Assignment Task:
Replies 1:
Anxiety and depression association of America is one of the applications I found for support on mental illness. They offer different support groups for several different forms of mental illness as well as for different ages.
Substance abuse and mental health services administration is the second website that I found. They have a phone number listed on the website to call in times of need and different links for support.
Lastly, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences has a website for "useful wellness and mental health apps" that has different options from meditation and relaxation to coping with anxiety and depression.
It is important that when you are finding a support group for mental illness that you find one that fits for you and your needs, whether it be anxiety, depression, bipolar, social anxiety, etc. This is one of the components that I used while researching these applications. Also, each association had a direct contact link for questions. Another component that I used to evaluate the websites was that they had their vision and mission listed on their website and how they are achieving it.
Explain from a nursing perspective the benefits of each site and what improvements are needed.
Mental illness is a very vulnerable thing to speak out about and not everyone is always comfortable reaching out for help. These websites listed above all had one thing in common, no judgement. They are all very direct about what their goal is and how they are there to help you. That mental illness is a very real disease, and it isn't something to be ashamed or embarrassed about. They all have several different ways to reach out for help, apps, zoom meetings, or a direct help line to speak to someone. They each have health professionals who are willing to give their time and support to help those in need.
How do these sites or applications (one of which is a support group) support diverse and hard-to-reach populations?
SAMHSA's has a number listed for a helpline and they offer English or Spanish speaking. These are also non-profit sites and are free for those who need to use them so cost is not a concern which allows those who do not have insurance or cannot afford to go to the doctor to get help when needed to have the option to use these sites. "We recognize that when people across identity groups are regarded and engaged as full participants in leadership, decision making and programs, we are able to provide resources and programs that best meet the needs of our members and the public. As such, ADAA leadership embraces diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as a core value for all members, staff, and volunteers. We are committed to fostering an environment that supports cultural equity and models diversity and inclusion. ADAA is committed to practicing DEI principles to ensure that everyone feels safe, seen, valued, respected, and welcome." (ADAA, 2024.)
References:
ADAA. (2024). Depression & Anxiety Wellness Groups.
Replies 2:
The disease that I chose to find patient education websites and a support group on is Congestive Heart Failure. I found a lot of helpful websites with tons of education. Still, the two best ones were the Heart Failure Society of America website which has patient education modules, and the American Heart Association's Heart Hub website which includes information on various cardiac diseases including heart failure. The support group I found is through Mended Hearts, this a national support group with regional chapters for both adults and pediatric patients with heart diseases. I chose these websites because they are .org which typically indicates that these are legitimate and often non-profit organizations. These websites cite up-to-date medical information and journals which is another reliable indicator.
Each of these sites has different benefits. The Heart Failure Society of America website could improve on being a bit more user friendly because, for older patients, navigating to the patient education modules may be difficult. The American Heart Associations Heart Hub is a great, user friendly website with distinct link to different resources. Mended Hearts is also user friendly with patient education information and resources on connecting with a local peer support group.
These websites can help hard-to-reach populations because in an area where medical providers and information may not be readily accessible, patients can access these sites and find out how to manage their symptoms and find more information to educate them on their condition in overwhelmed healthcare systems of rural areas. Mended Hearts has regional support groups so patients in rural areas are still able to locate peers and connect with them.