Mental Health

Mental Health

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.gov (n.d.), approximately 20 million adults in the USA suffered from a depressive episode in 2020. Furthermore, the incidence of depressive episodes is higher in females than males (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.gov, n.d.). As such, the family nurse practitioner (FNP) should consider this case a priority. In this context, the FNP should take sequential steps to help the patient. Firstly, the FNP should educate the patient on the importance of medication adherence. Medication adherence is associated with better patient outcomes. Notably, medication adherence prevents the recurrence of depressive episodes and promotes the general well-being of the patient (Kini & Michael Ho, 2018).

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Secondly, the FNP should educate the patient on prescription-assistance programs. These programs provide invaluable support to patients who cannot afford medication (“Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Patient Assistance Program Information | CMS,” 2021). The facilitators of the programs are diverse and include non-profit organizations and state and federal programs (“Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Patient Assistance Program Information | CMS”, 2021). These programs subsidize medication costs for individuals who lack health coverage. Additionally, prescription assistance programs may provide free medication for eligible patients. Examples of prescription-assistance programs include Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief and NeedyMeds (“Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Patient Assistance Program Information | CMS,” 2021). By providing comprehensive patient education regarding these programs, the FNP will help the patient select the most appropriate option (“Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Patient Assistance Program Information | CMS,” 2021).

The other intervention entails referring the patient to community social workers. Community social workers play a key role in tackling issues facing community residents (“Community Social Workers | What do they do?”, n.d.). To accomplish this, they collaborate with various governmental and non-governmental organizations and well-wishers. In this context, the patient’s living conditions are inadequate. Community social workers will play a key role in mobilizing resources to facilitate the patient. In addition, the FNP should involve case managers. Case managers play a significant role in evaluating patient needs and care coordination (“Community Social Workers | What do they do?”, n.d.).

References

Community Social Workers | What do they do? (n.d.). SocialWorkLicensure.org. Retrieved 3 August 2022, from https://socialworklicensure.org/types-of-social-workers/community-social-workers/.

Kini, V., & Michael Ho, P. (2018). Interventions to Improve Medication Adherence: A Review. JAMA – Journal of the American Medical Association, 320(23), 2461–2473. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.19271

Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Patient Assistance Program Information | CMS. Cms.gov. (2021). Retrieved 3 August 2022, from https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-Coverage/PrescriptionDrugCovGenIn/PAPData.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.gov. (n.d.). Major Depression.

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression#:~:text=An%20estimated%2021.0%20million%20adults,compared%20to%20males%20(6.2%25).

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The FNP is conducting a routine follow-up on a patient with depression. The patient reports she is
feeling like she can’t go on anymore. The FNP learns that this patient discontinued her medication 3
weeks ago because she couldn’t afford it. What should the FNP do in this situation? Support your
response.

Mental Health

EXAMPLE ;
Major depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States (Maurer et
al., 2018). In this situation, it is the practitioner’s job to follow-up with the patient and educate her on
the risks of not taking her medication. As a healthcare practitioner, we are not only responsible for the
physical health of our patients, but also have to be invested in their mental, and emotional well-being.
Women with depression are more likely to report physical symptoms like headaches, myalgias, or
gastrointestinal problems (Maurer et al., 2018). I would refer this patient to a social worker or case
manager who would be able to assist this patient in medication affordability. The purpose of mental
health care management, is for entry level professionals or practitioners to assist mental health patients,
both adults and children, achieve identified goals or objectives that are set forth in a patient’s
individualized treatment plan (Mendenhall & Grube, 2017). Medication use us the most common
management for both acute and chronic health diseases, as well as for the maintenance of the overall
health (Cadel et al., 2021). Hence, it is important that this patient is able to take her medications to be
able to manage her condition. There are also governmental programs that could help the patient afford
the medications or get the medications for free. Community social workers are trained professionals who
are able to advocate for members within their communities on social and health care issues (Jam et al.,
2019). It would also be a good idea to assess the patient’s mental health by using a questionnaire
regarding her depression. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and American Academy of
Family Physicians recommend screening for depression in the general adult population, and screening
should be implemented with adequate systems in place to ensure accurate diagnosis, effective
treatment, and appropriate follow-up. Screening is recommended for all adults older than 18 years,
regardless of risk factors (Maurer et al., 2018).
Length: A minimum of 250 words, not including references
Citations: At least one high-level scholarly reference in APA from within the last 5 years