Impact of Mental Illness: Client-Centered Perspective and Recovery

This report delves into the multifaceted impact of mental illness, adopting a client-centered perspective to explore the lived experiences of individuals affected by psychological disorders. It examines the principles of recovery, emphasizing the importance of therapeutic relationships, consumer participation, and the recognition of individual potential. The report investigates the perspectives of clients, families, and caregivers, highlighting the challenges and consequences associated with mental illness, including reduced quality of life, social difficulties, and economic burdens. Furthermore, it identifies and provides contact information for various mental health services available in Australia, including government-funded programs and community-based resources. The conclusion underscores the significance of comprehensive mental health care, advocating for understanding the individual and family repercussions of mental illness to improve treatment and enhance the effectiveness of psychological care programs.

Running head: IMPACT OF MENTAL ILLNESS: A CLIENT CENTERED PERSPECTIVE
IMPACT OF MENTAL ILLNESS: A CLIENT CENTERED PERSPECTIVE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

1IMPACT OF MENTAL ILLNESS: A CLIENT CENTERED PERSPECTIVE
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Aim.............................................................................................................................................2
Principles of Recovery...............................................................................................................2
Consumer Participation..............................................................................................................3
The perspectives.........................................................................................................................4
Client’s perspective............................................................................................................4
Family’s and care giver’s perspective................................................................................5
Services and contact...................................................................................................................5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................6
References..................................................................................................................................7

2IMPACT OF MENTAL ILLNESS: A CLIENT CENTERED PERSPECTIVE
Introduction
The treatment of mental illness must be based on developing therapeutic and
nurturing relationships with the patient along with gaining the trust and confidence of the
family members and care givers for the proper, comprehensive and speedy improvement of
the situation in addition with elevated chances of permanent cure (Prince et al. 2007). The
recent research states that a major burden of diseases are attributed to disorders which are
neuro-psychiatric in origin and are chronic in nature due to lack of attention to mental health
leading to severe depression, substance abuse, alcohol dependence and so on (Shattell, Starr
and Thomas 2007). The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies the magnitude of
psychosomatic health and its significance by referring to health as the state of absolute
physical, psychological along with social wellness and not only the nonexistence of an
infirmity or a disease (Nickerson et al. 2019). Mental illness not only affects the individual,
but also the members of the immediate and extended family, the care giver and also the
community that houses the mentally ill.
Aim
The purpose of this assignment is to explore the lived experience and personal impact
of mental illness on individuals from a client centered perspective, the principles of recovery
and to explore the services which are available in the local community to support these
individuals who had experienced mental illness.
Principles of Recovery
Although most of the efforts are focused on improving the global mental health for
the individuals with psychosomatic disorders, WHO stresses on the comprehensive mental

3IMPACT OF MENTAL ILLNESS: A CLIENT CENTERED PERSPECTIVE
health improvement that extends beyond presence or absence of clinical psychological
disorders and includes subjective wellness of the individual along with perceiving the self-
efficacy of the individual, the independence and autonomy of the individual along with the
competence and ability recognize own emotional, physical and intellectual potential
(Nickerson et al. 2019).
“Communications skills are fundamentally important and are given special
consideration in the report” is stated as the chief principal by the psychological care of
medical patients: A practical guide (2nd edition, 2003, pg. 13). Recovery can only be achieved
when good trust and confidence has been developed between the mental health expert and the
client along with mutual respect and well established communication.
Consumer Participation
The evaluation of the treatment generally examines clinical indicators namely
reduction of the symptoms, the length of stay at the hospitals along with the rate of re-
admission (Prince et al. 2007). Therefore participation of the consumer for crisis management
plans along with counseling and therapeutic sessions were recognized to be supportive
factors.
Example of such a consumer involvement is the CQI or the Consumer Quality
Initiatives (Gould and Reed 2009). The CQI is a research based on mental health consumer-
operated evaluation plan and organization focused on quality improvement. The CQI operates
based on the community based structure which includes the Participatory Action Research
framework or the PAR mode. This PAR emphasizes on the protocols which are designed to
influence policies and practices directly (Shattell, Starr and Thomas 2007). The CQI consults
consumers on a local and national platform to achieve significant involvement that is required

4IMPACT OF MENTAL ILLNESS: A CLIENT CENTERED PERSPECTIVE
to promote mental health wellbeing along improvement of quality of life after receiving
treatment and counseling for mental illness (Jacobson and Greenley 2001).
The perspectives
Psychological disorders contribute to altering and modifying perspectives of the
mentally ill along with the family members of the individual concerned, the care givers and
also influence the community (Young and Ensing 1999).
Client’s perspective
The individuals suffering from mental illness and psychological disorders have
decreased quality of living, difficulties in learning and reduced progress on academic front,
lowered rates of productivity along with being more emotionally vulnerable and generally
have social problems and reduced social communication patterns. If the mental disorder has
an early onset, the education of the individual is severely compromised which reduces the
chances of the individual to pursue the career or profession of choice and thereby results in
not completing high school or dropping out of college (Nickerson et al. 2019).
In addition to compromised education, psychological disorders also result in lowering
the individual’s effective productivity because of unemployment or reduced output at
work. This leads to reduced earnings along with decreasing the chances of employment
thereby putting the individual at potential risk of financial constrains along with poverty. This
creates a negative cycle of thought process in the individual which high rates of poverty,
substance abuse, alcohol dependence and homelessness amid the individuals with
psychological disorders (Young and Ensing 1999).
Patients living with co-morbid depression due to other chronic health conditions are
less likely to adhere with the prescribed medical regimen along with increased suicidal

5IMPACT OF MENTAL ILLNESS: A CLIENT CENTERED PERSPECTIVE
tendencies. The mentally ill are also susceptible to low-quality of care, increased chances of
abuse along with increased human rights violations instances.
Family’s and care giver’s perspective
The family of the mentally ill might experience considerable societal stigma and
discrimination. The burden of treatment and care required for a psychologically ill individual
lies on the patient’s immediate family and caregivers. This constant weigh down due to
extreme demands leads to the underperformance of the family members and results in their
reduced ability to work at maximum capacity, thereby resulting in decreased economic output
and reduced household income (Pirkis et al. 2011). The loss of consistent income along with
increased financial costs and added expenditures that are required to care for a mentally ill
puts the household at a potential risk of deficiency and poverty. The family members might
also suffer from significant amount of stress and anxiety which might have detrimental effect
on existing health conditions of the family members and also the caregivers. may also
experience significant and chronic stress due to the emotional and physical challenges of
caring for a mentally ill family member.
The biggest challenge of the caregivers was effectively providing the constant aid and
assistance that was required with the daily activities namely providing transportation for the
mentally ill when required, presenting with financial assistance at the time of need along with
managing violence outbursts and embarrassing behavioral situations along with intra-family
conflict (Jacobson and Greenley 2001). Caregivers also experience social isolation due to
repeated absence from social or family events due to attending to the mentally ill individual
constantly. This leads to increased likelihood of the family members and care givers to
develop loneliness leading to anxiety and depression.

6IMPACT OF MENTAL ILLNESS: A CLIENT CENTERED PERSPECTIVE
Services and contact
The Government of Australia also funds and gives resources for a wide range of
services to support and promote awareness for mental health-related conditions namely the
Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), the
Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) and so on (Hill, Mitchell and Henry
2000). The Government of Australia also finances multiple mainstream interventions and
programs along with providing services which are vital for the treatment and wellbeing of the
individuals suffering from mental issues.
Mental health services Address Contact
Australian Mental Health Services 210 Drummond St, South Ballarat VIC
3350, Australia
+61 3 4343
1333
Northern Community Mental Health
Service
7/9 Park Terrace, Salisbury SA 5108,
Australia
+61 8 7485
4300
Glenside Health Services 226 Fullarton Rd, Glenside SA 5065,
Australia
+61 8 7087
1000
Centre for Emotional Health Clinic 16 University Ave, Macquarie University
NSW 2109, Australia
+61 2 9850
8711
De Grey House, Specialist
Aboriginal Mental H
Mount Claremont WA 6010, Australia +61 8 9235
2400
Mind Australia - Williamstown 97 Osborne St, Williamstown VIC 3016,
Australia
[phone]
463
CAMHS - Child and Adolescent
Mental Health Se
23 Victoria Cres, Mount Barker SA 5251,
Australia
+61 8 8391
3922
Conclusion
Therefore, it can be concluded that although mental health is often overlooked as a
public health issue, recent models, care plan and medical interventions and awareness
programs are being developed to give special care and attention to mental wellness. The
mental health has powerful impact on the quality of life of an individual along with the social
and physical wellbeing in addition to the economic productivity. As the psychological
conditions influence the families along with the communities, understanding and considering
the consequences of mental infirmity on the individual and it repercussions on the patient and

7IMPACT OF MENTAL ILLNESS: A CLIENT CENTERED PERSPECTIVE
family is crucial. In conclusion, evaluation of these along with absolute understanding is vital
to plan care routines and therapeutic counseling for the development of mental healthcare
interventions along with the enhancement of efficiency of the psychological care programs.

8IMPACT OF MENTAL ILLNESS: A CLIENT CENTERED PERSPECTIVE
References
Gould, E. and Reed, P., 2009. CQI Alzheimer's Association Quality Care Campaign and
professional training initiatives: improving hands-on care for people with dementia in the
USA. International Psychogeriatrics, 21(S1), pp.S25-S33.
Hill, S.R., Mitchell, A.S. and Henry, D.A., 2000. Problems with the interpretation of
pharmacoeconomic analyses: a review of submissions to the Australian Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme. Jama, 283(16), pp.2116-2121.
Jacobson, N. and Greenley, D., 2001. What is recovery? A conceptual model and
explication. Psychiatric services, 52(4), pp.482-485.
Nickerson, A., Byrow, Y., Pajak, R., McMahon, T., Bryant, R.A., Christensen, H. and
Liddell, B.J., 2019. ‘Tell Your Story’: a randomized controlled trial of an online intervention
to reduce mental health stigma and increase help-seeking in refugee men with posttraumatic
stress. Psychological medicine, pp.1-12.
Pirkis, J., Harris, M., Hall, W. and Ftanou, M., 2011. Evaluation of the better access to
psychiatrists, psychologists and general practitioners through the Medicare benefits schedule
initiative. Melbourne: Centre for Health Policy Programs and Economics, University of
Melbourne.
Prince, M., Patel, V., Saxena, S., Maj, M., Maselko, J., Phillips, M.R. and Rahman, A., 2007.
No health without mental health. The lancet, 370(9590), pp.859-877.
Shattell, M.M., Starr, S.S. and Thomas, S.P., 2007. ‘Take my hand, help me out’: Mental
health service recipients' experience of the therapeutic relationship. International journal of
mental health nursing, 16(4), pp.274-284.

9IMPACT OF MENTAL ILLNESS: A CLIENT CENTERED PERSPECTIVE
The psychological care of medical patients: A practical guide (2003), Second edition. Report
of a joint working party of the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of
Psychiatrists.
Young, S.L. and Ensing, D.S., 1999. Exploring recovery from the perspective of people with
psychiatric disabilities. Psychiatric rehabilitation journal, 22(3), p.219.