Health Needs Assessment Report: Mental Health and Wellbeing

Introduction

Health needs assessment can be defined as the strategic and systemic assessment process that involves the evaluation of the application of available resources by the healthcare services in an effective manner (Pennel et al., 2015). The assessment process comprises evaluations of the health conditions of a specific population and then exploring the available resources to address the health-related concerns of that specific population (Samarasekera et al., 2012). In the UK, the health needs assessment is conducted by the NHS (National Health Services) with the aim of addressing the rising burden from different health issues or addressing the issues of quality healthcare accessibility and others (Evanthia Sakellari, 2012). In this essay, the health needs assessment report by Devon Country Council (2013) on mental health and wellbeing has been critically reviewed along with the different concepts and needs for awareness on the health needs assessments. Concerns and the burden of mental health amongst people of different ages in the UK are rapidly rising, and the needs assessment helps to bring change and benefit the population.

Discussion

Concepts and theories underpinning health needs assessment

To explore the theories and concepts underpinning the needs assessment, one may use the Maslow Hierarchy of Human Needs theory. The theory states that all humans have the same psychological needs, which also form the lowest level of the pyramid, followed by safety from the environment and challenges, belonging, self-esteem, and self-actualisation or growth (Noltemeyer et al., 2012). The needs start with the most important ones at the bottom of the pyramid-like general psychological needs will comprise of the person having good health followed by the protection from diseases that comes under the safety aspect, then belonging that comprises of good health of the family and/or the community, followed by the need for personal growth to be emotionally fit and self-acceptance in the society (Harrison et al., 2013). Maslow’s Needs theory is one of the most important and best theories to define the needs assessment because it helps in exploring the healthcare needs and planning of healthcare management for special aspects (Thompson, Kreuter, and Boyum, 2016). Even though many researchers have criticised this theory as inflexible and primitive, the best thing about using this needs theory in healthcare planning is that it enables to understand the primary healthcare needs of a population followed by secondary and tertiary needs of healthcare for healthcare development of the population or a particular community (Harrison et al. 2013). The health needs assessment report by Devon Country Council (2013) used two main needs-based theories; one was rapid needs assessment and the second was a comprehensive needs assessment. The report first used the existing data on health using reports and epidemiological data to explore the mental health burden and stakeholder assessments and, finally an assessment of the gap. This method not only helped the Devon Country Council (2013) to find the prevalence of mental health issues amongst local people of different ages and gender and race and based on the existing policies and their impacts, the existing gap is explored, and then the health needs planning is done to help mitigate the rising burden of mental health issues in different regions of the UK especially Devon.  

Awareness of different approaches for undertaking a health needs assessment

There are multiple approaches to undertaking a health needs assessment based on the type of data available. One of the best methods or approaches of undertaking health needs assessment is by induction of the epidemiological data that may be available to the Government or different healthcare centres like hospitals and clinical institutions in the region or nationwide. Devon Country Council (2013) used the epidemiological data published by ONS Wellbeing Survey, UK and Child and maternal health intelligence network. These sources provided data on types of psychiatric and mental illness-related data for age and gender-based as well as region-wise. Therefore, using the existing epidemiological data, the prevalence and burden of mental health in Devon and the UK were assessed, followed by data on different healthcare provisions available for the specific population. The effectiveness and gap were assessed. Another study by Ferrari et al. (2010) also used epidemiological data for major depressive disorder (MDD) for prevalence based on age, year and sex for 21 regions globally. The health needs assessment aimed to explore the prevalence of MDD in major regions globally and use the data to recommend changes in healthcare policies and hypothetical plans for mitigation of MDD and management of the existing population. Another method or approach that may be undertaken for HNA projects is the critical review of different reports and articles as well as scientific papers and policies available or published by the Government. The report by Devon Country Council (2013) also used secondary qualitative data like reports by Government and independent healthcare organisations, as well as journal papers like epidemiological papers and clinical research papers as well to assess the current state of mental health management policies and strategies used by local healthcare bodies as well as the healthcare centres and the impact on the prevalence of different mental health issues. Similarly, Johnson and Vindrola-Padros, (2017) also used qualitative data from existing resources to develop and rapid health needs assessment, as also used by Devon Country Council (2013), to collect qualitative data on policies available and healthcare frameworks available in addressing a health burden. Based on the existing HNA used for the current study, it is evident that secondary qualitative or quantitative data are the best approaches in undertaking health needs assessment.

A critical review of the Chosen Health Needs Assessment Report

The current report by Devon Country Council (2013) is a health needs assessment report for mental health and wellbeing in the region of Devon, UK. The main reason for conduction of the mental health needs assessment was because of two main reasons; firstly, there has been a rise in the prevalence of mental illness in the UK and secondly, the rising mental illness results in an increased financial burden to the nation as well as the Government. The methodology that the current report by Devon Country Council (2013) comprised both qualitative and quantitative secondary information whereby the existing prevalence of mental illnesses like autistic spectrum disorder, tic disorders, eating disorders, neurotic disorders, learning disabilities, special educational needs, self-harm, and others was explored and presented statistically and graphically. This helped in the effective assessment of the prevalence of mental health for children and adolescents, adults and older aged people. Even though the report used effective approaches for data analysis, the study did not use any of the needs theories like Maslow’s Needs or Doyal and Gough’s Needs theory (AlDossary et al., 2017; Thompson et al., 2016). Even though the findings of the mental health needs assessment report by Devon Country Council (2013) found different gaps in the existing mitigation strategies by the local institutions, like lack of care pathways for the patients undergoing treatment and therapeutics for mental health as well a lack of evidence on eating habits and disorders for young adults in the Devon region. Based on the assessment of the report quality, it may be stated that the report covered almost all segments of developing a mental health needs assessment report. However, the report did not develop or use primary data for assessment of the current situations in the management of people of mental illness in Devon. For instance, a study by Finnegan-John and Thomas (2012) used in-depth interviews to conduct a needs assessment to explore the effectiveness of existing comprehensive health psychology in the London region. Therefore, the study could have used a primary data source for validating the findings from the secondary data. A weakness of using existing or secondary data is that the study has to rely on the available data and cannot validate with the help of a primary data source or the findings from a primary data, like an interview or survey.

Conclusion

In this essay, the health needs assessment report on mental health and wellbeing has been critically reviewed along with the different concepts and need for awareness on the health needs assessments. As for the theories that can be used for the development of health needs assessment, the concept of Maslow or Doyal and Gough’s needs theory can be used for exploring the primary needs of the assessment and exploration of the gap for healthcare management planning. Furthermore, it was also found that the most common approaches to conducting a health needs assessment are by using secondary data from epidemiological data or existing research. However, primary data like surveys and interviews can also be used for the same. Finally, the report on mental health and wellbeing HNA has been critically assessed along with its limitations and possible alternative approach for the conduction of the needs assessment.

References

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