Mental Health in Australia: Discrimination, Inequality and Stigmatization

This article discusses the discrimination, inequality and stigmatization faced by mentally ill patients in Australia. It also highlights the issues of an egalitarian society and the diverse communities in Australia.

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH IN AUSTRALIA
MENTAL HEALTH IN AUSTRALIA
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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MENTAL HEALTH IN AUSTRALIA
Question 1:
Mental health illness can be defined as the condition that has the capacity to affect the
ways a person thinks, feels and manages his moods. Such conditions have the capability to affect
the ability of someone to relate to others and function successfully in everyday activities.
Researchers are of the opinion that besides genetic, environmental as well as lifestyle issues that
may result in development of poor health in individuals, a stressful job, home-life or personal
relationships also have the ability to disrupt the mental stability (The Conversation 2018).
Traumatic life events like being a victim of a crime as well as biochemical processes and circuits
that affect the basic brain structure also play effective roles. However, mental health issues
which are declared by WHO to be one of the major types of situation that can be easily handled
through proper treatment, they are still not understood by society in a clear manner (Morgan et
al. 2016). The age-old tradition of stigmatization and discrimination is still whole-heartedly
followed by many societies of the nation that provide a very difficult time for the persons who
are affected by it (www.beyondblue.org.au, 2018). Even in the age of modern scientific
advantages when healthcare science has clearly explained mental health issues to be as common
disorder as a physical or physiological issue, people still discriminate such mental health
disorder. For example, there had been evidences when the societies are seen to exclude people
with mental illness with more references being done in employment centers and organizations.
Workers with mental health conditions are discriminated and not allowed to participate properly
in all sphere of work as they think that they are no longer able to handle serious issues
successfully. Moreover, in schools, community gatherings, family functions and many others,
such behaviors are noted. Social exclusion and lack of support from the members make the
patients unhappy and depressed. Stigmatization by the society impresses a feeling of inequality

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where the mental health patients are considered to fail to work with equal stamina and
confidence with like the mentally stable people. Discrimination, stigmatization, inequality and
social exclusion are not the only aspects that remain associated with mental health but also
become causes of the mental health issues (Thornicroft et al. 2016). Many of the people of low
socioeconomic background, immigrants, and people from different cultural backgrounds also
face inequality, discrimination and stigmatization that make them develop mental health
concerns like anxiety, depression, panic disorders and many others. Therefore, in both ways,
discrimination, inequality and cultural disadvantages are intricately associated with mental health
issues. These make the patients conceal their disorders and they avoid taking help from
healthcare centers or support from friends and families with fear of being stereotyped. This
mainly result in enhancing the symptoms making them suffer from poor quality life. The fear of
social exclusion, discrimination and stigmatization not only from society but also from
healthcare professionals prevent them from getting access to healthcare. These can be described
with an example. Aboriginals who are the native people of the nation prevent themselves from
getting access to mental health care from the western professionals (Buchanan et al. 2017). They
fear of discrimination and cultural stigmatization from the professionals make the native people
avoids getting access to healthcare. Moreover, they also feel that the professionals are not
culturally competent to care for them and look down on them due to their cultural traditions and
preferences. The issue of inequality, discrimination and stigmatization play huge role in
preventing mentally ill native patients to get proper care. These make them lead poor quality
lives. Feelings of shame, bullying, harassment, physical violence, self-doubt about their own
ability, fewer opportunities for social interaction and employment and many others become the
effect of such aspects on mental ill patients in the society.

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Question 2:
An Egalitarian society can be defined as the society where individuals of the society are
treated with equality irrespective of their wealth status society. Such a community would be
mainly practicing gender equality, human rights, communism, rights of women and many others.
The poor in this society are treated with dignity and all forms of discrimination are discouraged
by the society. Australia is a believer of this principle and had been trying hard to achieve the
status by inculcating such values and ideals in their governing system of the nation. In many
aspects like in case of Australian language or even in education system of the nation, the
principles are followed. The same English is spoken to honorable persons to that of even people
belonging to low socioeconomic classes without any alterations. Moreover, a teacher is seen to
provide equal care and education to all students irrespective of their cultural backgrounds and
economic stability. However, there are many areas where the principles of egalitarian society
cannot be adopted even after severe tries. A huge gap in the health status is still observed in the
nation between the aboriginals and the non-native people and therefore in the year 2008, the
government had made a formal commitment to address such gaps with the “closing the gap”
initiative. However, the program has still not able to reach its goals as inequality in life
expectancy and health status had been still found between the native and non natives as shorter
life expectancy, poorer health, higher rates of infant mortality as well as lower levels of
education as well as employment (Personal stories, 1997). Although some improvements are
made but researchers suggest that they need to go a long way and therefore again in the year

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2017, the government was put under pressure to add targets in different of the areas in lowering
Indigenous imprisonment rates, community and family violence and child removals. Higher rate
of infant mortality and maternal mortality in the natives and lower the level of life expectancy
had been observed. In 2016, native children are seen to suffer from 1.6 times more higher levels
of malnutrition than non-natives do (Manne 1998). The rate of circulatory disorders and kidney
disorders were twice and 11 times respectively in the natives than the non-natives showing health
gap on the chronic ailments and rates of hospitalization. Mental health issues, suicide and self-
harm are also higher. Lower opportunities of education and employment are also seen in the
native people. Such issues really question about the egalitarian nature of the nation and how
successfully it can hold onto it aura. The acts of Sex Discrimination act as well as the
international human right obligations are vowed to be strictly followed by the nation but still
gender inequality and discrimination are quite common in the nation. Women and girls are
mainly seen to make up over just 50.7 per cent of the population. While women who work are
comprising of the 47 per cent of the employees in Australia, it is seen that they are able to take
home only around average $251.20 less in comparison to that earned by men every week
(DeVaus 2009). The national gender pay gap is mainly seen to be about 5.3 percent and an
interesting observation is that it has remained stuck between 15 and 19% for the past two
decades. The decision of the Australian industries into male and female dominated industries
decreases the scope of women to practice in all domains like that of aged care, childcare and
community services that are women dominated are mainly undervalued. About half of women
above 18 years have experiences sexual harassment at workplace (Peacock, William and skinner
2012). Moreover, one in every three women faces sexual violence in the lifetime. All these

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describe the gender inequality issues thereby hampering the aura of egalitarian society of
Australia.
Question 3:
The communities in Australia is mainly diverse in nature as the past decade has shown huge
influx of people from different parts of the world. With the increase of job opportunities, the
nation has attracted people from all over the world and globalization has added more significance
to it. With the organizations providing more importance to multiculturism and diverse teamwork
to develop innovation and creativity in work, the nation is now seen to be booming with people
from different nations with different cultural backgrounds (The guardian 2016). Therefore the
different communities in Australia is now comprising of mixed cultures although the non-natives
are seen to dominate followed by immigrants. In spite of the growth of the opportunities of the
“outsiders” to work in the organizations, the nature of the communities comprising of more
number of the “insiders” than the “outsiders” are seen to be highly dominant. A report by the
Guardian published in the nation had shown discrimination which is experienced by 775 of the
African born in South Sudan, 75% people from Zimbabwe, 60% from Ethiopia, 67% from
Kenya as well as 53% from Egypt. South African farmers are seen to face terrible violence as a
dorm of discrimination although the immigration policy of the nation is seen to be non-
discriminatory. Sydney morning herald had reported a data put forward by the Scanlon
Foundation through the latest Mapping Social Cohesion survey (Thornicroft et al., 2016). It had
stated that 19 percent of the Australians were seen to be discriminated because of their skin
color, religious beliefs as well as ethnic origin. Therefore, racism formed the main basis of the
division of “outsiders” and “insiders” in the community. The communities also discriminate
based on the religious background of the people. Reports have suggested that there has been

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strong negative feeling of the insiders towards the Muslim outsiders. The Muslim women are
seen to be having 505 more experiences than the discrimination faced by the Muslim men of the
communities. Studies have stated “The majority of Australians support the immigration program.
Some 56% are supportive of the current intake or consider that it could be increased. However,
when asked what they least like about Australia, 18% of people born in Australia indicated there
was too much immigration,” From the very beginning, the Australian nation had been the
communities that had officially adopted the policy of multiculturism. They state that they
provide the rights to all people with citizenship to enjoy rights for the members of the society for
expressing their cultural identity and heritage within the limits of the law. However, racism is
seen to persist in each of the Australian communities (Clement et al. 2015). About 20% of the
people had experienced religious discrimination within past 12 months, racism is faced by 34%
of the non-English speaking people of the communities and the data continues. Therefore, it
becomes important for the government, the politicians as well as the media professionals and
policy makers to undertake strict rules and initiatives by which the distinction between the
outsiders and insiders can be reduced and Australia becomes successful in maintaining human
rights successfully.

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Buchanan, Z.E., Abu-Rayya, H.M., Kashima, E., Paxton, S.J. and Sam, D.L., 2017. Perceived
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de Vaus, D. ‘Balancing Family Work and Paid Work: Gender-based Equality in the New
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Manne, R. ‘The Stolen Generations.’ Quadrant (January-February 1998): 53-63.
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