The American health care system is a conglomeration of different systems that provide specific needs for patients. The aspect of the American health system that deals with the illnesses of the mind is referred to as the Mental Health system. This system has been around since the late 18th century and has become a major aspect of the American health system. The system is made up of doctors, nurses and aides, and have facilities throughout the United States. Because, mental health is a relatively new aspect of health care, and professionals are still learning about how the mind works, the treatment through this system has had a stigma that has been hard to get rid of.
In the 18th century, there was a need for a medical facility to house the …show more content…
The diagnosis of ADHD is one of the issues that the system faces. It was estimated that 3 to 7% of all school age children have ADHD. A recent study showed that the number was closer to 11% of children have received this diagnosis. “An important contributor to the expanding definition of ADHD — and the subsequent rise in the prevalence of the condition — has been the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), sometimes referred to as the “bible” of psychiatry” (Perry 2013). The changes that have been made in the DSM, have made the diagnosis criteria broader and some experts say that this will cause an increase in diagnosis, and the symptoms could be confused with normal development and pubertal restlessness and distractibility. “Social factors such as political environment, education funding, and disability services may contribute to seeking a diagnosis of ADHD and are under-researched” (Thomas 2013). Another and major issue that the mental health system is faced with, is the stigma and cost of care, which has caused under diagnosis of several patients. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that nearly 60% adults that needed treated did not receive any mental health treatment in 2012. With the introduction of the Affordable Care Act, which will insure many Americans, should decrease this percentage and public awareness of the importance of mental health in relation to overall health. With the movement to electronic health records, the mental health community has been slow to adapt this new technology. Mental health providers agree that there is a benefit to the quality of care that this technology could provide, they are concerned with the privacy and security of their patients’ medical records. In a study done in 2011, of 32 mental health providers, “nearly all of the providers identified general privacy and
In the 18th century, there was a need for a medical facility to house the …show more content…
The diagnosis of ADHD is one of the issues that the system faces. It was estimated that 3 to 7% of all school age children have ADHD. A recent study showed that the number was closer to 11% of children have received this diagnosis. “An important contributor to the expanding definition of ADHD — and the subsequent rise in the prevalence of the condition — has been the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), sometimes referred to as the “bible” of psychiatry” (Perry 2013). The changes that have been made in the DSM, have made the diagnosis criteria broader and some experts say that this will cause an increase in diagnosis, and the symptoms could be confused with normal development and pubertal restlessness and distractibility. “Social factors such as political environment, education funding, and disability services may contribute to seeking a diagnosis of ADHD and are under-researched” (Thomas 2013). Another and major issue that the mental health system is faced with, is the stigma and cost of care, which has caused under diagnosis of several patients. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that nearly 60% adults that needed treated did not receive any mental health treatment in 2012. With the introduction of the Affordable Care Act, which will insure many Americans, should decrease this percentage and public awareness of the importance of mental health in relation to overall health. With the movement to electronic health records, the mental health community has been slow to adapt this new technology. Mental health providers agree that there is a benefit to the quality of care that this technology could provide, they are concerned with the privacy and security of their patients’ medical records. In a study done in 2011, of 32 mental health providers, “nearly all of the providers identified general privacy and