Statement of Purpose 3

Abstract
One crucial area of public health that receives low coverage in most developing nations is mental health care since the number of psychiatric nurses in these states is inadequate. To provide effective mental health care, it is essential for a nation to have enough psychiatric nurses through providing adequate training and education in the field. I would prefer to be a mental health practitioner in Africa since most of the countries are characterized by low income that makes them face health problems high prevalence of communicable diseases, low life expectancy, and malnutrition. Due to the high number of health problems faced by developing nations, policymakers are not likely to emphasize mental health. Apart from the health problems, mental health may not get adequate coverage in African nations due to superstitious beliefs associated with the challenge. I would, therefore, like to be a psychiatric practitioner in Africa to reach out to the communities by addressing the issue and coming up with strategies to address the same.

Statement of Purpose
Mental health care is an essential area of public health but it sadly is a component of healthcare that is often neglected especially in developing countries. Psychiatric nurse practitioners are the key elements in the provision of adequate mental health care. However, the psychological healthcare situation in most developing countries is characterized by an inadequacy of mental health nurses, and insufficient education and training of psychiatric nurses, the resulting condition is the inadequate provision of mental health care required by those who suffer from mental illnesses (Monteiro, 2015).

There are many reasons as to why I would prefer to be a mental health practitioner in Africa. Most of the countries in Africa are low-income countries faced with challenging health problems such as the high prevalence of communicable diseases, low life expectancy, and malnutrition. Due to the high number of health problems faced by the developing nations, mental health is placed at the bottom of the list of health problems by policymakers.

A nation faced by health concerns such as a high mortality rate due to infectious diseases and malnutrition is less likely to pay the necessary attention to mental illness. In most developing nations in Africa, the health sector is a poorly funded area of social services, and the most neglected sector is mental health services, and most mental health programs are characterized by scarcity of trained mental health professionals. To make a breakthrough in mental health awareness, there needs to be a change in the existing negative perception and attitudes that the public and the policymakers link to psychiatric disorders. Most of the negative views associated with mental illness as a result of the traditional beliefs in supernatural causes of mental disorders and the people also believe in the traditional remedies for mental illness. The traditional belief system associated with mental health results in a negative health-damaging response to mental illness. People who believe in the supernatural and traditional explanation for psychiatric disorders often lead to stigmatization of mentally ill people, this way most people end up being reluctant to seek appropriate care for mental problems.
The role of a psychiatric nurse practitioner is to attend to the mental health needs of communities, individuals, families, and groups. It is the role of a psychiatric nurse practitioner to come up with mental health care plans, implement the mental treatment, and evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment on a short- and long-term basis. The work of psychiatric nurse practitioners is to offer outpatient or even home-based mental care of patients. A mental health nurse can also play the role of a consultant for community groups, private corporations, other healthcare agencies and any other agency.

An advanced psychiatric nurse practitioner can perform various patient assessments such as physical tests, conducting a family risk analysis, carrying out diagnostic exams and other mental health tests. The nurse can also prescribe medications to fight mental illness as long as it complies with the state mental health practice laws. An advanced mental health nurse can also work in collaboration with other doctors to make necessary patient referrals. It is also their role to maintain detailed records of the mental health patients and to educate the patients and the families of mental health patients on the challenges of mental health.

Reference
Monteiro, N. M. (2015). Addressing mental illness in Africa: Global health challenges and local opportunities. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283091942_ADDRESSING_MENTAL_ILLNESS_IN_AFRICA_GLOBAL_HEALTH_CHALLENGES_AND_LOCAL_OPPORTUNITIES