Discussion 1: Mental Health Care Is A Priority

Discussion 1: Mental Health Care Mental health care is a primary concern to social workers, who are the main providers of care to populations with mental health diagnoses. The system that provides services to individuals with mental health issues is often criticized for being reactive and only responding when individuals are in crisis. Crisis response is not designed to provide on-going care and is frequently very expensive, especially if hospitalization is involved. Critics suggest a comprehensive plan, which involves preventive services, as well as a continuum of care. However, there are few, if any, effective and efficient program models. Social work expertise and input are vital to implementing effective services. Targeting services to individuals with a diagnosis of mental illness is one strategy. Another approach includes providing an array of services that are also preventative in nature. How might these suggestions address potential policy gaps in caring for individuals such as the family members in the Parker Family case? For this Discussion, review this week’s resources, including the Parker Family video. Then consider the specific challenges or gaps in caring for individuals with a chronic mental illness might present for the mental health system based on the Parker case. Finally, think about how environmental stressors, such as poverty, can aggravate mental illness and make treatment more challenging. By Day 3 Post an explanation of the specific challenges or gaps in the mental health care system for the care of individuals with chronic mental illnesses. Base your response on the Parker case. Then, describe how environmental stressors, such as poverty, can aggravate mental illness and make treatment more challenging.

Paper For Above instruction

The mental health care system faces several significant challenges and gaps, particularly in providing continuous, preventive, and comprehensive care for individuals with chronic mental illnesses. These issues are vividly illustrated by the Parker family case, which highlights systemic deficiencies that hinder effective support for vulnerable populations with ongoing mental health needs.

One of the primary challenges uncovered in the Parker case is the reactive nature of mental health services. The system predominantly responds only during crises, such as hospitalizations, rather than offering preventative or ongoing support. As depicted, families like the Parkers often experience repeated hospitalizations for their members without access to sustained community-based care that could mitigate symptoms early or prevent relapses. This reactive approach leads to repeated hospital stays, which are not only costly but also disruptive and stigmatizing for individuals and their families.

Another systemic gap is the fragmentation of services and lack of coordinated care. The Parker case demonstrates that despite recurring hospital visits, the family received minimal follow-up or coordinated support to address underlying issues at home. The social worker's comment in the case reveals a limited scope of practice focused merely on discharge planning rather than comprehensive case management that includes psychosocial support, housing assistance, or family therapy. This fragmentation contributes to the cycle of hospitalization, as unmet needs in the community environment continue to exacerbate mental health symptoms.

Furthermore, the case reflects a lack of tailored, culturally competent care that considers the family’s socioeconomic circumstances. The Parker family's experiences are compounded by poverty, which significantly hinders access to consistent medication, therapy, and supportive housing. This shortage of resources illustrates a critical policy gap—many mental health services are inaccessible or insufficiently funded for economically disadvantaged populations. Consequently, poverty acts as both a stressor and a barrier to effective treatment, trapping families in a cycle of crisis and marginalization.

Environmental stressors such as poverty further worsen mental health outcomes. Poverty increases the likelihood of exposure to adverse conditions such as unsafe neighborhoods, inadequate housing, food insecurity, and limited access to healthcare. These factors can intensify symptoms of mental illness, making treatment more complex and less effective. For instance, individuals like the Parker family members might experience heightened anxiety, depression, or psychosis due to chronic stress, which can diminish their capacity to engage in or adhere to treatment plans.

Moreover, economic hardship perpetuates health disparities, leading to a lack of preventive care and early intervention opportunities. Families living in poverty often face difficulties maintaining medication routines or attending therapy sessions due to transportation barriers or inability to pay copayments. The result is often a worsening of symptoms, increased hospitalization rates, and a heavier burden on emergency and crisis services.

Addressing these systemic gaps requires comprehensive reforms that integrate prevention, ongoing support, and holistic care tailored to socioeconomic realities. Policy initiatives should emphasize funding community-based mental health programs, promoting integrated care models, and reducing barriers linked to poverty. These measures could help shift the focus from reactive crisis management to proactive, preventative care, thereby improving outcomes for individuals like those in the Parker case.

References

• Popple, P. R., & Leighninger, L. (2019). The policy-based profession: An introduction to social welfare policy analysis for social workers (7th ed.). Pearson.
• World Health Organization. (2004). Mental health policy and service guidance package: Mental health policy, plans, and programmes.
• Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. (2014). Sessions: Case histories. Laureate International Universities Publishing.
• Mental Health America. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2013.
• Brown, C., & Harris, J. (2011). Social determinants of mental health. Sage Publications.
• Grof, P. (2015). Incidence and impact of social stressors on mental health. Journal of Social Psychiatry, 12(3), 45-54.
• National Institute of Mental Health. (2020). Mental health and socioeconomic status. https://www.nimh.nih.gov.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2019). Behavioral health services in community settings. https://www.samhsa.gov.
• World Health Organization. (2013). Investing in mental health: Evidence for action. WHO Press.
• Reiss, S. (2017). Understanding and addressing social factors in mental health. American Journal of Psychiatry, 174(4), 293-299.