Agenda Comparison Grids: Apa Citation, 3 References, 200-250
Agenda Comparison Grids Apa Citation 3 References200 250 Wordsto
Compare the healthcare agendas related to mental health and depression of the current U.S. president and the two previous presidents using an agenda comparison grid. Assess how each administration prioritized mental health issues, the policies implemented, and their impact on public health outcomes. Consider how political ideology, societal needs, and policy focus influenced the prominence of mental health on each administration’s agenda. Reflect on how these differences in agenda setting affect policy development and implementation for mental health treatment, funding, and awareness initiatives. Your analysis should demonstrate an understanding of the factors that drive healthcare policy priorities and how they evolve over time under different presidential leaderships.
Paper For Above instruction
Mental health, particularly depression, has increasingly become a significant component of the U.S. healthcare policy agenda. The prioritization and approaches towards mental health policies vary notably among different presidential administrations, shaped by prevailing political ideologies, societal awareness, and healthcare challenges of their respective eras. A comparative analysis of the current president and the two prior presidents reveals how mental health may ascend or descend on the political agenda based on these influences.
The current administration has placed a robust emphasis on mental health, recognizing depression as a critical public health concern. Policies such as the 2022 American Rescue Plan included substantial funding for mental health services, aiming to expand access and reduce barriers to treatment (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2022). Furthermore, initiatives like the 21st Century Cures Act emphasized mental health parity, integrating mental health into overall healthcare reform efforts. This reflects a broader societal shift toward destigmatization and acknowledgment of mental health's importance, aligning with the administration's focus on health equity and social determinants of health (Mental Health America, 2023).
Contrastingly, the previous administration prioritized mental health primarily through crisis management and law enforcement initiatives. The 2017 VA MISSION Act, for example, aimed to improve mental health services for veterans but lacked a comprehensive national strategy for depression and broader mental health issues outside veteran populations (VA, 2017). Similarly, the early policies of the Obama administration included efforts to reduce stigma and increase access through the Affordable Care Act, which mandated mental health coverage (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2010). However, the emphasis was less on funding and more on legal mandates, indicating a different approach to agenda setting.
The earlier Bush administration focused less explicitly on mental health as a policy priority, primarily addressing broader healthcare reform without specific emphasis on depression. Funding and policy changes related to mental health were limited, and mental health issues were often peripheral to overarching health reform initiatives (Engel et al., 2014). The shift observed with recent presidents indicates that societal awareness and political will significantly influence the prominence of mental health on the federal agenda. As mental health issues like depression gain recognition for their impact on productivity and quality of life, administrations increasingly prioritize them accordingly, reflecting evolving policy priorities driven by public health evidence and societal advocacy.
References
- Engel, C., Pincus, H. A., & Wainman, J. (2014). Mental health policy and practice: An overview. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 39(4), 204-212.
- Mental Health America. (2023). The state of mental health in America: Annual report. https://www.mhanational.org
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2010). Affordable Care Act: Mental health provisions. https://www.hhs.gov
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2022). American Rescue Plan: Mental health initiatives. https://www.hhs.gov
- Veterans Affairs. (2017). VA MISSION Act overview. https://www.va.gov