Congressional Letter Assignment for Mental Health Nursing
Instructions:
Congressional Letter Assignment for Mental Health Nursing
Assignment: Draft a letter to your state or federal representative (use in-class worksheet) on a mental health –related issue of importance to you. You must attempt to educate your representative on the issue and convince him or her to make the issue a legislative priority. This assignment is worth 20 points.
Length of letter: At least one page, in proper letter format. You are welcome to use online templates as a guide.
What to include: Provide statistical information on the issue. Offer background information on the problem. Describe the problem, using facts, and explain why you think the legislator should pay particular attention to the issue.
- You MUST cite in proper APA format all sources in the body of the letter and on a separate reference page.
- You are welcome to use fictional contact information for yourself, but include the legislator’s actual information.
- At least two peer-reviewed professional journal articles less than 5 years old are required
- Sign your letter in ink
Solution
Congressional Letter Assignment for Mental Health Nursing
The Honourable Steve Chabot
2351 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
February 21, 2017
Dear Representative Chabot:
Our society is faced with a myriad of problems, and sadly most of them go unaddressed. One of the more pervasive problems in our district is that of depression. Mental depression is a mental condition affecting a huge number of people and the necessary measures ought to be put in to combat the situation. Statistics show that more than 15 million Americans suffer from depression and the condition could exacerbate into more serious complications if it remains unchecked (2017). Many people resist treatment since they don’t consider it to be a serious issue until it is too late.
Depression can affect anybody at any age causing them to lose pleasure from the day to day activities of life (Bekiempis, 2017). Some of the medication that we receive from our physicians are liable to bring about episodes of depression as a side-effect. Another cause for depression could be cognitive thinking as people entertain negative thinking patterns that are likely to take a toll on their self-esteem. Depression is liable to cause an increase in suicide deaths like in 2014 when CDC recorded more than 42,000 who died as a result (2017).
It is necessary to come up with effective ways of fighting depression so as to nip the scourge in the bud and make the lives of people healthier. Since depression is not reserved only for adults, kids get it too; it is even more important to ensure that the children are protected at their tender age. Of all the people suffering from mental health in the country, only 62.9% were able to receive treatment (Bekiempis, 2017). It shows that quite a significant number go without receiving proper medical care. I would call upon you to look into this grave issue and come up with the necessary legislation to make our district a pace setter in matters of protecting our mental patients.
Name
Voter Registration #
Address
Phone Number
References
(2017). Retrieved 21 February 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr65/nvsr65_04.pdf
Bekiempis, V. (2017). Nearly 1 in 5 Americans Suffer From Mental Illness Each Year. Newsweek. Retrieved 21 February 2017, from http://europe.newsweek.com/nearly-1-5-americans-suffer-mental-illness-each-year-230608?rm=eu