Mental Health Policy and Integrated Care is an article written by C.D. Zolnierek in the Psychiatric and Mental Health-Nursing Journal.
Through the article, Zolnierek notes that cases of mental illnesses are on the rise, and predicts that before the year 2020, the illness would be among the leading causes of mental disabilities (Zolnierek, 2008). In the article, the author assesses numerous essential policies developed to control the prevalence of the disease.
In the article, the author analyzes the current procedures employed by developed and undeveloped countries to address psychological health issues within their regions. Similarly, the author focuses on several steps followed during the policy development process (Zolnierek, 2008). Disappointed by the present mitigation measures put in place, the author proposes that effective measures should be adopted through the implementation of corrective policies. Equally, the author wants more funds to be allocated to research and policy development projects to enhance their effectiveness. Referring to the WHO policies on mental illness, the author suggests that corrective policies should be implemented from the institutional level down to the community level. Thereafter, the author examines an integrated system model approach developed to address and curb psychological disorders (Zolnierek, 2008).
Before concluding, Zolnierek appeals to the stakeholders to support all strategies and measures aimed at tackling mental illness (Zolnierek, 2008). Equally, the author urges all the medics to adopt the integrated model. By doing so, the author advises all health practitioners to change their attitudes when administering their therapy to the affected individuals. In addition, the author notes that nurses have bigger roles in changing the lives of mentally ill patients (Zolnierek, 2008)