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Addressing Depression in the Family Context

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ddressing Depression in the Family Context

Abstract

Depression is a mental health condition that affects the individual, his family, and the

community. This essay discusses depression as a health issue of my imaginary husband Robert.

It describes and applies nursing practices to help in addressing his health issue and the impact

this will have on his family. The paper looks at the impact of the issue on nursing practice,

analyzes peer-reviewed evidence with the issue, assesses barriers to realizing evidence-based

practice, and assesses the role of nurses in leadership, collaboration, and communication and

policy. The paper also explores effective leadership, collaborative care changes for better

management of depression with a focus on patient-centered care and outcomes.

Introduction

Millions of people and families worldwide suffer from depression, one of the most

common mental health disorders. Persistent sadness, hopelessness and loss of interest in

activities previously enjoyed are hallmarks of this disorder, as described by Moriarty, (2021) For

my capstone project, I have selected the health problem of depression as seen through my

imaginary husband Robert and how the latter affects his individual health as well as family

health. As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, I will assess nursing interventions, leadership and

collaborative care strategies to support Robert and the family in managing depression.

Defining the Health Problem: Depression

Depression is a mood disorder which affects the functioning. The people suffering from

depression act which are serious. Robert is depressed because he has low energy, slept poorly,

can’t concentrate and isn’t interested in anything. His symptoms don’t only affect his work. They

put stress on our family, particularly with emotional support and caregiving. Depression is a
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common occurrence that can be pertinent in nursing due to the effects it can have on patients.

Depression is one of the major causes of disability. It has almost 280 million people affected by

depression globally. Depending on the degree of depression, one’s relationships, work, and

overall quality of life may be affected. Plus, being depressed back in the family can lead to stress

and becoming burnt out for the carer as well (Phillips et al., 2023). It is necessary for nurses to

tackle issues of depression to promote holistic care not only for the patient but also for the

family.

The Group for the Practicum: Robert and His Family

In this practicum, the group I intend to focus on is Robert, my husband and our family.

Depression in Robert has a dramatic impact on his health and the emotional and mental health of

family members. Most importantly, I, as the main caregiver, am affected by this most. Knowing

how depression impacts Robert and the family will help in knowing how nursing interventions

can implement to get better individual and family outcomes. Also, family interventions are

important to enhance communication, emotional support and coping within the family system

(Lloyd et al., 2023).

Context and Significance of the Problem

Depression causes much suffering to the individual as well as his family and is one

among the top causes of disability. Those who take care of people with mental illness often

suffer from a lot of distress and problems with health and life quality (Phillips et al., 2023).

When a person takes care of someone else, it may make it difficult for them to do other things as

before. Also, the other person may get exhausted or anxious. In fact, a caregiver can also suffer

from depression. In Robert's case, my caregiving role for Robert adds emotional and physical

stress to me and it has an impact on the family as a whole.

Robert's case shows that depression goes beyond a diagnosis to affect his everyday

functioning. It penetrates our family life and makes it difficult to interact meaningfully,

collaborate, and provide emotional support. It shows that the whole person needs to be treated

for depression, not just the difference for it to work. To solve Robert’s issue of depression, we

would not only bring him back to normal, but enhance the health of our entire family.

Relevance to Baccalaureate-Prepared Nursing Practice

It is a vital part of practice for a baccalaureate-prepared nurse to address health conditions

like depression. Shifting from a traditional disease model towards a chronic disease model of

depression, nurses can provide patient education, watch for early signs of depression, and offer

emotional support to patients and their families. As noted by the American Association of

Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2020), nurses have an ethical responsibility to communicate mental

health awareness. And advocate for evidence-based practice in the care of patients with

depression.

My practice in nursing will apply evidence-based practices for Robert's depression in this

case study. I will provide nursing care by taking mental health assessment of Robert,

collaborating with the multi-disciplinary team, and advocating for the family. This method aligns

with the nursing role, which emphasizes communication and collaboration (Cubillos et al.,

2021). Nurses should also recognize the importance of incorporating mental health care into

primary care services, as many individuals with depression do not seek specialized, mental

health services (Reist et al., 2022).

Analysis of Peer-Reviewed Literature

The existing literature that is on depression has key nursing interventions that includes

collaborative care, CBT and family interventions. According to Reist et al. (2022), the
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essentiality of collaborative mental health care, which involves different healthcare practitioners

engaged in care for a patient suffering from depression. This approach guarantees that patients

receive care for both their medical and mental well-being.

According to the research report of Moriarty et al. (2021), CBT is also evidence-based for

depression. It aims to change negative thinking and develop positive methods of behaviour.

Thus, it is useful for the nurse’s role in the management of depression in the individual and also

in the family. Nurses may include counselling as part of the help they offer or refer individuals to

those who offer this service.

Family involvement is also important for helping people cope with depression. Family

interventions as per Lloyd and colleagues (2023) systematic review suggest that involving family

members in treatment helps in improving communication and emotional support, which helps

alleviate burden of caregiving and improves the patient’s recovery. This points out that nursing

interventions that mainly have family nursing education, communication and support are

important.

Barriers to Implementing Evidence-Based Practices

There are proven ways to treat depression, but there are obstacles to using them. A major

barrier is the stigma that surrounding mental illness which stops patients from seeking treatment

or revealing their symptoms. According to DeSa et al. (2022), stigma can be quite sharp due to

the culture, one cannot help but to seek help for mental illness. Nurses can help reduce stigma by

actively helping patients to discuss their mental health and advocating for mental health in the

community to broaden acceptance of mental health challenges.

In rural areas, it is difficult to get access to your mental health services. Cubillos et al.

(2021) suggest that coordinating mental health services into primary care is an effective way to
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ensure that individuals suffering from depression get the care and treatment they need. Through

advocacy of policies for mental health services and working alongside primary care providers,

nurses can help achieve this integrated health care.

Nursing Standards and Policies

Standards and Policies of Nursing Improve Outcomes in Patients with Depression.

Nursing practice may improve the early identification and treatment of depression. One example

is the standardized depression screening tool, PHQ-9. Standardized screening tools universalize

the identification of depression according to Moriarty, et al. (2021). Consequently, interventions

can be applied sooner in order to avoid an elevation in severity.

Moreover, policy frameworks that allow for the integration of mental healthcare into

primary care settings are a must to ensure access to treatment. According to NAMI (2021),

mental health parity is crucial. It is the requirement that insurance companies cover mental health

services in the same manner as physical health-related benefits. Nurses play an essential role in

advocating for these policies so that patients are taken care of no matter what.

Role of Nurses in Policy Making

Nurses show their capacity in policy making especially in mental health care advocacy.

Nurses may influence policy by advocating for strategies that improve access to mental health

services, reduce stigma, and promote early intervention (Phillips et al., 2023). Nurses can support

the inclusion of mental health services into primary care and provide care to those who may not

otherwise receive it. Nurses can get involved in professional organizations and work with

policymakers so as to affect mental health policies that lessen the load of depression on patients

and families. Furthermore, the nursing profession can pitch for funding for mental health

programs and generate campaign that destigmatizes these programs and do work that ensures
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mental health parity in insurance. Nurses are frontline healthcare providers who understand the

practical needs of patients and families, and as such, the value of their influence on policies that

address the social and health determinants of mental health.

Leadership Strategies to Improve Outcomes

It is essential to improve leadership in order to improve outcomes of depression.

Transformational leadership is useful in mental health care. It involves motivating and inspiring

others to make positive changes. Transformational leadership can help improve patient outcomes

via the establishment of a nurturing environment (Phillips et al., 2023). These environments help

with the fostering of empathy, open communication and collaboration. Robert will feel

encouraged and supported to participate in his treatment plan if Robert adopts a transformational

leadership style which creates a positive environment. By helping Robert build trust, empathy

and mutual respect, transformational leaders can ensure pediatric patients take charge of their

healing processes. The kind of leadership that encourages patients to view their treatment as

something they do with rather than something that is done to them. Moreover, it helps remove

obstacles to access to care by creating an ability to talk about their challenges and seek help in a

safe space with no judgment. Better patient engagement and adherence resulting from this type

of leadership ultimately leads to better outcomes.

Collaboration and Communication Strategies

Communication and collaboration are important for treating depression. According to Reist et al.

(2022), the collaboration of nurses with mental health professionals in a care model can

empower patient outcomes. Robert will have a team of mental health specialists, social workers,

primary care providers, and others who are getting together to help him become well and stay

well. It is also necessary for Robert and his family to have effective communication strategies. It
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is necessary for the nurse to communicate openly and clearly with both Robert and the family

members about the treatment plan so that they understand it and are involved.

Change Management Strategies

The case of Robert requires change management strategy for dealing with Depression.

This could include screening for psychological issues during visits to primary care, offering

education about depression to families, and ensuring access to appropriate medical care. Support

and guidance will be required of the nurse as Robert and his family adapt to changes, and engage

and commit to treatment.

Conclusion

Depression is a complicated disease that is often seen as a public health problem.

Depression affects both the person suffering and their families. As a nurse with a bachelor’s

degree, using research, leadership, and working with others to help those with depression is the

key. Nurses can implement standardized screening tools, family intervention and pro mental

health policies to improve the outcomes of individuals like Robert and their families. Good

leadership by managers can create a conducive atmosphere where patients feel empowered to

participate in their treatment. Also, collaboration with interdisciplinary teams takes care of

things. The role of the nurses is very significant in delivering patient-centric care. They should

not only tackle the symptoms of depression but also look into the emotional, social, and

psychological consequences not only on the person but also on the family. When nurses

communicate openly with families, it helps them run more smoothly and foster the emotional

and practical support needed. Nurses' advocacy for policies promoting mental health awareness,

stigma reduction, and sufficient resources support the larger public health initiative. All in all,

by deploying a mixture of these strategies, nurses may successfully improve the quality of life of
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a patient like Robert and his family member that results in better mental health and a stronger

more effective system of care.