Greetings…

I am a nurse in training to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. I have a special interest in research, and particularly of mental health issues, stigma/prejudices and how to best address mental health disparities in primary care.

As I look through the literature and read the Surgeon General’s report on Mental Health, I am concerned about how there is a clear problem with cognitive dissonance of how our society deals with psych issues.

May I recommend that there be decisive research funded for public schools to determine if a program of mental health education and a multifaceted approach to educating and supporting children “throughout their education” to identify and target mental health issues and reduce stigma.

Older generations are set in their ways. The only way our society is going to change will be from educating AND TREATING the youngest.

People are scared to admit to mental health problems and according to the Surgeon General’s report, the MAJORITY of those needing treatment are not seeking it. Even practitioners of health in our society do not acknowledge their own needs and are suffering, or they realize there is a need and fearful of what their profession and society might think.

Sincerely,
Ann Sparks

Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University
Normal, IL