Analysis of Health Concern and Best Practices for Improving Health NURS FPX 4050 Assessment 1 Preliminary Care Coordination Plan

Like physical health, mental well-being is also integral to human health. Communities must take appropriate actions to address such issues if observed. This assessment focuses on analyzing mental health concerns and best practices for improving community health, developing SMART goals, and identifying resources for care coordination.

Analysis of Health Concern and Best Practices for Improving Health

Mental health issues have extended significantly in recent years due to their persistent impact on individuals and communities. It is estimated that 57.8 million people in the United States have mental health problems (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2023). Several communities often stigmatize mental health issues, leading to underreporting and inadequate support for concerned individuals.

Common mental health issues include stress and depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and substance abuse problems. These issues affect the individual’s emotional well-being, physical health, relations, productivity, and overall quality of life. Some evidence-based best practices for improving mental health are; mental health education, therapeutic care approaches, and community support programs. 

NURS FPX 4050 Assessment 1 Preliminary Care Coordination Plan

1. Mental Health Education/Literacy: The increasing prevalence of mental health issues in the recent world has advocated raising awareness about mental health in the population, preventing stigmatization, and normalizing discussions about one’s mental health. Mental health literacy involves providing accurate information about well-being and available resources, which can help reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking behavior (Sampaio et al., 2022). 
2. Therapeutic Care Approaches: Evidence-based psychotherapies such as mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy have effectively managed various mental health concerns like depression and anxiety. Moreover, they have significantly improved patients’ quality of life and mental health conditions (Cuijpers, 2019; Garrote‐Caparrós et al., 2022). 
3. Community Support Programs: Support programs within the communities provide safe spaces for community members to share their concerns without being stigmatized. Support groups and mental health organizations within the communities can offer various programs and foster peer support among individuals with mental health challenges. 

Assumptions and Uncertainties

The underlying assumption in this analysis is that mental health is equally important as physical health, which is why evidence-based best practices should be utilized to improve community health. The areas of uncertainty are; the community’s perception of discussing mental health concerns, commitment from community leadership in bringing reforms, and individuals’ cultural and social barriers to addressing the challenges. 

Specific Goals for Addressing Mental Health Issues

To effectively address the mental health challenges within the community setting, it is imperative to develop realistic, measurable, and attainable goals. The following goals are established for our community. 

Goal 1 – Increase mental health awareness and literacy

The goal is to implement educational campaigns about various mental health issues, alleviate stigma, and promote the culture of sharing and discussing mental well-being. The aim is to increase mental health literacy by 70% among the community members and increase their willingness to engage in open discussions about particular health aspects. Social media and various apps are considered effective in promoting and creating mental health awareness as the use is widespread and minor information can be disseminated in a shorter period (Latha et al., 2020). Furthermore, collaboration with mental health support groups, community care centers, and healthcare organizations can be another way to design awareness campaigns. 

Goal 2 – Implement school-based mental health programs

Since school-going children and adolescents are at high risk for developing mental health issues, the establishment of school-based mental support programs is significant to reduce the number of incidences, recognize the signs of distress among the concerned population, and improve mental health literacy from early ages of life (Richter et al., 2022). The goal is to observe a 40-50% reduction in the rate of mental health illnesses among children and adolescents. For this purpose, mental health curriculum and a partnership between local schools and healthcare providers will be established to deliver the curriculum effectively. Moreover, mental health counseling services