Kentucky Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Project Title

Implementing School-based Education Programs to Combat Lack of Access to Psychiatric Facilities in the United States

Authors

Marisa L. Sparbanie, Eastern Kentucky UniversityFollow

Abstract

One in five Americans are diagnosed with a mental illness, yet only 41% of adults received healthcare services in the past year. Due to barriers in accessing care, services are costly, wait times are long, and appointment times are inconvenient. Lack of access to quality, affordable care disproportionately affects those in rural areas and individuals with low socioeconomic status. School-based mental health education programs should be developed as a beginning step to combat increasing mental health conditions and limited access to healthcare facilities. Lack of access to care may lead to occupational injustices such as: occupational alienation, deprivation, and imbalance. Occupational therapists can address these injustices through assessing and promoting the mental health of all clients. Implementing school-based mental health education programs have proven to be effective. If implemented, the following outcomes are expected: decrease in suicide attempts, increase in overall health and well-being, and increased awareness of mental illness. This paper includes an analysis of current literature regarding limited access to mental healthcare and proposes a solution to this issue.

Mentor Name

Renee Causey-Upton

Mentor Email

renee.causey-upton@eku.edu

Recommended Citation

Sparbanie, Marisa L. (2019) "Implementing School-based Education Programs to Combat Lack of Access to Psychiatric Facilities in the United States," Kentucky Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship: Vol. 3: Iss. 1, Article 3.
Available at: https://encompass.eku.edu/kjus/vol3/iss1/3