Discuss the aspects of a health concern not being addressed despite the efforts of services and partnerships involved and describe the ultimate outcome(s) or goal(s) from Healthy People 2030 relating to that specific health concern.
Answer the following questions to assist in data interpretation:
- What similarities are apparent between the data that were gathered and the data that were generated?
- What differences are apparent between the data that were gathered and the data that were generated?
- What are the weakness and strengths of this community?
- In what areas is improvement needed in this community?
Introduction In the United States, there are many health concerns that are not being adequately addressed despite the efforts of services and partnerships involved. One of the health concerns that need more attention is mental health, specifically the high suicide rates among veterans. Despite the various programs and services available to help veterans cope with mental health problems, suicide rates among veterans remain high. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the aspects of this health concern that are not being addressed, and describe the ultimate outcome(s) or goal(s) from Healthy People 2030 relating to this specific health concern.
Aspects of Mental Health Concern among Veterans The mental health concern among veterans is not new; it has been a major problem for years. According to the Veterans Affairs (VA) report in 2020, over 17 veterans commit suicide daily. In 2018, veterans accounted for 14.8% of all suicides in the United States, despite making up only 7.6% of the population. In other words, veterans are twice as likely to commit suicide as civilians. There are several aspects of this health concern that need attention.
One of the aspects that need attention is the stigma surrounding mental health. The stigma associated with mental health issues is one of the main reasons veterans are hesitant to seek help. The VA has made efforts to reduce the stigma by providing education and outreach programs. However, the stigma remains prevalent, especially in the military culture. Many veterans believe that seeking help is a sign of weakness, and this stigma prevents them from seeking the help they need.
Another aspect that needs attention is the lack of access to mental health services. Many veterans live in rural areas where mental health services are scarce or nonexistent. Additionally, many veterans face long wait times to receive care at VA medical centers. According to a study by the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, 22% of veterans who sought care at VA medical centers had to wait more than 30 days to receive care. This delay in care can have serious consequences for veterans with mental health issues.
Another aspect that needs attention is the high rate of substance abuse among veterans. Substance abuse is a common problem among veterans with mental health issues. According to the VA, veterans with substance use disorders are at a higher risk of suicide than those without. The VA has programs to help veterans with substance abuse issues, but these programs are often not accessible to veterans in rural areas.
Similarities and Differences in Data The data gathered and generated on mental health concerns among veterans show some similarities and differences. The data gathered by the VA and other organizations show that suicide rates among veterans are high and have remained high for years. The data generated by the VA and other organizations also show that the stigma associated with mental health issues remains prevalent, and many veterans do not seek help due to this stigma.
One of the differences in the data is the lack of access to mental health services. The data gathered by the VA show that veterans face long wait times to receive care at VA medical centers. However, the data generated by the VA show that veterans living in rural areas have limited access to mental health services. This lack of access to care is a major barrier to addressing mental health concerns among veterans.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Community The veteran community has several strengths that can be harnessed to address mental health concerns. The first strength is the sense of community among veterans. Veterans have a strong bond and sense of camaraderie that can be used to support each other during difficult times. The second strength is the resilience of veterans. Veterans have gone through difficult situations and have developed coping mechanisms that can be used to deal with mental health issues.
However, the veteran community also has several weaknesses that need to be addressed. One of the weaknesses is the lack of awareness about mental health