Week 8 Health reply 1
Yes, I agree with the post as many people suffer silently from depression and other mental related problems. It is the responsibility of healthcare professionals to provide a platform where people can be open if they are undergoing any mental related problems. From the case study, John lacked the resources to seek professional help especially after losing his job, wife, and children. More importantly, he did not have anyone to talk to for mental relief. This is another aspect that I agree with since talking with a professional for instance a therapist is as helpful as being subscribed to anti-depressants. John however did not receive any help which increased his chances of suicide.
The post highlights the development of a computer program to predict the likelihood of suicides. This will be achieved through the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) research institute (NIMH, 2019). In my view, this is a viable option that needs to be further investigated and developed by institutions dealing with mental related problems. The existence of such programs could have helped John when he visited the ER after being homeless following the tragic events in his life. In this case, such programs that can help reduce suicides could have helped John recover from his mental health disorder.
Family-focused prevention programs have positive effects since they are offered in a variety of settings, conditions, and different environments. According to Leslie et al., (2016) focusing on family-focused prevention programs helps primary care providers bridge the gap between nurses and patients suffering from mental health disorders. The prevention programs are successful since they help families with diverse structures, racial compositions, cultural and economic backgrounds. Such programs would have benefited John and his family who suffered the loss of jobs, income, and depression caused by homelessness and hopelessness. More importantly, health professionals could have identified risk factors John experienced as a child through the family-focused prevention programs.
References
Leslie, L. K., Mehus, C. J., Hawkins, J. D., Boat, T., McCabe, M. A., Barkin, S., … & Brown, R. (2016). Primary health care: potential home for family-focused preventive interventions. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 51(4), S106-S118.
National Institute of Mental Health (2019). Mental Illness. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml