Running head: COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN PARTNERS ON MENTAL ILLNESS Community Action Plan Partners Emily Justice BIO201-Public Health and Environment Colorado State University-Global Campus Dr. Randy Streck February 11, 2018 1 COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN PARTNERS ON MENTAL ILLNESS 2 Community Action Plan Partners On Mental Illness This paper's discussion will be on mental illness. In recent past, mental illness has been a big challenge to the citizens of Hawaii. The trends of psychological illness are worrying, and they need to be addressed. This condition causes a chain of problems to the affected such as dropping out of school for the students and increasing the number of street families. The primary objective of this paper is to identify the potential partners and other stakeholders that are in a position to be included in an action plan on the mental health challenge in the community. The potential partners in this community action plan include the following: 1. United Sates Department of Human and Health Services-(HHS) This is a government agency which is obliged to ensure that any health condition has a cure for all Americans. This could be a good member of the action plan which is capable of providing the needed funding to fund the community action plan. It can also provide professional expertise and assistance. Its contact is 1-877-696-6775, or through the department’s website is http://www.hhs.gov/. 2. Stanford Health Care Stanford Health Care is a useful member of the action plan as the highly qualified doctor will provide the needed treatment. The team would also be beneficial in coordinating the group’s activities. Their address is 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA and the telephone contact is +1 650-723-4000. Its website is https://stanfordhealthcare.org. 3. Michelle Obama; a Former First Lady of the United States She is a public figure and can be of great help. She can organize campaigns and another awareness forum is aimed at fighting mental illness. She can also contribute funding COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN PARTNERS ON MENTAL ILLNESS 3 to treat those already suffering. One can reach/contact her online through her twitter handle, which is @MichelleObama. 4. NAMI Hawaii: Hawaii Voice on mental illness. This is the largest and most influential grass root organization on mental health. The primary objective of this team is to fight the condition and enhance improved lives for persons who have a mental illness. The website is www.namihawaii.org/ 5. Another very crucial member who would be resourceful in the team is a known psychiatrist doctor Garrett Halweg, MD. He is rich in information and cares about his patients. This doctor has been in the field for quite some time and thus gained the relevant experience. His telephone is 808 202 0699 or his 118 Bishop Street. 6. Another resourceful partner to be included in this action plan is Hawaii Pacific University. Led by their chairman Dr. Michael Erickson, this team can be of great assistance in conducting research aimed at finding a cure for those already suffering. Chairman's contact’s 808 356 5211 or emails address merickson@hpu.edu. 7. Adult Mental Health Division: Hawaii State Department of Health. It is a government department in Hawaii charged with discharging medical services to the people of Hawaii. They can be crucial in the action plan as they will provide the necessary human resources in organizing and carrying out relevant duties that require medical or any other specialized skills. Their website is http://health.hawaii.gov/amhd/ or their information number 808 586 4400. 8. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. This is an agency whose central role is to research public health and other medical conditions. This body will be of great assistance as it will offer research on necessary steps to be taken to fight the mental health COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN PARTNERS ON MENTAL ILLNESS 4 condition. Their telephone contact is 888-232-6348, and their website is https://wwwn.cdc.gov. 9. Alex Azar, this man is no joke while on any team; he is the secretary of the Department of HHS. He can offer any assistance or advice on health matters. He has resources as well as relevant information in dealing with mental illness. His website is www.hhs.gov or his social media networks. 10. Beyoncé Knowles a singer who is so influential on the public, she can be of help in passing mental illness information through music. Her twitter handle @beyoncé or website http://beyonce.com COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN PARTNERS ON MENTAL ILLNESS Works Cited John M. Grohol, P. (2018). Symptoms & Treatments of Mental Disorders. Retrieved from PsychCentral: https://psychcentral.com/disorders/ SAMHSA.gov, w. (2016). National Directory of. Rockville: Synectics for-Management Decisions, Inc. 5 Running head: ANALYSIS OF THE MENTAL ISSUES IN OAHU Mental Health Issues in Hawaii Emily Justice BIO201-Public Health and the Environment Colorado State University-Global Campus Dr. Randy Streck February 18, 2018 1 MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN OAHU 2 Mental Health Issues Hawaii is one of the most multiracial states in the US, and this has posed its unique mental problems. According to the 2010 census, the island state had a 25.0 % of the white only population, compared to the larger majority of 74.1% in the US. It shows the integral factors that affect the mental issues that affect the Hawaiian population, with the national average showing that 1 out of 5 adult population in the US has a mental condition. Nationally, 33-50% of the US population that has mental issues seek treatment, and out of these, 5% are said to have severe mental illnesses, and this where the essay shifts to the Oahu region in Hawaii state (Aaronson & Withy, 2017). It is a state that has some interesting features, especially when it comes to mental issues, and this arises from the national trends that have been referred to above, which is why it applies to the Oahu state. The major population that is affected by the mental health issues is the Asian community. The population forms around 38.1% of the total population of Hawaii. However, on a general scale, there are some other factors, such as income and poverty levels that are lower than the national level, 9.6% vs. 13.8%. While one can argue that such a characteristic does not matter, it becomes relevant when one comes to the realization that most of the patients depending on Medicaid and Medicare are not afforded quality mental care, which is where most of the Asians lie. The age structure is also necessary because generally, Hawaii has a higher population of older people than the average national population. It means that most of those affected by the mental illnesses lie between the ages 18-50, which is an interesting phase because it affects the overall productivity of the population. Interestingly, there is another finding that out of the people with severe mental illness, estimated at 5% of the affected population, 60% are homeless. MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN OAHU 3 It is a way of showing that as has been said all along, and despite the criticism to the Affordable Care Act, it has been one of the best ways of actualizing the universal health care dream in America. It also keeps into perspective the federal definition of poverty and the statistics offered that show that Asians and African Americans are the least impoverished races because this does not put into account the geographical perspectives. What is already known is that there is a problem with a problem of insurance policies that cover the mental health costs of the Asian population in Oahu. Furthermore, Hawaii has been classified as one of the few states that have an even distribution of psychiatrists, compared to the population that they are supposed to serve. Additionally, of the total population of Hawaii, 20% are born outside the US, which may complicate their access to the programs that are meant to serve the US nationals. Well, there is also a commonly accepted belief that there is a health disparity that affects the Hawaiian population. A health disparity is described as ‘a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic and/or environmental disadvantage’ (Sue & McKinney, 2014). It thus all comes to the knowledge gaps that exist, and which could hold the key to dealing with the health disparities among the Asian population in Oahu. First, while the psychiatrists are available in Hawaii, most of the people in Oahu cannot access their services. As has been mentioned earlier, there is an attitude towards the patients who may not have the health insurance that is not deemed favorable. Perhaps, the one major problem that has been cited as withholding the embracing of universal healthcare in America is the commercialization of health sector in the country. The same trait is observed on Oahu, and there is need to understand by what extent this has contributed to escalating mental health cases, estimated at 20% increase. Also, cultural differences are an important factor in Oahu, and the MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN OAHU 4 language barrier is one that discourages mental health victims from visiting mental health institutions. Income is also a relevant factor, and the culmination of all these factors makes mental health to be a priority health need in Oahu. What can be done? Of course, further research to address the knowledge gaps that have been identified. Lastly, as has been said by other concerned scholars, there is a need for ‘focus on providing direct services to those populations at greatest need, but also on building the collaborative relationships that result in positive systemic — and thus sustainable — changes’ (Sonnega et al., 2014). It is this approach that needs to hold true in Oahu. MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN OAHU 5 References Aaronson, A., & Withy, K. (2017). Does Hawai ‘i Have Enough Psychiatrists? Assessing Mental Health Workforce Versus Demand in the Aloha State. Hawai'i Journal of Medicine & Public Health, 76(3 Suppl 1), 15. Sonnega, A., Faul, J. D., Ofstedal, M. B., Langa, K. M., Phillips, J. W., & Weir, D. R. (2014). Cohort profile: The health and retirement study (HRS). International journal of epidemiology, 43(2), 576-585. Sue, S., & McKinney, H. (2015). Asian Americans in the community mental health care system. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 45(1), 111-118.
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