Peer 1
Tyriss Gordon
Evidence Base in Design
Mental health is a huge issue that is often overlooked and swept under the rug. It is a
condition that is intentionally unseen, unheard, underresearched, undertreated and
overstigmatized (Congress.gov, 2022). Legislation proposed a policy S.Res.518 in February
of 2022, requesting that the United States contribute substantial financial support to mental
health and substance use disorders, this policy also requests that mental health is treated as
priority and with the same importance as physical health (Congress. Gov, 2022). This policy
expresses great sympathy, sensitivity and understanding for the mental health community.
Mental Health is much more prevalent than many people think. One out of five Americans
experience a mental health issue, one out of six young people experiences a major
depressive episode, and one out of twenty Americans live with a serious mental health issue
such as Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression (MentalHealth.gov, 2022).
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the Unites States, more specifically the
second leading cause of death for young adults ages 10-24 (MentalHealth.gov). Suicide
accounted for more than 45,979 deaths in 2020, which was close to double the statistics for
deaths related to homicide (MentalHealth.gov). Mental health has had a severe impact on
the American people.
Based on these figures, there is enough evidence base to support the proposed health care
policy, and there is more than enough data to show that support from a higher power is
lacking. According to Congress.gov (2022) 55% of counties in the U.S. do not have a single
psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker, and only 10% of individuals in the U.S. struggling
with substance use disorders receive specialty treatment. The resolution of the policy
discusses the need for integration of mental health and substance abuse disorders into
healthcare treatment, regarding both conditions as part of the health care process and not
as a separate entity (Congress.gov, 2022). The policy aims to improve the problem of
underdiagnosis, to increase the amount of health care providers who specialize in mental
health, and to clarify the misunderstanding of the correlation between mental health and
violence/negativity (Congress.gov, 2022). Cultural/societal barriers and injustices of the
minority communities all support the need for this policy as well.
Overall, policies reflect public opinion as well as evidence-based data (Milstead & Short,
2019). When it comes to policy design specifically related to healthcare, there is a significant
amount of research required and it takes a multidisciplinary approach, examining different
factors, processes and systems related to the issue (Milstead & Short, 2019). In the policy S.
Res. 518, it is evident that there was a great amount of research completed to support the
purpose, all evidence utilized is essential and demonstrates that there is a major need for
healthcare reformation in regards to mental health.
References:
Congress.gov. (n.d.) Retrieved September 20, 2018 from https://www.congress.gov/
Mentalhealth.gov. (2022). Mental Health Myths and Facts. https://www.mentalhealth.gov/
Milstead, J. A. & Short, N. M. (2019). Health Policy and Politics. A Nurse’s Guide (6th ed.). Jones &
Bartlett Learning.
Peer 2
Tyriss Gordon
Evidence Base in Design
Mental health is a huge issue that is often overlooked and swept under the rug. It is a
condition that is intentionally unseen, unheard, underresearched, undertreated and
overstigmatized (Congress.gov, 2022). Legislation proposed a policy S.Res.518 in February
of 2022, requesting that the United States contribute substantial financial support to mental
health and substance use disorders, this policy also requests that mental health is treated as
priority and with the same importance as physical health (Congress. Gov, 2022). This policy
expresses great sympathy, sensitivity and understanding for the mental health community.
Mental Health is much more prevalent than many people think. One out of five Americans
experience a mental health issue, one out of six young people experiences a major
depressive episode, and one out of twenty Americans live with a serious mental health issue
such as Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression (MentalHealth.gov, 2022).
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the Unites States, more specifically the
second leading cause of death for young adults ages 10-24 (MentalHealth.gov). Suicide
accounted for more than 45,979 deaths in 2020, which was close to double the statistics for
deaths related to homicide (MentalHealth.gov). Mental health has had a severe impact on
the American people.
Based on these figures, there is enough evidence base to support the proposed health care
policy, and there is more than enough data to show that support from a higher power is
lacking. According to Congress.gov (2022) 55% of counties in the U.S. do not have a single
psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker, and only 10% of individuals in the U.S. struggling
with substance use disorders receive specialty treatment. The resolution of the policy
discusses the need for integration of mental health and substance abuse disorders into
healthcare treatment, regarding both conditions as part of the health care process and not
as a separate entity (Congress.gov, 2022). The policy aims to improve the problem of
underdiagnosis, to increase the amount of health care providers who specialize in mental
health, and to clarify the misunderstanding of the correlation between mental health and
violence/negativity (Congress.gov, 2022). Cultural/societal barriers and injustices of the
minority communities all support the need for this policy as well.
Overall, policies reflect public opinion as well as evidence-based data (Milstead & Short,
2019). When it comes to policy design specifically related to healthcare, there is a significant
amount of research required and it takes a multidisciplinary approach, examining different
factors, processes and systems related to the issue (Milstead & Short, 2019). In the policy S.
Res. 518, it is evident that there was a great amount of research completed to support the
purpose, all evidence utilized is essential and demonstrates that there is a major need for
healthcare reformation in regards to mental health.
References:
Congress.gov. (n.d.) Retrieved September 20, 2018 from https://www.congress.gov/
Mentalhealth.gov. (2022). Mental Health Myths and Facts. https://www.mentalhealth.gov/
Milstead, J. A. & Short, N. M. (2019). Health Policy and Politics. A Nurse’s Guide (6th ed.). Jones &
Bartlett Learning.
Peer 2
