Health Medical Homework Help

Peer 1 Alexandria

The social issue that I am focusing on is mental health is mental health awareness and prevention. This topic is more important than ever as rates of mental health issues have skyrocketed over the past decade leading suicide to be the second leading cause of death in children ages 10-14 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2020). This is an alarming statistic and would be the foundation and goal to creating a community-wide mental health program to break the stigma and encourage help-seeking behaviors.

If a coworker asked me how to put together a community program designed for youth dealing with mental health issues, I would explain the process outlined in SAMHSA’s prevention framework as the foundation to building her program. The Strategic Prevention Framework consists of five key steps including assessment, capacity, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The first step of the framework, assessment, focuses on identifying the problem and assessing the needs that faces that specific local population. The second step, capacity, looks at what resources are currently already available in the community and how those resources can help the current program. The next step, planning, concentrates on creating a comprehensive plan that addresses the prevention needs of the population in an efficient and effective manner. The fourth step, implementation, is actually delivering the evidence-based program and putting the plan into action in the community. Finally, the last step is evaluation which has the goal of examining the process and outcomes of the prevention program to inform future programming. In addition, the principles that guide this framework are cultural competence and sustainability to ensure people of all cultures are served and that the program can be long-lasting (SAMHSA, 2019). 

In tandem with the prevention framework, I would also explain to my coworker the importance of spirituality and connection to a higher power which restores individuals and communities. I would encourage her to weave in aspects of a connection to Jesus and God’s teachings to build faith in the community and the belief that everything will work for the higher good. This is an especially important message for our youth to hear.

References:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2019). A Guide to SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework. Rockville, MD: Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020, April). Suicide. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide#:~:text=Suicide%20was%20the%20second%20leading,there%20were%20homicides%20(18%2C830). 

Peer #2 Liv

The social issue I have selected to focus on is youth struggling with anxiety. I have selected this social issue because of the students that I have seen in my school start their school year in person this last week and the types of anxiety they are suffering from after this last year. In order to describe the process of developing a successful program, the SAMHSA prevention framework can be used. The SAMHSA strategic prevention framework uses five steps that are put into an ongoing cycle to produce a successful program. The 5 different sections are Assessment, capacity, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The first step, the assessment step, would assist in addressing priority problems and achieving prevention goals within the community by giving a base to go from. The assessment step provides data that will be used to determine the nature, magnitude, and time trend of problems to select priorities. The data collected during this stage will also be used to help identify community level variable associated with priorities. Without the data collected during this stage, it would be hard to know where to start with determining the best prevention strategies for this population (SAMHSA, 2021).  

Spirit and religion have proven to restore individuals’ mental health as well as communities struggling with mental health and social issues. Religion can also help individuals and youth struggling with anxiety. “religion has a therapeutic effect on mental health by granting individuals valuable coping skills that are accessible regardless of financial, social, physical, or mental circumstances. Furthermore, religions tend to prescribe healthy lifestyle practices, give individuals social support (resulting in a sense of belonging and a sense of being cared for by their group), and help their adherents develop cognitive frameworks that assist them through life’s difficulties” (Archer, 2017). When planning a youth program, a mental health worker can use the SAMHSA prevention steps and the concept of healing through Christ to plan a program for youth in the community. Combining these two concepts will provide the community with a structured program that addresses their concerns as well as their beliefs. Addressing their beliefs ensures that the individual in the community feel comfortable and will increase the likelihood of success.  

Resource:

     Archer, M. (2017, July 28). The positive effects of religion on mental illness. Institute for Family Studies. https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-positive-effects-of-religion-on-mental-illness. 

     SAMHSA. Handout: Strategic Prevention Framework. August 20, 2021. 

Peer #3 Clea

When focusing on youth in the community that are struggling with alcohol use, there are many things that I would recommend to any mental health worker,  but there are a few things I would strongly recommend to a Christian mental health worker.

“The church has become ‘increasingly ineffective’ in their ability to listen and understand the unique culture and mission field of youth.” (Usita, L., 2007). When working with youth the most important thing is being able to relate to them, and to let them know that you aren’t judging them but you are here to help them. So as a Christian it is imperative that you set the tone in the session that you aren’t judging why they are in the situation they are in, but you are there to help them through their struggles with alcohol and to give them new resources and tools to help them lead a healthy successful life. 

I would also recommend the “focus on the delivery of substance abuse prevention programs and offer an alternative program strategy—one that places diversity with respect to culture, class, and environment at the center of prevention efforts.” (Goldstein, M. J., & Noguera, P. A., 2006). Yes, it is important as a Christian mental health worker to be able to express the love and power of Jesus, however, it is also important to make sure that you understand and appreciate all of the clients that come through the door that have a different worldview. As a Christian mental health worker you need to make sure that you are valuing all people on their journey, not belittling them for who/where they are. 

References

Goldstein, M. J., & Noguera, P. A. (2006). Designing for diversity: Incorporating cultural competence in prevention programs for urban youth. New Directions for Youth Development, 2006(111), 29–40. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/yd.180

Usita, L. (2007). Engaging the soul of youth culture: bridging teen worldview and Christian truth. The Journal of Youth Ministry, 5(2), 112–116.