Unmet Challenges in Addressing Mental Health Concerns- Goals and Outcomes from Healthy People 2020
Mental health is a key aspect of a person’s general well-being. It can be described as a successful state of being able to perform mental functions, establish and maintain healthy and fulfilling relationships and adapt and cope with changing situations in one’s life. Mental disorders are described as health conditions that cause an alteration in an individual’s general thinking, mood and behaviour (Healthy People 2020, n.d.). Mental disorders are one of the commonest causes of disability, and data from the United States in a given year estimated that about 18.1% of adults suffered from a certain mental illness. Mental health is, therefore, a critical aspect of any health policy. This paper aims at discussing aspects of mental health that are not being addressed through data comparison and highlighting areas that require improvement.
Eating Disorders Among Adolescents.
One of the major mental health disorders that is often overlooked is eating disorders among adolescents. Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Eating disorders among adolescents have a multifactorial causation (Hauck et al., 2020). They have been mostly linked to family relationships, psychological problems, and genetic factors. Low self-esteem among adolescents is also a key factor in the prevalence of this disorder within this age group.
An estimated one out of every one hundred females is likely to suffer from anorexia nervosa. Individuals with anorexia nervosa refuse to maintain the recommended body weight (Hay, 2020). Bulimia nervosa is characterized by episodes of binge eating that are often accompanied by destructive tendencies such as forceful vomiting or the use of laxatives to expel the food that was consumed. Binge eating is simply eating uncontrolled amounts of food.
Most of these eating disorders are often adopted during the late adolescent and early adulthood years. Researchers believe that a majority of American girls suffer from bulimia nervosa but have managed to conceal their condition for long durations of time (Hauck et al., 2020). These conditions are often preceded by extreme preoccupation about one’s weight, strict dieting, overeating during certain circumstances, and often alcohol and drug use.
Several risk factors have been identified as causing eating disorders. These are categorized into psychological, social, and biological risk factors. Psychological risk factors include low self-esteem, perfectionism, difficulties in being assertive, and difficulty in expressing one’s emotions (Stice et al., 2017). Bullying and constant teasing are some of the social risk factors attributable to the causation of eating disorders. Physical changes witnessed during adolescence and genetic factors are the biological factors causing eating disorders.
Symptoms commonly observed in individuals with eating disorders include a distorted body shape and size, unusual eating habits, extreme changes in weight, insomnia, constipation, skin changes, reduced quality of both hair and nails and overactivity (Treasure et al., 2020). Adolescents with this condition tend to be in constant denial and are often moody and anxious. Withdrawal from social gatherings and friends is commonly observed. These teens also appear to be overly sensitive towards criticism meted at them.
Left unchecked and untreated, these eating disorders often lead to serious health complications and death in severe instances. Besides being underweight, anorexia nervosa has been shown to result in amenorrhoea among girls (Peebles et al., 2019). This consequently results in osteopenia that is attributed to painful fractures. Serious renal and cardiovascular diseases have also been attributed to these eating disorders.
Goals Relating to The Health Concern.
The aim of Healthy People 2020 is to ensure that there is a reduction in the number of adolescents engaging in eating disorders in an attempt to control their weight and ensure that it is maintained within the recommended range. The Healthy People 2020 reports that approximately 22% of the American population is comprised of adolescents and young adults. It is, therefore, critical to ensure that the health of these groups of people is prioritized by effectively managing these eating disorders and ensuring proper weight is maintained.
The mental health of an individual is critical to the well-being of an individual. It is particularly important in this group of individuals due to the changes that they are experiencing. The low self-esteem that is commonly associated with eating disorders can greatly impact other aspects of an individual’s life, including their academic performance. Healthy People 2020, therefore, takes great concern in ensuring that these disorders in adolescents are treated early and prevented (Healthy People 2020, n.d.). Eating disorders have been shown to have both physical and mental effects on the health of adolescents. Healthy People 2020, therefore, is greatly concerned with this issue and aims to ensure that adolescents maintain the recommended weight.
Similarities Between Data Gathered and Data Generated.
The data gathered, and the data generated had similarities in that it showed the prevalence of eating disorders was higher among adolescent girls as compared to adolescent boys. The data indicated that most eating disorders were diagnosed late in adolescence or early into adulthood, as most people were able to conceal the disorder until later on (Rizk et al., 2020). The similarity was also observed in the data that indicated that most people who were diagnosed with eating disorders were perfectionists or people engaging in activities such as ballet or athletics, with such people demonstrating traits such as over-exercising.
Differences Between Data Gathered and Data Generated.
Data gathered entails acquiring information concerning a certain problem, including both facts and feelings. Data generation, on the other hand, entails formulating a solution for dealing with a situation arising from the data that has been gathered. Data generation entails the interpretation of the data collected and the formulation of steps to take heading into the future. In this instance, for example, data may be gathered to highlight the number of adolescents engaging in eating disorders, the reason for the adoption of this habit, and other vital information (Trakman et al., 2017). Generated data will focus on the interpretation of the data that has been collected to further paint a clearer picture of the situation. Steps will also be initiated to curb the problem of eating disorders among adolescents following data generation.
Weakness and Strengths of This Community
Weakness.
Eating disorders have a great impact on an individual’s well-being as well as his interaction with others. Physical symptoms manifesting in eating disorders include dry skin, brittle nails, and hair. Long-term complications such as diabetes and pancreatitis may also ensue following extended periods of continuous eating disorders. Cardiovascular complications, malnutrition, and impaired functioning of the brain, among other complications, may also be observed.
Psychological symptoms may also be associated with eating disorders. Distorted thinking, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, reduced self-esteem, self-harm, anxiety, social isolation and depression are common with eating disorders (Stice et al., 2017). The amount of time and effort placed into regulating the amount of food consumed or overeating greatly disturbs the quality of an individual’s life and greatly impacts his daily activities. That and self-isolation can cause one to quit his job, which will be detrimental, especially in instances where one was the breadwinner.
Self-harm may lead to broken families and have great economic impacts on the family and community at large in instances where the individual is productive. Self-isolation, depression, and other obsessive tendencies may also prove harmful to an individual and to others around him (Dingemans et al., 2017). Extended periods of isolation from others may lead to conceiving thoughts to inflict harm on oneself or on others. This has resulted in such people being involved in instances where they commit murder and other crimes.
Strengths.
The community has a critical role to play in combating eating disorders. Community engagement is critical in dealing with these disorders. It is important to emphasize the importance of self-acceptance, which will go a long way in combating the problem of eating disorders.
Areas of Improvement Needed in the Community.
The community has a role to play in changing the relationship between adults and adolescents to be able to foster an environment where adolescents can share their concerns. In most instances, adolescents view adults as judgemental and non-understanding. It is critical to foster the creation of a good relationship between these two groups. This open and free communication will enable parents and guardians to identify eating disorders early (Treasure et al., 2020). Early diagnosis will enable prompt treatment and management, reducing the risk of complications.
The community also has a key role to play in ensuring that they curb and eliminate the culture of bullying. Bullying in schools, on the internet, and other avenues is a key contributory factor in the development of eating disorders. Body shaming, which is rampant in society today, greatly leads to reduced self-esteem, which leads to conditions such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in an attempt to lose weight and gain acceptance. Adolescents are mostly unaware that these habits are harmful and have dire consequences in the long run. The community, therefore, has a key role to play in curbing bullying and body shaming.
The community also has a role to play in changing the common belief that beauty is associated with lean bodies. The media has mostly displayed models as being the epitome of beauty. One of the key requirements to become a model is to be slim. This idea gets to the head of most adolescents especially girls, who want to be as slim and as beautiful as the models they see. This belief leads to the adoption of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in an attempt to lose weight. The community has a role to play in ensuring that adolescents are taught to accept themselves as they are (Elices et al., 2019). Fostering self-acceptance is critical in preventing eating disorders.
Conclusion.
In conclusion, mental health is a critical aspect of every human being’s life. It is, therefore, important to focus on ensuring that mental health is maintained. Eating disorders are common among adolescents. Low self-esteem, among other factors, has been implicated in the causation of eating disorders. Healthy People 2020 focuses on combating the issue of eating disorders among adolescents. The aim is to ensure that adolescents maintain the recommended weight. Community engagement is critical in dealing with the problem of eating disorders. Fostering a habit of self-acceptance among adolescents will go a long way in dealing with this situation.
References.
Dingemans, A., Danner, U., & Parks, M. (2017). Emotion Regulation in Binge Eating Disorder: A Review. Nutrients, 9(11), 1274. Https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9111274
Elices, M., Tejedor, R., Pascual, J. C., Carmona, C., Soriano, J., & Soler, J. (2019). Acceptance and present-moment awareness in psychiatric disorders: Is mindfulness mood dependent? Psychiatry Research, 273, 363–368. Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2019.01.041
Hauck, C., Cook, B., & Ellrott, T. (2020). Food addiction, eating addiction and eating disorders. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 79(1), 103–112. Https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665119001162
Hay P. (2020). The current approach to eating disorders: a clinical update. Internal Medicine Journal, 50(1), 24–29. Https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.14691
Healthy People 2020. (n.d.). Mental Health and Mental Disorders. Mental Health and Mental Disorders | Healthy People 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2021, from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/mental-health-and-mental-disorders.
Peebles, R., & Sieke, E. H. (2019). Medical Complications of Eating Disorders in Youth. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 28(4), 593–615. Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2019.05.009
Rizk, M., Mattar, L., Kern, L., Berthoz, S., Duclos, J., Viltart, O., & Godart, N. (2020). Physical Activity in Eating Disorders: A Systematic Review. Nutrients, 12(1), 183. Https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010183
Stice, E., Gau, J. M., Rohde, P., & Shaw, H. (2017). Risk factors that predict future onset of each DSM-5 eating disorder: Predictive specificity in high-risk adolescent females. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 126(1), 38–51. Https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000219
Trakman, G. L., Forsyth, A., Hoye, R., & Belski, R. (2017). Developing and validating a nutrition knowledge questionnaire: key methods and considerations. Public Health Nutrition, 20(15), 2670–2679. Https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980017001471
Treasure, J., Duarte, T. A., & Schmidt, U. (2020). Eating disorders. Lancet (London, England), 395(10227), 899–911. Https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30059-3
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Question 
Discuss aspects of a health concern not being addressed despite the efforts of services and partnerships involved. Describe the outcome(s) or goal(s) from Healthy People 2020 relating to that specific health concern.
Answer the following questions to assist in data interpretation:
Unmet Challenges in Addressing Mental Health Concerns- Goals and Outcomes from Healthy People 2020
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 weaknesses and strengths of this community?
In what areas is improvement needed in this community?
The assignment should be written in an APA-formatted essay. The essay should be between 1500 and 2000 words in length and include at least two scholarly sources other than the provided materials.