Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

What was a focus of the federal funding shift in the early 1970s regarding mental health treatment?

1. General Mental Health Services

2. Specialized care for children and the geriatric population

3. Emergency Room Services

4. Substance Abuse Treatment

The correct answer is: Specialized care for children and the geriatric population

In the early 1970s, federal funding shifts in mental health treatment increasingly focused on specialized care for specific populations, notably children and the geriatric population. This approach recognized that different age groups have unique mental health needs that require tailored services. For children, mental health interventions were designed to address developmental issues and early intervention strategies, while for older adults, the focus was on managing conditions often associated with aging, such as dementia or depression. This focused funding was a response to the growing recognition of mental health issues in these populations and the need for specialized resources to address their particular challenges. Such targeted investment was beneficial in improving outcomes and ensuring that appropriate care was accessible to those who might otherwise fall through the cracks in broader mental health services. General mental health services, while important, would not capture the directed funding emphasis on tailored interventions for specific age groups that characterized this period. Emergency room services and substance abuse treatment also reflect critical areas within the mental health landscape but were not the central focus of the funding shift in the early 1970s aimed at enhancing specific specialized care.