Introduction to the health issue
The World Health Organization (WHO) through proper research has recorded mental health to
be a global threat to the population. Statistics have shown that mental disorders are common
among African American people who record-high the number of mental cases as compared to
White Americans (Shrivastava, Shrivastava, & Ramasamy, 2017). This is because black families
have always learned the hard way in achieving their goals and lack of opportunities has resulted
in a low-income generation. This cultural norm is caused by racial discrimination where the
white Native Americans block the African Americans to develop their lifestyle. These challenges
result in different mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety & panic attacks
and psychosis. Studies have shown that mental health departments in different health
organizations record more African American male population are diagnosed with mental
disorders as compared to white Americans and Asians. This paper therefore aims to discuss
mental health among the male African American population, evaluating the significance of this
problem to the population and personal views, suggesting suitable solutions that the community
health nurses have set to tackle this problem, and lastly, discuss the trending and future
implications of the problem for the practice of Community Health Nurses (CNH).
Significance of mental health to the population
Health statistics have proved that over 400 million people in the world are affected by mental
health. Male African Americans make a higher percentage of this alarming number which has
pushed mental illness to be a global trend (Shafer, & Ang, 2018). According to WHO,
MENTAL HEALTH IN AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE POPULATION 3
depression as mental illness will be expected to reach the peak beyond treatment if no
implementations are conducted to reduce the effect and causes of this deadly disease. The main
factor contributing to mental disorders among African American men is unemployment. Lack of
jobs and opportunities results in idleness and inability to socialize with other people resulting in
personality disorders, depression, and loneliness. The economic costs associated with rampant
growth in the burden of mental disorders among the black American men have led to the
evaluation of possibilities in promoting mental illnesses, preventing and treating them. Medical
care costs have gradually increased over the years mostly in the US as compared to both
developing and powerful countries in the world. This economic phenomenon has been caused by
the increasing admission of black American men into mental clinics who are diagnosed with
different mental failures. Besides, chronic diseases such as pneumonia, cancer, and heart diseases
are among the major triggers of depression in black families.
Increased population has resulted in uneven distribution of resources making it impossible for
these specific populations of people to access treatment resources. Men are considered to be
strong than women, this ideology results in stigmatization among the black men which makes
them feel excluded from society and fails to seek medical attention due to lack of funds.
Different health organizations offer high health costs in treating mental and chronic diseases. In
light of this, black American men fail to afford therapeutically procedures offered especially in
private hospitals that have qualified professionals. Quality and even distribution of health
resources would be very significant in providing integral and professional health treatments and
services to all. As a community health nurse, mental illness is significant to me because I tend to
understand and interact more with male species probably because all my siblings are men and
MENTAL HEALTH IN AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE POPULATION 4
growing up with them created a greater bond as compared to women. I learned that a man can
suffer a lot of damage mentally and fail to seek assistance from others. Due to my humanity
traits, I grief on behalf of the black American men fraternity who are affected by mental
disorders and fail to seek medical treatment just because of the color of their skin.
Mental health as a public concern
Mental health is a public concern because it affects more black American men population and a
smaller percentage of the Native white Americans. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), has recognized depression as a mental illness to be a threat to public health
(Wolfe, & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2015). This is because these illnesses
cause opportunistic diseases and injury to people globally. According to the CDC, mental
disorders are more than just an unwanted unstable emotion. It has contributed negatively to the
community and at a personal level through reducing productivity resulting in absenteeism. It has
promoted negative impacts on the surrounding population causing criminal activities such as
robbery rape and murder. This is highly triggered by unemployment where affected black
Americans stay idle at home and engage in these unwanted behaviors. Mental health is a public
concern because, in 2010, depression was reported to increase the economic burden to
approximately $200 billion in that year. Health institutions around the world lack suitable
professionals in mental treatment departments. This has become a public health concern because
more people fail to get quality and proper health services in hospitals that worsen their
conditions. Every human being in the world has the right to public access health resources
despite their race, age and culture.
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World Health Organization (WHO) has declared mental illness as a public disaster during
the World Health Day held every year globally. This national holiday has the main objective of
advocating the importance and challenges of public health using the tagline, “Depression, Lets
talk” which has brought a huge impact to the public. The main objective of WHO in these
celebrations is to erase stigmatization as a result of mental illnesses and understanding the impact
of depression on communities.
Addressing mental health as a CHN
Community Health Nurses contribute positively to making sure quality treatment is provided to
all citizens (Clark, 2015). Different health organizations, however, experience several challenges
such as lack of adequate medical resources, inadequate professional nurses to tackle mental
health and exploitation of health resources. Despite all these problems, it is the responsibility of a
CNH to work and learn from other health centers to erase mental disorder problems. Good health
departments are responsible for the positive productivity of a nation that results in good
international relations with neighboring countries. As a CNH, I would ensure that there is equal
health resources distribution countrywide to health organizations. This is significant because
health resources will be made publicly available to citizens with affordable costs. I would also
engage in public awareness programs to educate the people on preventive measures of mental
illness using different strategies. This task requires self-motivation, mastering diverse
information on health and the ability to interact well with other people. Another importance of
conducting public awareness is to inform the public on the good side of a healthy life and
advising them to get busy in community building activities to escape idleness and promote
productivity.
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As a CNH, it is my responsibility to collaborate with both local and international health
firms in the sharing of possible improvement strategies to implement to cleanse the human
lifestyle. Engaging in interaction with other health organizations promotes widespread health
knowledge that can be used in erase mental health but also high ranked diseases such as
pneumonia. I would also collaborate with the government to facilitate the open running of policy
bills such as the Affordable Care Act that recommends the availability of cheaper treatment costs
to all citizens. To achieve this, as a CNH I should engineer the development of health interest
groups to advocate quality treatment and medication to all citizens. With all these interventions
advocated, it is the role of governmental organizations to provide adequate health resources and
developing cheaper treatment cost bills to be afforded by the black American males suffering
from depression.
The implication of mental health for CNH practice
Mental health has contributed to the current and future roles of Community Health Nurses
differently in health organizations (Clark, 2015). Besides, CNH is required to have specific
qualifications such as good communication skills, time management and the ability to embrace
change to survive in the health industry. Community Health nurses, therefore, are required to
promote adequate patient safety measures to improve their surroundings and living environment.
Availability of adequate health resources, availability of effective health professionals and good
infrastructure services are among vital aspects to be utilized in the health industry. Failure to
implement these aspects results in broken families and death.
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In conclusion, CNH plays a very important role in improving the health of a nation. I
would recommend the development of other health departments to major in homes and schools
in providing counseling and mental therapy. Finally, I would advocate for the establishment of
proper learning channels in medical schools to equip them with the right skills to become
successful nurses and physicians.
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Reference
Shrivastava, S. R., Shrivastava, P. S., & Ramasamy, J. (2017). World Health Organization
validated websites provide reliable information on vaccine safety. J Res Med Sci, 22, 78.
Wolfe, S., & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Epidemiology and prevention
of vaccine-preventable diseases. J. Hamborsky, & A. Kroger (Eds.). Atlanta: US
Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Shafer, A., & Ang, R. (2018). The mental health statistics improvement program (MHSIP) adult
consumer satisfaction survey factor structure and relation to external criteria. The journal
of behavioral health services & research, 45(4), 565-578.
Clark, M. J. (2015). Community health nursing. Prentice-Hall.