Isabella Durham, 12th Grade

Unsanitary conditions, untrained personnel, and poor treatment are all things associated with asylums in the 1800’s. This was all that was available for the mentally ill and disabled during the time, and we’ve progressed incredibly since then. With the passage of the National Mental Health Act in 1946, the idea that mental health should be connected to public health spread. Although there was a push for proper mental health treatment, there was still great stigma surrounding the topic. Many people viewed the mentally ill and disabled as weak and unpredictable. Some of these views still exist today and prevent some from reaching out for help when they need it. Even though people may be hesitant to reach out for professional help, there’s been an increase in people in therapy due to society recognizing anxiety and depression as important things to work through. From personal observations, it’s a bit difficult to receive therapy since it might take a few months to find an establishment that accepts your insurance and isn’t completely booked with patients already. So, due to these issues surrounding mental health care, would having mental health screenings as a routine part of primary health care check-ups be beneficial for society?

There are many worries that come with having mental health as part of your primary health check-ups. Most people that oppose mental health screenings in these check-ups worry about privacy. There are some who argue that these screenings could make them reveal details that they aren’t ready to share yet. Furthermore, with the sharing of information could come diagnoses that when revealed to others, can lead to discrimination. Another concern that many can relate to is not wanting to be put on medication when they don’t necessarily need it. Having mental screenings are primary health check-ups can allow for medication to be prescribed first thing without recommending coping skills and other methods at overcoming struggles. Also, a major discussion within the realm of mental health is the age at which people should be screened. There’s a situation in which some schools thought it would be best to have mental health screening at the school, however there were some parents uncomfortable with this. According to an article written by reporter Libby Stanford, many parents are concerned with the privacy of their children and the parental rights they have over their children. This can connect to primary screening since many parents could feel that having their underage children go through with the process can be harmful for them.

Although there are those who are concerned about the impacts of mental health screenings, there are many benefits to it. The main benefit is that having these screenings during check-ups could allow for early detection thus allowing one to attack the problem head on before it gets worse. Also, having these screening implemented in yearly primary care check-ups could reduce costs for someone seeking help for mental illness. Instead of having to pay for the screening separately, having it combined with check-ups could greatly benefit those that come from a low income background. Another major impact of having screenings is that the more that it becomes a regular occurrence, the less stigmatized mental illnesses and disabilities. These screenings would allow for conversations to happen between the patient and someone that they trust. It could lead to new understanding among those who aren’t really educated on mental health and how to take care of it. If you take all these reasons into account, it will be clear how screenings can lead to an overall better quality of life in which people better understand themselves and are supportive of others.

Although there are valid worries on both sides of the discussion, having screenings at check-ups are more beneficial than if they weren’t. More information can be passed through having screenings which can educate people on how to better take care of themselves and one another. It could teach people to recognize the signs of someone needing emotional help. These screenings can lower the chances of a mental illness intensifying. As well as lowering the amount of hospitalizations due to anxiety and depressive reasons. Also, from personal observations, having the ability to learn about how one processes things, whether it be stress responses or panic attacks, can be life changing for the future. There are many people who wished that they had these resources earlier and readily available in their lives. It’s only right to make sure that the future generation has the ability to do the things that could better themselves and society as a whole.

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References

Collier, S. (2021, March 10). Reassessing Mental Health Screening in Primary Care. Harvard Medical School. https://postgraduateeducation.hms.harvard.edu/trends-medicine/reassessing-mental-health-screening-primary-care

Henderson, C., Evans-Lacko, S., & Thornicroft, G. (2013, May). Mental Illness Stigma, Help Seeking, and Public Health Programs. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3698814/

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (n.d.). https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-almanac/national-institute-mental-health-nimh#:~:text=1946%E2%80%94P.L.%2079%2D487%2C,and%20treatment%20of%20psychiatric%20disorders.

Stanford, L. (2023, May 5). Despite Their Promise, School Mental Health Screenings Face Resistance. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/despite-their-promise-school-mental-health-screenings-face-resistance/2023/05

University of Toledo Libraries. (n.d.). https://www.utoledo.edu/library/canaday/exhibits/quackery/quack5.html

Why Mental Health Screening is a Crucial Preventive Care Step. (n.d.). https://www.learntolive.com/insights/why-mental-health-screening-is-a-crucial-preventive-care-step