National PHC Strategic Framework And Mental illness

Running head: PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT
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PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT1
Key strategy from the National PHC Strategic framework and mental illness
The key strategic outcomes that has been chosen is to “Improve access and reduce
inequity” . According to this framework, the primary health care is delivered by an integrated
system of service that provides a range of quality services across the country and actively takes
part n addressing any gaps left in the provided service. This strategy will be discussed in the light
of the health issue – Mental health issue in Australia. Mental health illness is a major public
concern that accounts for about 12 % of the total burden of diseases in Australia, after cancer and
cardiovascular diseases (Parliament of Australia, 2019). However, as per the reports, a huge gap
is there to improve the access and the quality of mental health care through primary health care
services. It has been found from the findings of the WHO World Mental Health Survey, the
primary care services have minimum infrastructures to treat mental health disorders (WHO,
2018). Furthermore, the aboriginals and the Torres Strait Islanders as well as patients from the
other ethnic minorities are subjected to discrimination in terms of mental health care services in
the primary care services (Freeman et al., 2017).
Equity and social justice, the social determinants of health
As per the strategic framework, one of the potential actions that should be taken is to set
up models facilitating a long term relationship between the consumers and general practices for
enhancing the health and individuals and their families. The common wealth will probably work
to promote a development of the multidisciplinary teams for providing mental health services
(Schultz et al., 2017). The critical requirement for the mental health professional for working as a
part of the multidisciplinary team has been outlined in the National Practice Standards for the
Mental Health Workforce (NPSMHW) for the promotion of a high standardized care to the

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT2
diverse population (Schultz et al., 2017). There are several social determinants of mental health
including the income level, education level, family dynamics, housing infrastructure, and family
and the community dynamics. It has been mentioned in the proposed strategic model, that
Australian government will explore the funding models for including incentives to promote
health, safety and quality and reduce preventable hospitalizations. Special focus will be given to
solve the problem from the roots like increasing the funding and for improving the primary care
facilities and moving the mental health services from tertiary care services to primary care
services (Farrer, Walker, Harrison & Banfield, 2018). Focus should be given on determinants
like health literacy, which will be helpful to reduce the stigma related to mental health services,
plus the housing and infrastructure for preventing homelessness.
Epidemiological factors relevant to the health issue
According to the National Survey of Mental Health and wellbeing, it has been found that
anxiety disorder like social phobia were the most prevalent mental illness, afflicting the 1 in 7 of
the population, followed by affective disorder (6.2 %) and substance abuse disorder like alcohol
dependence (5.1 %). Females are more likely to face mental disorders than that of the males.
Again, it has been reported that the indigenous people are more susceptible to mental health
illness due to the increased incidence of substance abuse. The families often fail to get hospital
services due to the remoteness. It has been stated in the framework, that the common wealth and
the states will collaborate together to improve the provisions for e-health for providing
provisions for tele-health consultations (Herrera, 2014). This will involve proper utilization of
the shared access to the patient information in the health summaries to the doctors. Furthermore,
the framework has also emphasized on increasing the health workforce with indigenous health