United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDGs Assignment

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Sdgsassignment 50pts

As we discussed in class, the United Nations has developed 17 sustainable development goals in 2015 with a projected goal for 2030 to build a better, more sustainable future for us all. For this assignment, please choose the sustainable development goal that interests you most. To quickly review the list of SDGs please revisit our course canvas page: “Social Entrepreneurship in Action” or watch the following video: Once you’ve chosen 1 SDG on which to focus, use some of the tools you’ve learned earlier in the course to address the following points.

It may be necessary to examine the goal you have chosen a little more closely. The website above may be a good place to start. Your response should not exceed 5 pages double spaced. Please use font size 12. Please include a brief list of references if you use sources in addition to the UN website and the resources available through your Canvas course page.

In your introduction, please identify which SDG you have chosen giving both the number and name of the goal.

According to the United Nations, in how many countries can this challenge be found? How many people would be influenced if this goal were to be successfully addressed? Does the problem exist here in the United States? In your state, in your county? Are there historical, political, or cultural events and situations that have made it difficult to eradicate the problem?

What changes would help in the facilitation of achieving this goal. Please explain.

Conduct further research on your SDG. What work has already been done or is being done to address the SDG you have chosen? Give 3 examples. Describe the people who are implementing the program?

Describe the people who will benefit from the program? Are any of the people on the implementation side apart of the population who will benefit? If so, what is the significance of this relationship.

In this course we learned about DESIGN THINKING as a creative method of designing a solution to every-day problems using empathy. We also discussed at great length the use of stimuli to familiarize ourselves with the focal phenomenon (ie. Coffee mug, observing people drinking coffee).

If you were an entrepreneur or idea generator with the goal of helping to eradicate an issue associated with your chosen SDG for this assignment, what would you use as a stimulus or stimuli? What resources do you have access to that would allow you to use empathy to understand the problem better? What resources do you lack? If you lack resources or access needed to help solve the problem, who would you need to connect with to gain access to those resources?

Most entrepreneurs work in teams. If you were to assemble a team to work with (consider the team box from your idea napkin), what would be the profile of the group of people you think would be most helpful in helping you create a solution in the form of an invention or innovation?

Paper For Above instruction

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a global commitment to address some of the most pressing issues facing humanity. For this assignment, I have selected SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

SDG 3 is a critical goal, as health is foundational to personal development, economic productivity, and societal stability. This goal is relevant in over 190 countries worldwide, affecting billions of individuals. According to the WHO, approximately 15% of the world's population suffers from some form of mental health disorder, impacting quality of life and economic participation. Successfully addressing SDG 3 would result in healthier populations, increased productivity, and reduced healthcare costs globally. In the United States, mental health issues persist, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which exacerbated anxiety and depression. In my state of California, mental health challenges are compounded by socioeconomic disparities, especially in underserved communities. Historically, stigma, insufficient funding, and inadequate infrastructure have hindered progress in mental health care.

To facilitate achievement of SDG 3, increased investment in mental health infrastructure, destigmatization campaigns, and integration of mental health services into primary care are essential. Policies must prioritize equitable access, especially in marginalized communities. Education campaigns can shift cultural perceptions, encouraging people to seek help without fear of stigma. Additionally, leveraging technology, such as telehealth services, can expand access in rural and underserved areas.

Research indicates significant work has been undertaken in mental health promotion. For example:

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Provides education, advocacy, and support programs nationwide, emphasizing community-based interventions.
• Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs): Offer accessible services to underserved populations, often staffed by psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists.
• School-based Mental Health Programs: Target young populations to promote early intervention and reduce stigma among adolescents, with educators, counselors, and healthcare providers implementing these initiatives.

Those implementing these programs include mental health professionals, educators, community leaders, and policymakers. Beneficiaries are individuals experiencing mental health challenges, their families, and communities. Interestingly, some mental health professionals and community workers are also among the population benefiting from ongoing training and employment opportunities, highlighting a symbiotic relationship that supports both service provision and community well-being.

Applying design thinking to address mental health challenges involves empathy-driven approaches. If I were an entrepreneur aiming to improve mental health access, I might use stimuli such as anonymized patient stories or visualizations of community support networks to foster understanding. Resources available include social media platforms and local community organizations, which can facilitate engagement and data collection. However, access to clinical data and funding could be limited; in such cases, partnerships with healthcare providers, government agencies, and non-profits would be necessary to gain resources.

Assembling a multidisciplinary team would be vital. The team profile would include mental health practitioners, technologists, social entrepreneurs, community advocates, and individuals with lived experience. This diversity ensures that solutions are empathetic, practical, and culturally sensitive, fostering innovation that effectively addresses barriers to mental health care.

References

• World Health Organization. (2021). Mental health in the COVID-19 pandemic: A global priority. WHO Press.
• United Nations. (2015). Sustainable Development Goals. UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
• National Institute of Mental Health. (2022). Mental Illness. NIMH.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). Mental health and substance use disorders. HHS.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
• Hoge, C. W., et al. (2020). 2020 Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Workforce Shortage. American Journal of Psychiatry.
• Kates, J., et al. (2020). Improving mental health access during COVID-19. Health Affairs.
• Nelson, B., et al. (2016). Mental health promotion and prevention. Journal of Public Health Policy.
• Patel, V., et al. (2018). The global challenge of mental health care. The Lancet.
• California Department of Health Care Services. (2021). Behavioral health services in California. CDHCS Publications.