Develop a 2-4 page proposal for a policy that should help to improve health care and outcomes for your target population. Biopsychosocial Population Health Policy Proposal Introduction Note: Each assessment in this course builds on the work you completed in the previous assessment.

Biopsychosocial Population Health Policy Proposal

Efforts to preserve the lives of persons living with depressive disorders have targeted screening, patient management, and community awareness programs. The effectiveness of these measures in reducing morbidities and mortalities attributable to depressive disorders remains a question. Quality of care provision for patients presenting with depression and other mental disorders has also remained a concern. Policy provisions that are targeted at bridging the gap in care provision for this group are therefore necessary.

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Policy Proposal

Institution of mental healthcare professionals in primary healthcare can produce benefits to patients visiting these care centers. Primary healthcare remains a significant component of care provision, accounting for more than half of all initial hospital visits (van den Muijsenbergh & van Weel, 2019). Co-location of mental healthcare professionals such as psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers at these points of care may enhance access to their services to patients who need them at these lower levels points of care. According to Unützer & Park (2017), the co-location of healthcare professionals to primary healthcare provides additional benefits in care optimization in this group of patients. It is for this reason that policies should be postulated that ensure the co-location of healthcare professionals to primary healthcare. In this policy provision, all primary healthcare settings will have at least one mental healthcare professional whose role will be to take care of persons presenting with mental health disorders as well as promote mental health awareness within these societies.

Need for the Policy on the Target Population

Various measures have been utilized in the management of depression and other mental health disorders. Measures towards managing these disorders have been elaborate and expansive, drawing many players within the healthcare sector (Gillam, 2017). Even with these expansive measures, significant morbidities and mortalities are continuously being realized across the U.S. and globally. Management interventions for these patients have utilized screening, health promotion, and treatment. Pharmacotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic interventions have constantly produced better results in the management of these disorders (Guidi & Fava, 2021). Improving access to care is, therefore, necessary in the management of these disorders. Co-locating mental health professionals to primary levels of care is a forward step towards enhancing access to care. It should, therefore, be the responsibility of governments and various healthcare systems to facilitate the co-location of these professionals to the lower levels of care. The benefits of this co-location will be evident in the enhanced care provision process to all patients with depressive disorders, improved access to mental health specialists, and overall enhancement of clinical outcomes for these patients.

Interprofessional Approach

Management of mental health disorders requires interprofessional collaboration in the design of treatment plans for patients presenting with these disorders. Mental health professionals are a diverse group that consists of social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists. These disciplines also work in concert with other healthcare providers, such as pharmacists, nurses, and doctors. Integration of healthcare professionals into primary healthcare settings requires that these disciplines work collaboratively towards promoting the welfare of their patients. Successful implementation of this policy will require that these groups work in concert with each other in screening, diagnosis, treating, and promoting the health of these individuals.

An interprofessional approach to managing depressive disorders at the primary level of care will also enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of care interventions for patients presenting with depressive disorders. A collaborative approach in care provision ensures an expansive coverage which in turn ensures that more patients are screened for depression (Vlasveld et al., 2017). The collaborative approach also ensures that accurate diagnosis and management interventions are done on the patients, thereby ensuring better clinical outcomes. For successful integration, all care providers at this point should clearly define their roles in the management of these disorders. Role ambiguity often impedes care and has been implicated in poor care outcomes.

Management strategies for depression have not been sufficient in curtailing the rise in morbidity