Bachelor of Community Mental Health: Australia's Mental Health and AOD

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues in Australia. It examines the political processes and socioeconomic factors that are driving the reform agenda. The essay traces the historical context, beginning with the Australian government's initial strategy in 1992 and the subsequent policy declarations. It highlights the aims of these policies, including raising awareness, combating the growing incidence of mental health disorders and AOD, reducing their negative impacts on individuals and society, and providing government support. The essay discusses the government's financial investments, including budget increments for mental health and the shift from law enforcement towards treatment for AOD issues. It also explores the impact of social factors, such as societal fragmentation and the rise of alcohol-related problems among youth and families, and the economic factors driving reform. The essay concludes by emphasizing the positive steps taken by the Australian Government to address mental health and AOD, while acknowledging the challenges and shortcomings and the ongoing efforts to improve policies. This essay is contributed by a student and available on Desklib, a platform providing AI-based study tools.

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH AND AOD IN AUSTRALIA
MENTAL HEALTH AND AOD IN AUSTRALIA
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
The issue of mental health does not receive much importance as compared to the issues
affecting the physical health. The main reason behind is the lack of awareness to address the
issue and also the reluctance to accept the fact that something like mental health disorder and the
AOD could be of importance. Mental health disorder and AOD does not directly affect the
quality of life as such compared to the ailments which affect the physical health, hence mental
health is ignored (Moore, 2016).
In this particular essay, the discussion shall be focusing upon the political process and
socio economic factors driving the reform agenda for mental health and AOD in Australia, which
is the central question of the essay.
Political process driving the reform agenda for mental health and AOD in Australia
The strategy of introducing the agenda of mental health and AOD by the Australian
government had taken place in the year 1992. The Australian Health Ministers' Conference had
created provisions for bringing the issue of mental health and AOD in the political forefront.
There were four aims which had driven the Australian Health Ministers' Conference to bring
about a policy declaration targeting mental health and AOD (McDonald & Stirling, 2019).
- Firstly, the government had desired to promote not just awareness about mental health
and AOD but also tried to promote measures which were supposed to be helpful for the
promotion of health care facilities for mental health and AOD related issues.
- Secondly, the aim was to combat the growing incidence of mental health disorder and
AOD in the country which had taken a serious form demanding attention.

2MENTAL HEALTH AND AOD IN AUSTRALIA
- Thirdly, the government had aimed at reducing the negative impact of the mental health
disorder and AOD upon the individuals, the families and the Australian society at large.
Mental health disorder and AOD had generated negative impacts in causing the personal
relationship between the people of the nation to be hampered and that had to be
countered.
- Finally, the government of Australia had sought to extend a helping hand and assurance
that it is concerned about the issue affecting the lives of the people and mental health
being a growing concern, the government shall not be neglecting it.
Over time, the issue of mental health disorder and AOD had been taken up for
consideration multiple number of times in the Australian Parliament and several policies
have been passed to upgrade the benefits provided for the cause.
In the Second National Mental Health Plan of 1998 the government of Australia had
announced an increment of 24% in the budget meant for spending on mental health issues.
Psychotic and depressive disorders were taken into consideration. For holistic results,
partnership with primary care facilities was envisaged. Over time, legislations have been
passed and they have incorporated the shortcomings (Rowe et al., 2018).
The issue of AOD, Alcohol and other drug problem is a serious issue in Australia. The
general Australians who form a population which is fewer than even half of those seeking AOD
related treatment in the country are according to current statistics able to get access to the
appropriate treatment for the issue (Rickwood et al., 2015). This leads one to the conclusion that
most of the people suffering from AOD are deprived of treatment. Australian government is
currently spending mostly on law enforcement by means of making the legal system treat the
drug and alcohol related offence very strictly. Yet researches show that the law enforcement

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responses, and notably those specifically related to incarceration, are way less cost effective
compared to treatment. Government of Australia needs to shift their investment plan away from
just law enforcement and devote more attention into treatment (Ferguson et al., 2019). The
process of treatment should be including the resourcing and funding of effective referral and
treatment pathways for those people specially those who come into contact with the criminal
justice systems of the nation. The issue of AOD cannot be solved by means of just law
enforcement and needs medical treatment for providing the cure holistically. With regard to the
mental illness the government has achieved milestones worthy of mention but the issue of AOD
has not yet been dealt with effectively (Jackson et al., 2016).
Socio Economic factors driving the reform agenda for mental health and AOD in
Australia
There are several socio economic factors which have contributed to the drive for the
reform agenda for mental health and AOD related problems in the nation. With regard to the
social factors, the issue of fragmentation of the society and the worsening of social relationships
have been the prime reason behind the pushing forward of the reform agenda. There has been a
serious rise in the alcohol problem and the teenagers have been the worst affected by it.
Committing crimes and ending up in accidents is something which the youngsters are being
affected by at a rapid rate under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Among the adults the
problem of alcoholism is contributing to the falling apart of the family, neglect of the children
and the spouses and even domestic violence. The ones suffering from mental illness are facing
marginalization and their issues are not being effectively catered to by the institutions which
should be accommodating them like educational institutions, places of employment. Hence for

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the sake of ensuring that the persons suffering from mental illness and AOD do not face much
marginalization and they be brought to the mainstream life that the reform agenda had been put
forward (Searby, Maude & McGrath, 2016). Economically, initially the budget did not devote
much attention towards the issue of mental health, which the government did in the year 1992
and is expanding the expenditure ever since then. Over time the agenda for including more
mental illnesses into the budget are being made possible (Marel et al., 2016).
Conclusion
Thus the Australian Government has take several positive steps in solving the issue of
mental health and AOD. There are challenges and shortcomings but that shall be and is being
compensated effectively by introduction of more policies to accommodate the short comings.

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References
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