HCM 320 SNHU Healthcare Economics Presentation

1Public health
Southern New Hampshire University
Courtney Roberts
HCM-320
Mrs. Annette Webster
22 May 2022
2
Introduction
This paper will address an audience regarding a topic in public health. The topic chosen
is mental health and care for veterans. This paper will explain to the audience the nature of the
chosen topic to enable them to understand and appreciate the presentation. Secondly, the paper
will give the audience mental health. In addition to the related social-economic factors and the
health care organizations impacted.
The nature of mental health
The nature of my chosen topic arose from the increased cases of suicide and attempted
suicide cases filed in recent years. The alarming rate of suicide among veterans, to be specific,
got my attention and made me look into the critical issue of mental health. Whenever we talk
about retired soldiers, what comes into our minds is the immense contribution to our safety and
national pride. We may have a glimpse of only what goes on during wars and after, but we don’t
have the privilege to live through the lives of the veterans. We don’t know what goes on during
wars and after they return. Do veterans return home safely? What is their state of mind when
they return home? What happens next after the assignment? These are mental probing questions
that, when they find no solutions or desired outcome, develop into feelings of loss, confusion,
failure, and unresolved question, which later develop into mental illness. Therefore, the nature of
this presentation is to assess these questions to understand how mental illness affects veterans.
Economic challenges
The lead cause of mental illness lies alongside the line of economic disparities. When
veterans return from designated destinations or retire from their duties, harsh realities about the
economy hit them hard (Watson et al.,2022). This is a result of inflation; when the general prices
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of commodities increase with low income, this leads to unsatisfied needs, leading to increased
stress levels, thus resulting in mental illness. Increased national expenditure leads to allocating of
funds to another sector of the economy, depriving the veterans of the funds for post-war therapy
sessions, leading to deteriorating mental health (Ansley and Szymanski, 2020). The other
economic barrier is the budget deficit. This arises when there is an increased need to cover the
expenses of a country, and a small allocation of resources toward the veteran’s social services,
thereby leading to increased poverty levels which results in mental illness.
Social-economic factors
The social-economic factors are what affect how we relate to each other. They entail
gender, income, age, and basic human interactions. Gender-based violence against retired
veterans, either on the line of duty or outside, can impose heavily on the mental status of the
veterans. Secondly, the income level, when veterans are in a position where they can not provide
the basic needs for their families, they tend to have a lot of stress and low self-esteem when
interacting with fellow peers who are employed, therefore subjecting themselves to mental
turmoil.
The next cause of mental illness is failed relationships. Most veterans spend most of their
time away from their families (Graham et al.,2019). When they return, the same amount of time
is also used to look for other opportunities, thus leading to strained family relationships, which
drive many veterans into depression and eventually mental illness.
Health care organizations impacted
The major health care organization impacted by mental health care is the WHO(World
Health Organization). The health organization has researched the possible causes of mental
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health to understand and curb its effects. WHO issued a directive for mental health starting from
(2019-to 2023). This directive included universal health coverage for mental health to enable
access to efficient mental health coverage for all affected patients (Carras et al.,2018). This has
been a great step towards healing and restoring good mental health.
Conclusion
In summary, mental health is real. It’s always great to ensure that, once in a while, we check up
on each other, catch up, and talk things out. Mental health is a menace that destroys lives, and
anyone can be in a position where they are affected mentally. Therefore, it is always important to
find ways to avoid national disasters.
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References
Ansley, H., & Szymanski, A. (2020). Should Veterans Disability Compensation be Conditioned
upon Veterans Working Towards Rehabilitation and Return to Employment. UDC/DCSL
L. Rev., 23, 151.
Carras, M. C., Kalbarczyk, A., Wells, K., Banks, J., Kowert, R., Gillespie, C., & Latkin, C.
(2018). Connection, meaning, and distraction: A qualitative study of video game play and
mental health recovery in veterans treated for mental and/or behavioral health
problems. Social Science & Medicine, 216, 124-132.
Graham, S., Depp, C., Lee, E. E., Nebeker, C., Tu, X., Kim, H. C., & Jeste, D. V. (2019).
Artificial intelligence for mental health and mental illnesses: an overview. Current
psychiatry reports, 21(11), 1-18.
Watson, J. D., McDonald, S. D., Henry, R. S., Pugh Jr, M., Kuzu, D., & Perrin, P. B. (2022).
Pain, mental health, life satisfaction, and understanding from others in veterans with
spinal cord injury. Rehabilitation Psychology.
HCM 320 Milestone One Template
Use this template to compile important information and resources for your final project
presentation.
1. Public Health Issue Topic: Identify the public health issue you will use as a basis for your
final project presentation. Briefly describe why you choose this topic.
The topic that I have decided upon lies under mental health. My focus will major on health
care for veterans as my specific topic in the umbrella of mental health. The reason as to why
I chose this topic is that. First, I’m a mental health advocate and I aspire to know more
about mental health, and second, is that I have had people who I know to be veterans. They
have had challenging experiences which has changed their lives and mental state. Therefore,
my research is based in understanding how this comes to be.
2. Economic Forces: Briefly describe some economic forces related to your public health issue.
Macroeconomic factors
National income; Low income leads to depression of veterans and hence a greater cause for
depression and suicide attempt. Whereas, a high income relieves anxiety levels and good
mental health.
National expenditure; When government allocates fund to treat mental illness, thus
spending the chances of mental illness become minimal (Docrat et al.,2019). Through
government mental programs for veterans the risks of mental illness become contained.
Budget deficit: Veterans, who suffer from mental illness become affected, when the
expenses of a country becomes more than the revenue acquired, this means that their mental
budget is reduced.
Inflation; General increase of goods and services leads to high cost of living, this leads to
depression, thus increased in mental health cases to the veterans.
Microeconomic Forces
Poverty; Increased mental health care cost is a great force that prevents early diagnosis and
treatment of mental health care of the veterans.
Low income; Veterans earning a lower income, tend to suffer from mental health due to the
influence of employment and earning potential.
Debts; This has been the lead cause of depression, anxiety and increased heart rates.
Microeconomic Forces:
Unemployment; veterans who are unemployed suffer from mental health due to depression
and the act of overthinking, and the urge to be providers.
3. Key Regulation Policy: Determine economic policies or regulations that currently apply to
your public health issue.
The key regulation policy was signed under public law 116-171 into law (Green et al.,2021).
This regulation policy was set to facilitate the transitioning from military life to civilian life.
In addition, it was set to prevent mental illness, suicide attempts, promote mental health
research and to increase a huge number of mental health professionals.
4.Benefits and Consequences: Identify the perceived benefits and consequences resulting from
the legislation supporting your public health issue.
Benefits of supporting the mental health of the veterans entails; One, legislation of
veteran mental health helps patients prevent suicide attempts through training programmes and
therapy sessions.
Two, legislation of mental laws leads to employment opportunities for mental health
professionals. However, the downside includes, Patients may suffer from stigma in the society
when the openly seek and receive help (Botero et al.,2020). This is because veterans are
perceived to be strong. Second, patients may pretend to be okay so as not to be incorporated to
mental health programs.
4. Impact of Regulation or Policy: Describe the economic impact resulting from the
legislation supporting your public health issue.
The veteran’s mental health and other care improvements Act of 2008.provided for
screening and care for veteran mental health, through national funding program (Brunet et
al.,2020). . This was a huge relief to soldiers who could not afford the services.
5. References: Provide links or citations for three scholarly resources that you will use to
support your ideas regarding your public health issue.
1. Brunet, N., Moore, D. T., Lendvai Wischik, D., Mattocks, K. M., & Rosen, M. I. (2020). Increasing
buprenorphine access for veterans with opioid use disorder in rural clinics using
telemedicine. Substance abuse, 1-8.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08897077.2020.1728466
2. Botero Jr, G., Rivera, N. I., Calloway, S. C., Ortiz, P. L., Edwards, E., Chae, J., & Geraci, J. C.
(2020). A lifeline in the dark: Breaking through the stigma of veteran mental health and treating
America’s combat veterans. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 76(5), 831-840.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jclp.22918
3. Docrat, S., Besada, D., Cleary, S., Daviaud, E., & Lund, C. (2019). Mental health system costs,
resources and constraints in South Africa: a national survey. Health policy and planning, 34(9),
706-719. https://academic.oup.com/heapol/article-abstract/34/9/706/5572608
4. Green, V. R., Panangala, S. V., Sussman, J. S., Sarata, A. K., Mendez, B. H., & Nicchitta, I. A. (2021,
July). Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019
(PL 116-171) and Veterans COMPACT Act of 2020 (PL 116-214)[July 19, 2021]. In Library of
Congress. Congressional Research Service (No. CRS Report for Congress, R46848). Library of
Congress. Congressional Research Service.
https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=857118
1
Courtney Roberts
Southern New Hampshire University
HCM-320
Annette Webster
12 June 2022
2
Letter to a stakeholder
Dear stakeholders,
Service members deployed to conflict zones are at a higher risk of developing mental
health issues. Since 2001, the United States has sent 2.8 million troops to Iraq and Afghanistan to
assist operations (Tanielian et al., 2017). While most veterans transition effectively to life after
service, many have behavioral and mental health difficulties. Families of military personnel and
veterans, particularly those who provide care, may encounter mental health concerns (Santa,
2019). These can include mental health challenges and an increased risk of suicide.
Research has linked mental health to poverty, deprivation, inequality, and other economic
and social health factors. Current economic challenges pose a substantial risk to the mental
health of the public, the people impacted, and their families. The present rise in the cost of living
in America has posed significant hardships to Americans, particularly Veterans (Santa, 2019).
Unemployment is increasing, property markets are declining, and many people live in poverty.
Even with health insurance, many people suffer exorbitant out-of-pocket healthcare bills.
Following the COVID-19 outbreak, policymakers are under even greater pressure to provide an
inexpensive solution for Americans.
NSW Health is responsible for delivering mental health treatment under the Mental
Health Act 1990 (NSW). The Act divides mental health patients into three categories: informal
patients who personally agree to visit healthcare organization and receive treatment; involuntary
patients who are forced by a court of law to receive treatment by a magistrate under the Act; and
forensic patients who are mentally ill patients and have been arrested and charged with crimerelated activities (Tanielian et al., 2017). However, implementing this law has raised just a few
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legal concerns. First, there is a misunderstanding over when a patient can be discharged from the
hospital, and many Americans are unaware of their rights regarding mental treatment.
Existing policies have played an important part in improving the American healthcare
system. These regulations have contributed to developing recommendations that benefit
healthcare organizations, patients, and our healthcare system—having rules in place has helped
reduce poor communication and human error regarding medical choices (Stadhouders et al.,
2019). Understanding and adhering to policies have assisted nurses and other health workers in
providing the best care to patients while informing future policies. There are also some potential
disadvantages that policies have on the health system. First, it is challenging to communicate
policies to all stakeholders; therefore, there is inequality when some people are unaware of the
existing policies (Stadhouders et al., 2019). These policies also act as a stabling block to
developing new innovative ideas that can significantly help improve the healthcare system.
To better serve veterans’ mental health needs, there is a need for a policy to reduce
barriers to care by expanding access to mental healthcare and educating veterans about the need
for treatment. This policy will significantly help ensure that every patient receives timely and
high-quality treatment, reducing the issue’s severity. One of the key operational strategies to
ensuring that veterans with mental illness receive quality care is improving performance and
monitoring measurement for community care programs (Santa, 2019). This strategy will
significantly help motivate all stakeholders to make decisions that benefit their organization and
care for the patients’ needs (Tanielian et al., 2017). Finally, stakeholders must continue
developing and testing new treatment and care models. New interventions are now becoming
more available and continue to show promise in solving mental health issues.
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In the proposed policy, healthcare organizations will offer the treatment and educate the
patients on the need to continue with treatment. Raising awareness of any health concern is the
critical first step in ensuring that individuals take action to improve their health and minimize
their risk of illness (Santa, 2019). However, some patients will likely withdraw from the
treatment without proper education and struggle with an identified health issue. Since healthcare
organizations have direct contact with mental health patients, they have a role in ensuring that
these patients and their families are educated on why they need to continue with treatment. This
role applies to public and private healthcare organizations offering mental health care.
Beyond the clear value of creating awareness of mental health issues, the policy will help
provide massive benefits to the American healthcare system. The policy will help ensure that
patients are satisfied with the treatments offered and attract them to providers (Tanielian et al.,
2017). It is a great approach to ensuring that access to healthcare is increased. The policy will
also increase compliance and lead to a cost-effective, more efficient healthcare delivery system.
In addition, expanding access to mental healthcare and educating patients ensures continuity of
care and helps reduce complications related to mental health illnesses. This helps reduce the
pressure on the healthcare organizations and refocus on care improvements.
The wider socioeconomic elements that impact public health inform the suggested policy.
The level of education, individual income, neighborhood safety, and social support are all
socioeconomic factors that can substantially impact public health. These factors influence an
individual capacity to make healthy choices, manage stress, afford healthcare services, and many
other things. The proposed policy seeks to reduce barriers caused by these factors and make it
easy to access time and quality care.
Thank you for your time.
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References
Tanielian, T. L., Batka, C., & Meredith, L. S. (2017). The changing landscape for Veterans’
mental health care. RAND. https://doi.org/10.7249/RB9981.2
Santa Monica, 2019. Improving the Quality of Mental Health Care for Veterans: Lessons from
RAND Research. https://doi.org/10.7249/RB10087
Stadhouders, N., Kruse, F., Tanke, M., Koolman, X., & Jeurissen, P. (2019). Effective healthcare
cost-containment policies: a systematic review. Health Policy, 123(1), 71-79.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2018.10.015