Question

1. What are the needs for mental health services on a national and local level?

2. How do believe your new role as a PMHNP may influence this?

Answer 1

What are the needs for mental health services on a national and local level?

Little effect on mentally ill

Insurance coverage

Utilization of services

Politics and parity

Shift towards more managed care

Less access to comprehensive care

Local factors affecting access are urbanization, provider availability, poverty, increased competition, availability of specialty consultants etc

2. How do believe your new role as a PMHNP may influence this?

By refering mentally ill according to the need to the general psychiatrist or to the specialty consultants

Providing on the spot health promotion activities

Providing preventive services for the medical problems

Providing screening by routine physical examination

Offering continuing primary health care for physical symptoms thereby reducing costs

Conducting short term psychotheraphy and psychoeducation