The Compass Strategy Although mental illness is a widely known and universally felt issue, knowledge on this topic rarely aims to address younger populations (Jorm, 2000). Despite this fact, most mental disorders are seen during young adulthood, and are often characterized by co-morbidity (Wright et al., 2006). During the time the program was implemented, mental disorders accounted for 55% of the total injury and disease burden among young Australians from ages 15 to 24 (Mathers et. al. 1999). These outrageously high statistics, paired with the low levels of awareness of mental illness, confirmed the importance and need to increase mental health literacy. Mental health literacy refers to the knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders, …show more content…
The main focus of this model is the assessment of local needs, priorities, resources, and its circumstances (Wright et al., 2006). The model was applied to the creation of The Compass Strategy campaign via the application of the nine phases of the Precede-Proceed Model. The assessment process (phases 1-5) focused on the identification, prevalence and manipulability of health determinants (including causal relationships). The important targets identified in these phases were then used to develop interventions (phase 6), which were then evaluated for effectiveness (phases 7-9). A visual representation of the phases aforementioned was created to illustrate the interactions between the phases and to provide an overview of the Model’s role in the campaign. (Refer to image …show more content…
The Precede-Proceed Model guided the population assessment, campaign strategy development, and evaluation. The campaign included the use of multimedia such as a website, paper products (pamphlets, posters, etc.), and an information telephone service. Multiple levels of evaluation were conducted. This included a quasi-experimental, cross-sectional telephone survey, of mental health literacy undertaken before and after 14 months of the campaign. Additionally, a series of binary logistic regression analyses were used to measure the association between a range of campaign outcome variables and the predictor variables of region and time (Wright et al.,
The six priority areas are listed as; healthier eating and active living, tobacco free living, reducing harmful alcohol and drug use, improving mental health, preventing violence and injury, and improving sexual and reproductive health. The backbone of the plan is to influence healthy living choices, developing from childhood, throughout life approaching old ages, leading to lessened risks of burden of disease (Department of Health,
The two logic models utilized were Precede-Proceed model and MAPP (Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships). The qualitative data methods used for the data collection were- researching the national, state, and local databases; reviewing the previously conducted county health assessments and reports; interviewing key stakeholders in the
Mental illness is more common than one would like to believe. In reality, one in five Americans will suffer from a mental disorder in any given year. Though that ratio is about equivalent to more than fifty-four million people, mental illness still remains a shameful and stigmatized topic (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.). The taboo of mental illness has an extensive and exhausting history, dating back to the beginning of American colonization. It has not been an easy road, to say the least.
A mental disorder, or illness, is defined as “a mental… condition marked primarily by sufficient disorganization of personality, mind, and emotions to seriously impair the normal psychological functioning of the individual” (Merriam & Webster, 2014). Mental illness affects approximately 1 of 4 people in the United States over the age of 18, or 26.2%. Of that 26.2%, six percent of them suffer from a mental disorder that is considered serious and 45% of them have characteristics that meet the criteria for more than one mental disorder. On any given day, 6.7% of United States citizens are suffering from depression, 1.5% are suffering from dysthymic disorder, 2.6% are exhibiting signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder, 1.1% are diagnosed with schizophrenia, 18.1% are suffering from anxiety, and 13.8% of the population are battling conditions such as eating disorders, attention deficient hyperactivity disorder, or a personality disorder (National Institute of Mental Health, 2014).
Mental health literacy, similar to health literacy, provides information about mental health disorders and how to aid their management, awareness, and prevention (Wei). There are two main stigmas seen in the mental health community: public stigma and self-stigma. Both of these stigmas are detrimental to the strides being made in the mental health community. Within ethnic minority communities and the mental health community, stigmatisms and misconceptions associated with mental illness negatively impact people who suffer from such issues. In order to prevent unnecessary deaths and tragic suicide attempts, minority communities and the mental health community must work together to raise awareness and destigmatize mental illness.
Many people go about their lives not knowing that they have a mental illness. Some like anxiety and panic disorders are easily spotted some are not if they aren’t talked about you would never know that the person was diagnosed with anything. Some commonly known illnesses would be: ADD/ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), OCD (Obsessive compulsive disorder), PTS (Post Traumatic Stress disorder), autism, depression, and eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia. The lesser known illnesses include: SAD (Seasonal Affective disorder), Schizophrenia, Bipolar and Personality disorders, anxiety and panic disorders. There is also an increase in dual diagnosis, in which the person is diagnosed with both a mental disorder and substance abuse (Alcohol and or prescription or non-prescription drugs). It is estimated that 26.2 percent of the American Populati...
...cts of policies such as; personalisation of community mental health services (Social Care Institute of Excellence, 2009), integrated care and based of the assumption that people are living longer; the progress that could be possible for treatments and patient outcomes through the Government’s Dementia Challenge (Department of Health, 2014). Furthermore, although the explanations and treatments of mental illnesses have come a long way, attitudes have been slower to change. A Time to Change survey showed an overall 3.6% improvement in public attitudes between 2008 and 2012 (Time to Change, 2012), (The Guardian , 2013) and (BBC, 2013). But, now that the promotion of mental health awareness is firmly on the agenda and if government invests appropriately in research, we could soon to see innovative and positive advances on the way we explain and treat mental illnesses.
School should be the first place to start informing students that they could be at risk of a serious problem that could affect them the rest of their lives. Research done by the University Mental Health Advisers Network showed that ‘half of all lifetime mental disorders start by the mid-teens and three quarters by the mid 20s” (Time). Avoiding mental health and not informing students of the possibility only puts them at a disadvantage for the rest of their lives. Furthermore, phrases that stigmatize mental health are commonly used, but no one realizes the effect they have on people suffering from problems. A survey of 546 teachers concluded that “88% of teachers and 96% of teaching assistants had heard pupils using phrases which stigmatise mental health in school”(Barber).
At least one in four people will experience a mental health problem every year, including teenagers and young adults; however, ninety per cent of people who have a mental illness will not speak about it. Why? Because we don’t.
The purpose of this paper was to evaluate a response, to a health event in an urban area, then adapt the response into a plan for a rural area. The evaluation was done on the Hepatitis A outbreak, in San Diego, so that the adapted response plan for Red Bluff could be developed. The health event, Hepatitis A, started as one case and is now an epidemic. San Diego did not have a plan developed, for their most vulnerable group; a homeless population, who has little or no access to washrooms, making it impossible to wash their hands on a regular basis; the primary premise in most communicable disease preventions programs. This vulnerability had drawn and kept the viral Hepatitis infection within the homeless population, spreading to two other
The Canadian Huffington Post published an article (2014) about common mental health myths, listing numerous perceptions and attitudes towards mental health and individuals struggling with disorders. It disclosed many common ideals individuals have about mental health, highlighting common harmful misconceptions. These common misconceptions range from a dismissal in the severity of mental illnesses, such as depression and suicidal tendencies, to the thought that people impacted by mental disorder are simply ‘crazy.’ However, all of the mental health myths listed severally threaten an individual’s chances of seeking help and understanding their own disorder. The mental health perceptions listed in the article are common and dangerous due to the lack of support they offer to individuals who have problems with their own mental health. The misconceptions can produce a dismissal of mental disorders’ severity and the importance of detection and treatment.
It is deeply alarming that ignoring mental health is systematically ignored as an important part of health promotion. This is shocking because, in theory, mental health is recognized as an important component of health, the close link between physical and mental health is recognized, and it is generally known that physical and mental health share many of the same social, environmental and economic components. We know that facilities dedicated to those with mental health problems are more vulnerable to the resources of physical diseases in many parts of the world, and it is essential that mental health promotion should not be equally affected
Mass media “references to people with mental health problems found more than four in ten articles in the press used derogatory terms about mental health and nearly half of press coverage related mental illness to violence and crime” (Esseler, 244). This is causing for people to look down upon the mention of mental illnesses and many times ignore the importance of confronting this issue. Therefore the importance of removing this stigmatization is crucial. Education allows to make more informed decisions and then changing the perception of mental illness can lead towards policy changes toward the improvement of mental health (Sakellari,
Today, the numbers of people with mental health issues are considerably high. The problem increases the national and global social and economic burdens as governments try to find means of empowering the people with the issue and solve the problem. Today, one in five adults in the United States has a mental health problem (“Mental Health Facts,” 2016). “Mental Health Facts” (2016) also states that the adults that received mental health services are about 60%. Only 50% of the youth with mental health issues received mental health services in the previous year. Further, mental health issues are also related to drug use and addiction. Of all the mental illnesses and disorders, depression affects the most people and has the biggest burden globally. Due to the increasing burden and the gap in service utilization, the mental health policy seeks to address several factors. Some of the key issues to address include early diagnosis of mental disorders, provision of appropriate and adequate intervention a particular problem, education and counseling for the family members, and research to help reduce the numbers and reverse the trend. Another key area of focus is the use of mass media to create awareness about mental health issues and help clear the
An idea of a healthy community with a safe environment, accessibility to preventive health care services and screenings, education on health promotion that is stress-free and accessible and healthier grocery stores. Characteristics of a healthy community are ideas, activities, and resolutions derived from partnerships of diverse groups, regular self-evaluation that is part of the practice, which is the focus. A diversity of strategies, techniques, documents, and other resources would have to be executed to support and make a healthy community. If an individual 's knowledge of a healthy community is different from his or her belief then community strategy must be put in place in order to begin to achieve the goal of improving health. Community strategy must be supported by the individuals who are working together in order to be successful (Matthew, et al, 2001). In order for a strategy to become effective, a consistent plan should be created with achievable goals within a community. Also individuals that are strong, inspired, and truthful and determined should also carry out the