Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing Flashcards

A community health nurse screens adults for anxiety using the GAD-7. A score of 10 or higher suggests:

Answer: Moderate to severe anxiety warranting further evaluation and possible intervention

A GAD-7 score of 10 or higher indicates moderate to severe generalized anxiety disorder, and scores of 10–14 and 15+ indicate moderate and severe anxiety, respectively.

In mental health first aid, which framework guides the community responder's response to a mental health crisis?

Answer: ALGEE: Assess risk, Listen non-judgmentally, Give reassurance, Encourage professional help, Encourage self-help

The ALGEE action plan is the evidence-based framework taught in Mental Health First Aid courses to guide lay responders in supporting someone experiencing a mental health crisis.

Which social determinant of health is MOST strongly associated with mental health outcomes in the US?

Answer: Poverty and income inequality

Poverty and income inequality are the social determinants most consistently and strongly associated with depression, anxiety, and serious mental illness across US populations.

A nurse is implementing a community mental health awareness campaign. Which approach is MOST effective for reducing mental health stigma?

Answer: Contact-based education featuring personal stories from people in recovery

Contact-based education — where community members hear first-person stories from people with mental illness — has the strongest evidence for reducing stigma.

Which federal agency leads substance use disorder prevention and treatment services in the United States?

Answer: SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

SAMHSA leads federal public health efforts to reduce substance use disorders and mental illness, funding treatment programs and establishing national policy.

When providing culturally competent mental health care in the community, a nurse should FIRST:

Answer: Assess the patient's cultural beliefs, explanatory models for illness, and preferences for care

Culturally competent care begins with exploring the patient's own explanatory model — their beliefs about the cause, meaning, and preferred treatment for their mental health concerns.