of depression and identifying those groups that are more susceptible to depression. It is essential through education that we release the stigma of not only clinical depression but mental health illnesses in general. Many times clinical depression is an underlying issue of something else going on such as previous trauma. It is imperative to learn how different cultures deal with clinical depression as many cultures do not address any issues of mental health illness. (Andrade 2017) In my city of Richmond, Virginia, mental health illness is at an all-time high and coordinates with our homeless population, which is compromised of primarily Veterans suffering from PTSD along with clinical depression, generalized anxiety, just to name a few. Andrade, Sofia. (2017) Cultural Influences on Mental Health. The Public Health Advocate. Community Health. https://pha.berkeley.edu/2017/04/16/cultural-influenceson-mental-health/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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2014.07.017
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