Assignment on Mental Health Policy

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

MENTAL HEALTH POLICY
1
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Discussion:.................................................................................................................................2
Historical Background of Policy:...........................................................................................2
Policy context and Issue:........................................................................................................3
Dominant Discourse:..............................................................................................................3
Target people and stakeholders:.............................................................................................4
Policy process:.......................................................................................................................6
Policy evaluation and effectiveness:......................................................................................7
Conclusion:................................................................................................................................7
References:.................................................................................................................................9

MENTAL HEALTH POLICY
2
Introduction
Policies have a major part to play in governing and influencing beliefs within a
community. The mental health problems are perceived not only as psychological but also
impacting interactions with other relevant individuals (Gluckman, 2014). The stigma and
inequality that individuals with mentally poor health experience can be linked to a lack of
laws and legal enforcement. Mental health policy makers face a daunting role of securing the
interests of people and the public alike. Review of the existing mental wellness initiatives is
also important. Mental disease is very prevalent in Australia and at least 3 percent of the total
population suffers serious or chronic disorder and at any stage in their life , about 45 percent
of Australians encounter psychiatric disorders (Health.gov.au, 2020). A mental health policy
is a collection of priorities, values and objectives structured to enhance mental wellbeing and
decrease the amount of psychiatric disorders in a society. A strategy on mental health
policy is defined as a roadmap for the future, and it helps create a standard for practice
(Gluckman, 2014).
Discussion:
Historical Background of Policy:
The idea of mental health policy came into light at back to 1991, when it first
implemented. The early section of the initiative centered around systemic improvements in
how and when mental health programs were provided, as the years passed on changing and
the initiatives set in motion concentrated around alliances between government heath and
commercial sectors. The program has seen a wide variety of mental health issues across fields
such as healthcare, accommodation, justice and empowerment, in the year 2006
(Health.gov.au, 2020). The National Health Policy, 2008, designed to insure that Australia has
a strong mental wellbeing program that can identify and improve early treatments, encourage

MENTAL HEALTH POLICY
3
rehabilitation, and insure that any mental health-affected Australian has access to adequate
and efficient care, as well as decrease the stigma correlated with mental illness.
Policy context and Issue:
The primary motto of the health policy is to improve the capability of young people,
teenagers, infants and the disabled to understand their abilities as well as to help them to deal
with daily life challenges as well as group engagement to, lastly, to assist those from getting
better from their mental disorder (Health.gov.au, 2020).
The primary problem associated with that policy is the structure of those policies. The
central dogma of the approach includes fitness initiatives in a number of areas; it is most
widely centered on diet, healthy diets and controlling morbidity factors such as obesity and
diabetes, and failing to concentrate on mental wellbeing problems. Individuals with mental
health problems are unwilling to reveal their symptoms in fear of damaging their employment
and risking their livelihood, thereby adding on weight to this the stigma linked to mental
health issues (Clement et al, 2015).
Dominant Discourse:
The policy chiefly highlight the problems with are directly related to the mental health
problem. These involve deterioration of relationships, bereavement, homelessness, career
issues and family withdrawal, the above-mentioned issues. Other contributing factors,
including narcotics, alcohol usage and physical health issues, societal isolation, racial
concerns and abuse is also given priority in this policy (Health.gov.au, 2020).
The National Mental Health Policy 2008, which offered a positive political structure
or strategic framework, is regarded as a comprehensive plan to direct concerted actions over
the next four years of mental health reform. The system reflects on three mental health factors