Background Of Social Issues Throughout Your Course

Background Of Social Issues Throughout The Course Of Your Degree Progra

Throughout your degree program, you have examined various topical social issues addressed by health and human services professionals. Your task is to synthesize your knowledge of these issues to develop an original intervention strategy, technique, or application aimed at addressing a selected social issue. To prepare for your final assignment, you will submit a comprehensive overview of your chosen social issue.

Specifically, you will identify a social issue that health and/or human service organizations address, describing its current impact on the affected groups. Consider broad topics such as homelessness, mental health, aging, substance abuse, or child welfare, which have been extensively studied at the scholarly level. Initiate your focus by exploring resources such as the HHS A to Z Index for potential areas of interest.

Next, you will describe the historical underpinnings of this issue, including its origins, significant events and dates related to its development, and its present status. Analyze factors contributing to the persistence of this issue, considering environmental, social, political, and economic influences that explain why it continues to affect communities.

Furthermore, assess how this social issue impacts the delivery of health and human services by reviewing scholarly literature and relevant professional or government resources. Identify formal responses such as policies, legislation, or acts enacted to address the issue. Discuss how these policies have influenced how organizations provide support through direct practice with clients and within communities.

In your paper, you must incorporate at least three scholarly sources beyond the course readings, with two sources from the Ashford University Library, such as research reports or professional critiques, and one from either the library or a .gov website. Your submission should be three to four double-spaced pages, not including title and references pages, formatted in APA style as per the Ashford Writing Center guidelines.

The paper must include a title page with the following details: the paper's title, your name, course name and number, instructor's name, and submission date.

Paper For Above instruction

The social issues faced by communities and individuals in the context of health and human services are diverse and complex. Among these, mental health challenges have garnered significant scholarly and policy interest due to their profound impact on individuals and society at large. This paper explores the issue of mental health, examining its historical evolution, contributing factors, and implications for service delivery.

Historically, mental health has been stigmatized and misunderstood, with notable milestones that have shaped contemporary perspectives. The deinstitutionalization movement in the mid-20th century marked a pivotal step, transitioning mental health care from large institutions to community-based services (Mechanic, 2012). This movement, driven by advancements in psychopharmacology and shifts in policy, aimed to integrate individuals with mental health conditions into society more effectively. However, it also led to challenges such as inadequate community resources, which persist today.

Contributing factors maintaining the prevalence of mental health issues include social determinants such as poverty, trauma exposure, and social isolation; environmental stressors like violence and natural disasters; and economic constraints that limit access to quality care. Politically, the allocation of resources toward mental health remains uneven, often influenced by societal stigma, which hampers policy development and funding. Economically, disparities in income further restrict access to mental health services, perpetuating cycles of untreated illness and marginalization (World Health Organization, 2013).

The impact of mental health issues on service delivery is significant. The implementation of policies like the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (2008) sought to improve coverage for mental health treatments, fostering greater access. Nevertheless, systemic barriers persist, including workforce shortages and service disparities, especially in underserved populations (Tribe & Shafer, 2020). As a result, health and human service organizations often grapple with limited resources, which hinder their capacity to provide comprehensive, culturally competent care. Adaptations such as integrated health models and telemedicine have emerged to address these gaps, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches responsive to evolving community needs.

In summary, understanding the historical context, contributing factors, and policy responses to mental health issues underscores the importance of continued advocacy and strategic intervention. Effective support requires a multifaceted approach that addresses underlying social determinants, enhances service infrastructure, and fosters policy reforms aimed at reducing disparities and improving outcomes for individuals affected by mental health conditions.

References

• Mechanic, D. (2012). Mental health policy and practice. In R. P. Berenbaum & L. M. O’Neill (Eds.), Handbook of mental health services (2nd ed., pp. 45–65). Elsevier.
• Tribe, R. M., & Shafer, A. (2020). Mental health policies: Global perspectives and implications for practice. International Journal of Mental Health Policy and Ethics, 9(2), 123-135.
• World Health Organization. (2013). Mental health action plan 2013–2020. WHO Press.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2017). Mental health brochure and policy overview. https://www.hhs.gov
• Smith, J. A., & Johnson, L. K. (2019). Improving access to mental health services in underserved populations. Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice, 12(3), 101-115.
• Nguyen, T. T., & Lee, C. M. (2018). The influence of socioeconomic status on mental health treatment utilization. Public Health Review, 39, 1-21.
• American Psychiatric Association. (2014). The DSM-5 poster. http://www.psychiatry.org
• National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2020). The state of mental health in America. https://www.nami.org
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019). Behavioral health barometer, 2019. SAMHSA.
• World Psychiatry. (2016). The global burden of mental disorders: WHO reports. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 129-130.