Policy Analysis Essay on Mental Health Policy in Australia

This essay analyzes the current mental health policy in Australia and suggests reforms to promote mental wellbeing, decrease impact of mental health problems, enhance recovery of mental inebriate cases, and defend rights of mental disabled cases. It discusses the problem context, target and stakeholders of the policy, policy process, and implications of the policy. The essay also highlights the need for preventive approaches to be given priority in dealing with mental health challenges.

POLICY ANALYSIS ESSAY ON MENTAL HEALTH POLICY ON AUSTRALIA.
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Executive Summary
Mental health associated problems like stress, depression, anxiety and drug and substance
abuse affect families and communities alike. These effects may also have a wider effect
extending even to work related cases as absenteeism, demotivation, ineffectiveness among
others.
Mental health complications extend across psychological, biological and social factors.
Major factors that can contribute to mental health complications include the following:
i. Heavy workload.
ii. Lack of appreciation at work.
iii. Lack of proper mechanisms to solve conflicts at work.
iv. Poor working conditions.
v. Self-identity crises.
vi. Mistreatment by seniors at work.
vii. Unmanaged family conflicts.

Introduction
Good mental health for the general population in a given country depends on the
country’s mental health policy. Many people with mental illnesses tend to keep away from the
public, an indication that they have no confidence in the state to protect them or cover them
whatsoever. Their participation in the national agendas is also likely to be low. In many cases,
these people tend to be harmful and dangerous. The government needs therefore to ensure that
these individuals are covered, and the public population needs to be kept safe from the harm to
the mental inebriates who get fierce, Slade, Teesson & Burgess (2009).
A well formulated mental health policy plan is instrumental in motivating various
stakeholders to step up in their efforts to ensure that the general population are well served as
regards to their mental health services, which include carrying out campaigns and sensitizations
on mental health issues or managing mental instability cases, Degenhardt et al (2008). In this
regard, a national mental health policy is a must – have for any country that vision in the well-
being of their citizens.
Problem Context
The national mental health policy holds that ‘on-the-ground’ treatment strategies alone
cannot solve the mental health challenges in the country. There is need for preventive approaches
to be given a upper hand in dealing with these cases, Berry, Bowen & Kjellstrom (2010).
This paper will inquire into the need to re-assess the current mental health policy in
Australia and even internationally. In order for the marginalized groups of individuals with
mental disabilities to be given an equal opportunity in the society, there would be a great need
for reformation. A careful analysis of the existing policy is a prerequisite for any pact that is
willing to defend the rights of the mentally disabled class, Berry et al (2010). Policy analysis will
be instrumental to help understand challenges that social workers as well as to mental health
workforce are facing. The service and work that is carried out by humanitarian agencies fighting
for the rights of the mentally disabled is highly dependent on the national mental health policy of

the nation. Analysis of the current mental health policy in Australia is the core objective of this
paper.
Target and stake holders of the Policy
Promoting mental health and managing current mental instability cases has been on the
top agenda in Australia’s national health strategies and imitates for over a decade now. In this
regard, mental health and public health sectors have sought to unite in order to embrace need for
a broader understanding of the mental health implications. The Australian National Mental
Health policy 2008 has been an important driver for providing preventive strategies to reduce
cases of mental instabilities in Australia, McGorry, Bates, & Birchwood (2013). The first mental
health strategy was formulated in 1992 and was the first initiative to bring mental health reform
to the national table. It is this strategy that gave birth to the national mental health policy.
The target of this policy includes the public and private health services, especially those
that deal with mental cases, mental health enthusiasts and policy makers for mental health. The
key target audience are the, major stakeholders who are basically concerned with mental health
partners. Mental health services may consider to specifically class the mental health consumers
as with age or level of interaction with mental health issues, Slade, Teesson & Burgess (2009).
These may include child and adolescent group, elderly persons group and forensic mental
services group. This categorizing approach makes it easy for delivery of mental health services.
Hence, most mental health advocacy agencies find it more convenient to operate with such
classes as opposed to working with the whole community. These are some of the considerations
that need to be put in place when planning and implementing strategies for mental health
management, Fritze et al (2009).
Other stakeholders in the national mental health policy include all specialists in providing
mental health knowledge in all categories, private hospitals mental health departments and
private psychiatry service centers, Berry et al (2010).
The policy brings together a number of social groups recognized by the Australian
government. These include the community care, housing, employment, justice affairs, and
welfare among others. These sectors are regarded as playing a very important role in enhancing
the amelioration of the mental health of the community help in implementation of preventive

measures in the population, and in the recovery of the affected class of individuals. The
Australian government is committed to promote more inclusion of social groups from the
community. Social inclusion is geared toward inclusion of even the marginalized groups, for
example the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, McGorry et al (2013).
Policy Process
Francis, Wood, Knuiman & Giles-Corti (2012). have discussed in their paper the
relationship between in urbanization and ride in mental health cases. In their article is evidence
drawn of urbanization linked to mental health challenges within the towns. According to their
research, there are many factors that can lead to mental health challenges in highly populated
areas in urban centers, Grob (2014). Noise and escalated pollutions from industries, work
pressure, inadequate green rest environments are amongst the cases that would contribute to
these challenges. Poverty, another characteristics in urban centers also play a major role and it is
linked to mental challenges.
Their paper categorizes the causative factors of mental instabilities into non-linear type
and cyclical types. Poverty cases bring about the cycle of mental complications which if not
checked will almost always encourage mental instability cases. The paper strongly challenges the
current policy for mental health and begs for a balanced system that will ensure preventive
measures are taken to reduce mental health disability cases, Umberson & Karas Montez (2010).
The National Mental Health Policy 2008.
Frame of Reference
A mental health policy normally involves a statement of vision, policies and values that
will form the background of the policy and a statement of objectives. These vital elements to be
found in any sound policy are formulated parallel with one another, Davidson, Ridgway, Kidd,
Topor & Borg (2008).
Implementing the Mental Health Policy 2008.
In implementation of any policy, strategies of implementation must be laid down first.
These strategies will be the core of the future policy plan.

The very first obligation in implementing a policy is to re-assess strategy options. What
follows is to determine the resources needed to implement the policy, and whether they are
available. Once the strategies to implement have been clearly understood, the established costs of
implementation can then be established.
The last thing is to establish implementation plan. The plan should be clear with
objectives clearly outlined strategies laid out and desired targets recorded. Timeline, outputs and
challenges ought to be clearly stated too, Cooper et al (2008).
Formulation of the policy -Stakeholders
A stake holder involves an individual or organization that is involved in implementing
something or executing some task, who are liable to either gain or lose from the outcome of the
process. They can as well be considered as partners who cooperate and work together for the
success of the project at hand.
The stakeholders who worked together to formulate the 2008 mental health policy worked
for the interest of the general public. As a basis for their interests, these are the aims that they
had in mind:
i. To promote mental wellbeing of the Australian general population, and to prevent
cases of mental instability.
ii. Decrease impact of mental health problems.
iii. Enhance recovery of mental inebriate cases in the general population
iv. Defend rights of mental disabled cases and to ensure that they have equal rights with
other citizens in the national agendas.
These objectives were the basis under which the mental health policy was formulated.
National Mental Health Strategy
The National Mental Health Strategy of 1992 that incorporated the convocation of all the
Australian ministers would finally give birth to the mental health policy. The major gap that gave
rise to this policy was the indifference that had been manifested to this sector, Kieling et al
(2011). Furthermore, the drive for reforming the mental health sector was as a result of mental
health professionals and consumers, who were eager to see the mental health system wholly

reformed. In 1992, the United Nations released a declaration for the protection of persons with
mental instability. Furthermore, inquiries in various states revealed a general abuse of the rights
of the mentally challenged persons. There are the driving factors that led to the formulation of
the mental health policy.
The ‘Burdekin’ Report
In 1993, the Burdekin Report revealed worrying state of mental illness status in Australia.
The results were overwhelming. The report indicated a high level of mental health staff
inadequacy, and therefore limited and inefficient mental health services, Gulliver, Griffiths &
Christensen (2010). This is the report the face of Australia in regard to the mentally disabled
persons. The report brought to light indifference in the community concerning the existence of
mental instabilities, and the harm that the mental inebriates can caus. According to the report,
there was a growing myth that people with mental illness cannot easily recover, Gulliver et al
(2010).
Policy Solution and Effectiveness
Solution to identified Problems in Mental Health
Crime and substance abuse have a bi-directional relation to mental health. These as
forces, bind with one another and reinforce mental risk in the society. Hence there is need for
formulation of a new policy that will sensitize individuals and institutions on the need to be wary
of these causative factors and be on the front end in implementing preventive measures that shall
have been outlined in the policy in order to improve he urban life condition, Holdeman (2009).
Most reviewed scholarly works present discussions on possible changes that can be done
and if they are feasible. However, it is vital to assess into the bias that social workers may have
towards mentally disabled persons.
There is a great need for formulation of a better and efficient policy for urban centers.
This will be clear by dissecting and cooking into the current mental health policy In Australia.

As a solution to the identified problem in Australia, the mental health policy was formulated.
This was not the outcome of the national mental health strategy convocation. There are three
other outcomes of the meeting, but the mental health policy is the major one. The other three
were only supporting documents. The mental health policy includes the following principles:
i. Accountability
ii. Legislation
iii. Research evaluation
iv. Implementing workforce
v. Prevention and awareness
vi. Uniting mental health services with others
In 1998, Australian health ministers endorsed the country’s second national health plan. The
significance of this plan was to put together current reforms and extend them especially on the
ends of early prevention of mental instability cases and putting up clear preventive measures.
Furthermore, it was the aim of the plan to increase partnerships with other public sectors and
increase the quality and effectiveness of its service delivery, Slade, Teesson & Burgess (2009).
To improve the general mental health of the Australian population, external initiatives have
also played a very important role. Some of those initiatives include the ‘beyond blue initiative’
that was sponsored by the Commonwealth, ‘More Options Better Outcomes” initiative which
started in the year 2002 and ‘Mind Matters’ initiative, Kessler et al (2009).
Implications of this policy
Since National mental Health Strategy began in 1992, there have been a lot of changes in
the national planning. Six years down the line, there was 61 % registered in increase in the
general participation of consumers in the service delivery?, Kessler et al (2010).
There has been a registered improvement in the mental health service delivery. There are
quite a number of advantages that have been registered since the first National Mental Healthy
strategy meeting. There would have been more efficiency in service delivery had the mental

health services been diversified, Slade et al (2009). For example, the National Mental Health
Strategy Meeting would have involved creation of national initiatives to help in sensitization
programs and offering of reformation services to the mental inebriates.
Implementation of the policy.
The mental health policy 2008 implementation has been a joint effort of the state
governments and the government of Commonwealth and mental health service providers and
consumers. The implementation is spearheaded by the ‘National Mental Health Working Group.’
Some of the realized benefits within the federal states in Australia include the following, World
Health Organization (2014):
i. There has been a drastic decrease of psychiatrist centers in all the states
ii. The mental health services have been blended with the mainstream health services of
the states.
iii. Consumers involvement in decision making processes has immensely grown
iv. Psychiatrist support centers have doubled up
v. Due to reduced institutions across the states, money saved can now be used for other
activities.
All the states and territories have incorporated an amendment clause in their legislations to
fulfill all the National Mental Health Strategy standards, Smith, Humphreys & Wilson (2008).
The national Mental Health Strategy standards are all conformed to the United Nations standards
as regards mental health. In order to make sure that all state agencies have conformed to all
required legislations as regard mental health, the Attorney General came up with an instrument
called ‘Rights Analysis Instrument that measures the compliance level of states and territories
towards the mental health legislations, Slade, Teesson & Burgess (2009).
According to a report done by the Mental health council of Australia, there appears to be
inconsistency in the way the National Mental Strategy’ legislations have been absorbed in by the
various stakeholders, World Health Organization. (2014). There is therefore a possibility that the
efforts of the National Mental Strategy may not be smoothly spread out to all stakeholders. This
is an indication that the evaluation was not effective enough.

Conclusion
Mental health problems can be attributed to various factors. These may include and not
limited to crime, drug and substance abuse amongst others. Depression affects many people
throughout the world but can be managed by behavioral therapies, Francis et al (2012). The most
effective way that this problem can be managed in Australia is by introducing preventive
measures; this the world is in need of. It is imperative therefore that this issue be discussed and
effective solutions be found. In conclusion, it is clear that the mental health reform efforts as held
by the National Mental Health Strategy policies does not translate seamlessly to every
stakeholder as is supposed to. While notable progress has been registered, there still remains a
big gap that has to be bridged to ensure a complete and seamless mental health sector reform.
There is still a gap in implementing the mental health policy. If this issue is not going to be
addressed soon, we are liable to face more financial and social challenge in the future.

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