Treatment or Wellness Models Used To Address an Identified Community Health Need

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the preferred treatment model for handling depression across the community. The intervention empowers individuals to modify thought patterns to help change moods and behaviors. Blending cognitive and behavioral therapies enables patients to adopt positive thoughts, feelings, actions, and behaviors that help them manage depressive symptoms (Bhat, 2017). Patients and therapists work to identify approaches to challenging and stressful situations. The goal is to empower patients to have a balanced and constructive way of responding to depressive symptoms. Further, patients can embrace meditation and journaling to manage heightened anxiety and other undesirable signs associated with depression and other mental illnesses (Bhat, 2017).

With about 5 to 20 sessions, individuals can discover sources of stressors, learn to manage distorted thoughts and reactions, and respond appropriately. Practicing the coping skills personally and with therapists improve one’s moods, beliefs about themselves, and overall outlook on life. One drawback of CBT is that attending regular sessions takes up a lot of a patient’s time. The busy nature of Owensboro adults may discourage them from participating in CBT sessions or carrying out extra work between sessions. A complex CBT session may be unsuitable for residents with escalated mental health issues and learning difficulties (Bhat, 2017). The intervention focuses more on an individual’s ability to change their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. However, the model does not address wider issues such as family conflicts that have adverse impacts on one’s health and well-being.

The prevention model is the Health Belief model that guides overweight and obesity management. The concept enables healthcare providers to explain and predict changes in eating habits, physical activities, and alcohol use. In this case, community members at risk or affected by obesity embrace short and long-term interventions that highlight recommended actions and the benefits of successful behavior changes (Rural Health Information Hub, 2022).

For instance, the Health Belief model conveys the consequences of being overweight and obese and communicates to the target population practices necessary to improve quality of life. The audience can access evidence-based information on healthier foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and protein sources appropriate for preventing obesity. Similarly, individuals access information on unhealthy options such as red meat, sweets, processed meat, limited physical activity, and excess screen time that expose them to adverse health outcomes. However, the model does not consider habitual behaviors associated with mental health issues, tobacco use addiction, diabetes, obesity, and other issues (Shitu et al., 2022). The theory also fails to consider behaviors such as social accessibility and peer pressure. Considering non-health related reasons helps stakeholders develop a comprehensive understanding of social, environmental, and cultural aspects associated with unhealthy behaviors.

Conclusion

The key stakeholders in Owensboro include healthcare organizations, community leaders, and community-based organizations. The groups help improve individual and population health. The various parties understand the health burden and implications on households. Such awareness reinforces calls for evidence-based treatment and prevention models to improve healthcare outcomes. For a community like Owensboro, stakeholder engagement can enhance response to social and economic threats posed by diabetes, obesity, and mental health issues.

References

Bhat, S. A. (2017). Cognitive behavioral therapy and depression. International Journal of Advanced Educational Research, 2(6), 143-145.