This proposal is for a public health project designed to lower the prevalence of undiagnosed and untreated depression in adults. The target audience for this project is low-SES adults with ACE scores of 4 and above. This project aims to lower the prevalence of undiagnosed depression in the community by identifying adults who are suffering from depression via our primary care provider partnered screening process. We also aim to increase access to mental health treatment and resources for low SES adults with high ACE scores. ACE awareness will be increased as a result of our partnerships with local free and low-cost medical clinics. Our participants will gain knowledge of and build resilience through solo and group therapy sessions.
This project incorporates the microsystem, ecosystem, and macrosystem of the Bronfenbrenner ecological model which is also being used as our public health framework (Simons-Morton et al., 2012). Our project addresses the microsystem of our participants by impacting the direct relationships that they have with their healthcare providers through the PCP partnered screening process and mental health therapy sessions (Simons-Morton et al., 2012). The exosystem is addressed by increasing the medical community’s awareness of ACEs by way of the local PCP partnerships (Simons-Morton et al., 2012). The macrosystem of our participants, low SES adults, is impacted by increasing access to mental health treatment and resources (Simons-Morton et al., 2012).
Maintaining a safe space is important for our staff, our partners, and our target audience which makes the incorporation of this trauma-informed principle a high priority for us (SAMHSA, 2014). We will also ensure that our staff and participants have an opportunity to voice any issues or concerns that may arise. We want to maintain an atmosphere of transparency for the benefit of our target audience (SAMHSA, 2014). We will openly share the results of any survey or assessment with our participants so they can be informed of the data collected. Lessening the impacts of secondary trauma is important to our team. A peer support system will be used to manage any issues related to compassion fatigue or secondary trauma (SAMHSA, 2014). Team members will be able to speak with trained peer-support personnel at any point during this project (MacLellan et al., 2015). Our partnerships with free and low-cost medical clinics will allow us to collaborate with members of the local medical community. Their inclusion in this project will increase the local community’s awareness of ACEs which is key to addressing this public health crisis (SAMHSA, 2014).
References
MacLellan, J., Surey, J., Abubakar, I., & Stagg, H. R. (2015). Peer Support Workers in Health: A Qualitative Metasynthesis of Their Experiences. PloS one, 10(10), e0141122. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0141122
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4884. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Simons-Morton, B. G., McLeroy, K. R., & Wendel, M. L. (2012). Behavior theory in health promotion practice and research. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
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