Mental Health Care Term Paper by hicaliber

This paper explains that mental illness, which also includes autism, Alzheimer's disease, addiction, mental retardation and epilepsy, affects people of all nations of all social, economic and cultural backgrounds; however, the poor suffer most from a lack of the most basic resources for effective treatment. The author points out that, even though available treatment methods for mental illness differ among regions and socio-economic classes, most patients are prescribed psychotropic drugs, such as antidepressants. The paper states that, in the U.S., managed care systems usually do not cover mental disease and insurance companies look to mental health benefits as the first place to cut in an attempt to reduce rising costs.

Table of Contents:
Mental Health and Primary Care
Status of the Primary Mental Health Care Industry
Incidence
Current Approaches
Recognition and Current Response
Policy Initiatives
The New GMS Contract
General Practitioners and Practitioners with Special Interest
Primary Care Graduate Mental Health Workers
Shared Care between GP Practices and Community Health Teams
Obstacles and Issues
Little Attention Paid to Improving Primary Mental Health Care
Fragmented Linkages of Substance Abuse Treatment with Community-Based Services
Obstacles to Accessing Primary Mental Health Care
Social Disparities
Developments
Effects of Cutting Back on Health Coverage
Legislation
Community-based Primary Care Satellite Clinics