The Full Story

Nurses play an important role in advocating for mental health and addiction services in rural areas by raising awareness about the importance of these services. At Everyone Deserves A Chance, we collaborate with local organizations to offer educational workshops, websites, funding, and support groups, ensuring that community members have access to vital resources. Additionally, we can help you find individualized care by identifying patients in need and connecting them with appropriate services, fostering a supportive environment for recovery. By being a voice for all patients, we can help to reduce stigma and promote better mental health and recovery outcomes in underserved populations.

It is the health care provider's responsibility to promote health care and options available to ALL Americans, not just the fortunate few or those with easy access to Mental Health and Addiction Recovery treatment. Now, with easy access to the internet, nurses can post pertinent information about issues affecting their communities and options for treatment that patients and their families may not be aware of.

Supporting Your Mental Well-being

Rural residents often encounter barriers to healthcare that limit their ability to obtain the care they need. Access to healthcare implies that healthcare services are available and obtainable in a timely manner. Even when an adequate supply of healthcare services exists in the community, there are other factors that may impede healthcare access. For instance, to have healthcare access, rural residents must also have:

Financial means to pay for services, such as health or dental insurance that is accepted by the provider. Medicaid and Medicare have very strict rules on psychiatric care, including addiction and substance abuse.
Means to reach and use services, such as transportation to services that may be located at a distance, and the ability to take paid time off of work to utilize services. Most rural areas do not have forms of public transportation or their nearest mental health provider is a long distance away.
Confidence in their ability to communicate with healthcare providers, particularly if the patient is not fluent in English or has limited health literacy. Most rural areas in America do not have translators for patients with whom English is not their first language. Additionally, due to education gaps and lack of aid, some patients may not understand what is being asked of them or do not have the proper health education to promote for their own health.
Trust that they can use services without compromising privacy. People in small rural areas tend to have trust issues with people from outside their local area. Rural patients also explain they have difficulties seeking help for mental health issues or substance abuse due to potentially knowing the staff and their information being shared with others.
Confidence that they will receive quality care, as rural areas struggle to employ quality and long-term staff due to monetary and location restrictions.

ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL RISKS

Believe it or not, there are risks involved when using the internet and social media to promote easier access to mental health and substance abuse recovery. ANY information provided to others on the internet should be shared responsibly, but when providing health information, a nurse should be factual, unbiased, and ethical. Misinformation can be extremely harmful! When a respected healthcare provider misinforms the public, it can lead to real-world harm and negative outcomes, even death.

Other issues a nurse should consider when providing information on the internet:

Nurses must never disclose any identifying information about patients. You would think this would be obvious but recent history and especially Covid has proven otherwise!
You MUST provide factual and evidence-based information about whatever health issue you are addressing. A responsible nurse will also encourage readers and listeners to consult with their own healthcare providers before making any changes to their current routines.
A nurse must avoid behaviors that can be seen as unethical, biased, or unprofessional. This is not what nursing is about!nal
If not self-employed, a nurse must always be aware of following all of your employer's social media guidelines.
Nurses have a responsibility to speak about their profession in a positive way and stress the importance of receiving healthcare in a timely manner.

NURSES SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE OF THESE ISSUES THAT ARISE WHEN PUTTING INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET:

Occasionally, due to accessibility, a patient can blur the lines of patient and friend/acquaintance. Patients may reach out personally or desire a personal friendship, which compromises the healthcare provider and patient relationship.
If a healthcare provider DOES decide to accept a patient's friend request or engage in a personal relationship, this can establish an unequal dynamic and harm any therapeutic relationship the two could have had.
As with all social media accounts, social media can be used negatively. Users or followers can bully or harass healthcare providers that they do not agree with.

Mission

Nurses in Mental Health and Addiction Recovery provide compassionate care and create a safe environment where patients can openly discuss their struggles. By connecting patients with much-needed resources such as counseling services, support groups, and rehabilitation programs, nurses empower them to take the first steps toward recovery. We offer education on the effects of mental health struggles and addiction and the importance of seeking help, guiding individuals on their journey to healing.

Vision

Building a network of help for communities starts with identifying local needs and resources. Engaging community members through meetings and discussions can foster collaboration and support. Creating partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and volunteers enhances a nurse's or healthcare provider's reach and effectiveness. We strive to promote awareness of available resources through social media and community events, ensuring that everyone, no matter your socioeconomic status or geographical location, knows where they can begin to get help.

When informing the public about their mental health and substance abuse treatment options, consistency is KEY. Everyone Deserves A Chance will post daily on multiple platforms and sites to ensure the message is seen and heard. Follow us on Instagram to be a part of the movement to make sure all Americans receive equal and quality mental health and addiction care!

How Can I (or You!) Promote My Passion for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment being Available to all Americans?

First, I identified my Target Audience. Which is all Americans. We are all impacted by mental health and substance abuse issues.

Next, I determined that my target audience would appreciate an informative website with a link to Instagram for updates throughout the day.

I will focus on authenticity and providing quality and factual information to those seeking help.

I promise to be consistent with posting and interacting with followers. Allowing followers to ask questions, send messages, and post their own thoughts and stories will help establish a community online, which leads to a stronger community in the real world.

I will provide useful information from reputable websites and organizations, along with reaching out to internet and social media influencers to collaborate on projects that help Americans get the help and care they need and deserve.