Question

People with mental health conditions often fear workplace reprisals if they seek mental health care with employer-provided insurance. What kind of system changes can improve this situation? How can nurses be involved in getting more people who need attention in mental health care? . Given the insurance barriers and many other barriers to long-term mental health care, what can advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) do for patients and their families once they leave care?

Answer 1

People with mental health conditions often fear workplace reprisals if they seek mental health care with employer-provided insurance. What kind of system changes can improve this situation?

One of the important provisions of the Mental Healthcare Act, is the inclusion of “mental illnesses” for health insurance coverage. This is a progressive step toward considering mental illness at par with physical illness. Following are the some of the changes that can improve the above situation

• The development and implementation of a workplace mental health policy and programme
• all the data related to mental health conditions are kept confidential and make aware of it.
• Providing effective services to persons in need
• Using existing resources to achieve the greatest possible benefits
• Helping people with mental disorders to reintegrate into all aspects of community life, thus improving their overall quality of life.
• Mental Health Information Systems
• Human Resources and Training for Mental Health

How can nurses be involved in getting more people who need attention in mental health care?

• Mental health promotion and prevention are too important to wait

• Work with your community to map risk factors, resources and assets

• Integrate mental health promotion and prevention into your daily work

• Boost resilience in your community

• Social networks and social participation

• Encourage and advertise mental health promotion

• Identify people at increased risk of mental disorder for support and screening

• Support early intervention for people of all ages with signs or symptoms of mental illness early recognition and intervention is crucial

Insurance barriers and Barriers to Long Term Mental Health Care

• People with mental illnesses are less likely to have health insurance than those without mental health problems.
• there has been a drop in employer-sponsored health insurance
• Desire to Receive Care.
• Lack of Anonymity When Seeking Treatment.
• Shortages of Mental Health Workforce Professionals.
• Lack of Culturally-Competent Care.
• Affordability of Care.
• Transportation to Care.
• A Lack of Support. .

What can advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) do for patients and their families once they leave care

• Involves planning, coordinating, implementing and evaluating programs to meet client needs through partnerships and intersectoral collaboration
• Involves the ability to analyze and influence health policy
• Developing an individualised needs-based comprehensive discharge plan
• Act as an advocate for the patient and family
• Providing educational and behavioural interventions
• Managing symptoms and providing direct patient care.
• Monitoring patients and caregivers regularly through home visits and/or telephone contact,
• Providing counselling and self-care instruction, and reviewing and managing medications