Mental Illness: Social Determinants and Presidential Reactions

Population Health Assignment
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Population Health Assignment
Population health encompasses many healthcare issues. Mental illness is one of these health-related elements in the United States (U.S.). Mental illness is typical within the U.S. (American Psychiatric Association, 2023). Social determinants like unemployment, discrimination, income and education inequalities, and higher stress levels majorly trigger the issue, affecting many American citizens. The paper will analyze mental illness as the chosen population health issue, its social determinants, the U.S. presidential reactions, and what could be done uniquely.
Social Determinants of the Health Issue
Mental illness arises from different social factors that, in turn, increase the likelihood of the occurrence of the health issue. Most importantly, Alegria et al. (2018) established that mental disorders mainly affect poor, disadvantaged, and marginalized populations. Unemployment, discrimination, income and education inequalities, and higher stress levels increasingly contribute to mental problems. For example, unemployment leads to most people lacking adequate incomes to sustain their lives. Also, when inequalities occur and affect some population groups, the specific groups lack adequate access to important social amenities or basic needs. Such conditions raise stress levels that affect the victims psychologically. Overall, these are the commonest social determinants that dictate the occurrence of mental disorders among Americans.
Presidential Reactions to the Health Issues
Two recent presidents have tried handling the mental health situation, and led to positive outcomes. Jones II and Livingston (2022) state that the Biden administration addresses mental health. Their published ABC News story reveals that President Joe Biden is focusing on the mental health crisis, especially among the youth. The leader already suggested increasing the citizens’ access to mental health services. He has contributed to mental health treatment insurance coverage plans and funded significant mental health initiatives and programs ...