Addressing Public Health Challenges: Mental Health Disparities, Chronic Diseases, and Environmental Health Risks

Quannessa Beasley

The University of Phoenix

MPH/570

Ms. Rose

0908/2025

Addressing Public Health Challenges: Mental Health Disparities, Chronic Diseases, and Environmental Health Risks

Part 1: Brainstormed Topics

Public health issues impact populations in various settings, such as urban areas, workplaces, and vulnerable communities. One pressing concern is mental health disparities in cities, where access to care is limited due to socioeconomic barriers. Workplace stress also poses a significant problem, affecting employees’ productivity and overall health. Chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension are prevalent in underserved neighborhoods, linked to lifestyle choices and systemic inequities in healthcare. Environmental health concerns, such as air pollution and water contamination, pose serious risks to both urban and rural populations. Addressing these public health challenges requires comprehensive solutions that focus on improving access to care, reducing stress in the workplace, promoting healthier lifestyles, and mitigating environmental hazards. By tackling the root causes of these issues, such as improving healthcare systems and creating safer environments, we can create lasting positive change in public health for all communities.

Part 2: Exploration of 2-3 Issues

Mental Health Disparities

Existing policies such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have expanded mental health coverage, yet disparities persist. Studies reveal that low-income individuals and minority populations are less likely to access mental health services due to stigma, cost, and provider shortages (Abuse, 2020). Current policies are effective to a degree but fail to address the root causes of disparities, such as social determinants of health (Jack, 2021). A new policy that prioritizes community-based mental health programs and integrates mental health care into primary care settings is essential to bridging these gaps.

Chronic Disease Management

Policies such as the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) aim to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases like diabetes. While effective in promoting awareness and early intervention, these policies often lack sufficient funding and fail to reach marginalized communities (Jack, 2021). A new approach focusing on localized interventions, including community health workers and culturally tailored education programs, could enhance the effectiveness of existing efforts.

Environmental Health

The Clean Air Act and Safe Drinking Water Act provide regulatory frameworks to address pollution and contamination. However, enforcement of these policies is inconsistent, particularly in low-income areas (Lu, Lopez-Castro, & Vu, 2023). The effectiveness of these policies is limited by funding constraints and political challenges. A comprehensive policy that incorporates stricter enforcement mechanisms and increased funding for affected communities could significantly improve health outcomes.

Part 3: Summary

During the brainstorming process, I identified several public health issues affecting diverse populations, including mental health disparities, chronic diseases, and environmental health risks. After careful consideration, I chose to focus on mental health disparities as the primary topic for my Capstone Project. This issue resonates with me personally, and I believe it is critical to addressing broader health inequities. Although existing policies like the Affordable Care Act have made significant strides in expanding access to mental health care, systemic barriers continue to limit care for vulnerable populations, including low-income individuals and minorities (Abuse, 2020). These barriers often include stigma, cost, and a shortage of mental health providers. To address these issues, I propose developing a policy that integrates mental health care into primary care settings and prioritizes community-based interventions. By addressing the social determinants of health, such a policy could create a more equitable health care system and reduce mental health disparities (Jack, 2021; Lu, Lopez-Castro, & Vu, 2023).

References

Abuse, S. (2020). Key substance uses and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2019-nsduh-annual-national-report

Jack, L. (2021). Advancing health equity, eliminating health disparities, and improving population health. Preventing Chronic Disease, 18(18). https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd18.210264

Lu, W., Lopez-Castro, T., & Vu, T. (2023). Population-based examination of substance use disorders and treatment use among US young adults in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2011–2019. Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 8, 100181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100181

SOLUTION

Addressing Public Health Challenges: Mental Health Disparities, Chronic Diseases, and Environmental Health Risks

Quannessa Beasley
The University of Phoenix
MPH/570
Ms. Rose
09/08/2025

Addressing Public Health Challenges: Mental Health Disparities, Chronic Diseases, and Environmental Health Risks

Part 1: Brainstormed Topics

Public health issues influence populations across diverse contexts, including urban centers, workplaces, and underserved communities. Mental health disparities remain a pressing concern in cities, where socioeconomic barriers limit access to adequate care. Similarly, workplace stress negatively impacts employee health, productivity, and long-term wellness. Chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension are disproportionately prevalent in marginalized neighborhoods, often tied to lifestyle factors and inequities in healthcare systems. In addition, environmental health concerns—including air pollution and water contamination—pose widespread risks for both rural and urban populations.

Addressing these challenges requires holistic, multisector solutions. Strategies include expanding access to care, reducing workplace stress, promoting lifestyle interventions to manage chronic diseases, and mitigating environmental hazards. By tackling root causes, including inequitable health systems and unsafe living conditions, policymakers and practitioners can enact long-term, sustainable improvements in population health.

Part 2: Exploration of Selected Issues

Mental Health Disparities

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded mental health coverage, but access disparities persist among low-income and minority populations. Barriers such as stigma, limited provider availability, and cost continue to impede care (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2020). Current policies provide broad frameworks but do not adequately address social determinants of health that perpetuate disparities (Jack, 2021).

A more effective strategy would prioritize community-based mental health programs, reduce stigma through education, and integrate behavioral health into primary care. This integration improves access and normalizes treatment by allowing individuals to receive mental health care in the same setting as physical health care, reducing fragmentation and increasing continuity of care.

Chronic Disease Management

Chronic diseases remain one of the most burdensome public health challenges. National programs such as the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) focus on lifestyle change and early intervention. While effective, they often lack sufficient funding and struggle to engage marginalized groups (Jack, 2021). Disparities in participation reduce the overall impact of such initiatives.

Localized interventions are necessary to bridge these gaps. Culturally tailored education, partnerships with community health workers, and neighborhood-based health programs can ensure more equitable outreach. These strategies promote prevention and disease management while increasing trust between healthcare systems and underserved populations.

Environmental Health

Regulatory frameworks such as the Clean Air Act and Safe Drinking Water Act were designed to address environmental risks. While impactful, enforcement remains inconsistent, especially in low-income and minority communities disproportionately exposed to pollutants (Lu, Lopez-Castro, & Vu, 2023). Limited funding and political constraints hinder the ability to ensure equitable protections across all communities.

To strengthen outcomes, policymakers could implement stricter enforcement mechanisms and allocate targeted funding for remediation in high-risk neighborhoods. Environmental justice initiatives that prioritize vulnerable populations should also be expanded to address inequities in exposure and health outcomes.

Part 3: Summary

Through brainstorming, several pressing public health issues emerged, including mental health disparities, chronic diseases, and environmental health risks. After reviewing these topics, mental health disparities stood out as the most compelling focus for my Capstone Project. Despite the ACA’s progress, persistent inequities—driven by stigma, cost, and workforce shortages—continue to limit access to behavioral health care among vulnerable populations (SAMHSA, 2020).

Developing policies that integrate mental health into primary care while expanding community-based interventions represents a promising strategy. Such an approach addresses both systemic barriers and social determinants of health, creating a more equitable care system. A policy focus on mental health disparities could not only improve individual outcomes but also reduce broader health inequities across populations (Jack, 2021; Lu et al., 2023).

References

Jack, L. (2021). Advancing health equity, eliminating health disparities, and improving population health. Preventing Chronic Disease, 18(18), E64. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd18.210264

Lu, W., Lopez-Castro, T., & Vu, T. (2023). Population-based examination of substance use disorders and treatment use among US young adults in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2011–2019. Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 8, 100181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100181

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2019-nsduh-annual-national-report

This revision:

Tightens flow/clarity in each section.
Strengthens APA 7 formatting (author-date citations, corrected SAMHSA citation).
Expands critical analysis of each policy’s limitations and needed reforms.
Keeps the assignment scope manageable while polished for graduate-level work.

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