Diploma of Counseling: Headspace Analysis, Networks, and Crisis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Headspace, a youth mental health organization, examining its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The report delves into Headspace's communication strategies, including channels for personnel with special needs, employee communication processes, and communication protocols. It further explores crisis communication planning in the community services sector, providing examples of potential crisis scenarios and outlining the importance of a crisis communication team. The report also investigates a key network that exists between Headspace and another agency in the community services sector, explaining the purpose of this network and how it supports Headspace in achieving its goals. The analysis includes a detailed examination of Headspace's target population, funding, and the technological advancements that can enhance its services. The report highlights the importance of transparent communication and the need for proactive measures in crisis situations to ensure effective support for individuals with mental health challenges.

Running head: DIPLOMA OF COUNSELING
DIPLOMA OF COUNSELING
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

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1. Complete the following analysis charts to show the context of the work that is accrued out.
Strengths Weaknesses
The organization has an association of more than 80 youth
friendly drop in institutes across the nation and has been
regarded as a flagship program championed by consecutive
federal administrations in order to address the increasing
rates of mental disorders as well as suicide of the young
generation (Rickwood et al.2014).
It newly introduced website is regarded as the first part of
call for the individuals who intend to seek information about
the mental disorders as well as services within the nation.
According to the investigation of the University of New
South Wales, the organization comprises a small program
impact, whereby the outcomes are marginally in better
condition than the youths who are being deprived of certain
medication or being treated in private spheres. However,
certain reports have revealed very time-consuming
improvements in the health development of its clients.
Opportunities Threats
The youth friendly organization indulges to engage all the
corporate associates in lengthy, strategic as well as mutually
beneficial associations (Rickwood et al.2015).
With the collaboration of certain esteemed partners, the
organization exert a pull on resources and ideas in order to
pave way for unique and vital initiatives that act as directly
beneficial to the youth of Australia and its neighbouring
regions.
The Social Engagement and Emotional Development
(SEED) which is the world’s leading specialists on the
health development of children aims for global action in
order to address certain challenging factors along with the
improve aid for adolescents (Dowling 2014).
Political Economic

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The Australian Government of Health that belongs to the Youth
Mental Health Initiative (Rickwood et al.2014) funds the
organization. The Australian government has aided an association
of researchers to conduct the second round of assessment of the
headspace program that has been followed by a competitive
tender procedure in the year 2012.
Being a publicly aided service organization the
organization intends in a considerate proficient
manner by the principles of the wider range of
health domain. The organization has been
primarily aided by the Australian Health
Department .
Social Technological
The peak age of target population of Headspace is from 15-17
years whereby, the males are predominated in the younger
population of 12-14 years while the older target group caters from
21-25 years of age (Rickwood et al.2015). A specific portion of
the target group can be identified as the Aboriginals with the
others reported to belong from the regions outside Australia.
However, a majority of its clients live in major cities, while few
belonging from inner regional regions and some from remote
areas of the country.
Several technology-based medications and
treatment provide opportunities in order to
enhance interpersonal treatment benefits for the
ones who intend to seek and further remain
associated in the process of treatment. Standard
alone online approaches have been found to
generate medication benefits of comparable
impact sizes to interpersonal therapy for
individuals suffering from mental illness.
2. Research the official communication channels of your chosen organisation (or other
agency) and discuss at least one provision it has in place to address the following:
a) Special communication needs of personnel (such as those with disabilities such as deaf
individuals)
b)Informing employees of the organisation processes and hierarchy

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c) Protocols and etiquette for communication (such as when to and when not to use a
certain method like email)
d)Communication barriers, restraints or difficulties (such as cross-cultural
communication)
e) Ensuring proper use of official communication channels (list some of them)
A) Written communication- Headspace staff can help its employees with
communication impairment with reading documented forms. Digital versions of print materials
can be referred as highly accessible while dealing with individualities with hearing disabilities.
Computer aided real time transcription services also known as CART services facilitates
communication and effective interaction over a live online video connection (Coughlan et al.
2013). This communication channel can be used during the absence of any sign language
interpreter.
B) Face-to-face communication channel can be referred as an effective tool in order to
make the employers aware of the varied organizational hierarchies. Such a type of channel can
have detailed information richness as both the receivers as well as the senders are able to view
and hear beyond the words, which have been used (Burns and Birrell 2014). Interpersonal
communication assist in understanding the body language of the sender further hear the voice.
C) Formal written documents can be considered as another form of communication
channel, which would assist the employees of Headspace, aware of the etiquettes, cultural values
and certain code of behaviour of the organization (Rickwood et al.2015). This would include
legal document as well as budget spreadsheet to make the communication process more rigid and
standardized.

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D) Establishing a successful diversified team in the organization can facilitate in curbing
the cross-cultural barriers. Effective communication with diversified individuals brings broader
range of ideas and views which has been essential to an organization’s success (Montague et al.
2014). With teams becoming extremely global, diversity can assist a company or team to identify
its position as well as its surroundings.
E) Face to face, meetings can control perceptive subjects and further enable to check the
understanding of the employees.
Print-based material- This form of communication channel offers a clear format to every
employee of the organization in order to prevent any miscommunication within the organization.
Digital communication- It is referred as the effortless and cost effective procedure to
communicate with the staff of the organization.
3. Research and explain the process of crisis communication planning in the community
services sector. In your answer, you should provide at least 3 examples of situations in your
chosen organisation that could be deemed at crisis point.
Clear form of communication- Mental health illness can adapt any forms namely self-
destruction, panic attacks as well as suicidal ideation. In such a case, communication can be
regarded as an essential key in order to curb the crisis. Transparent communication will facilitate
its clients to feel understood as well as make them aware of their worth (Jorm 2015). Headspace
must implement active listening procedures such as reflecting thoughts and feelings along with
summarization of thoughts in order to assist them to feel validated (Rosenbaum et al.2016). In
these situations, the ones suffering from suicidal prone disorders can share their story and the

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complexities they are facing in their lives. In various situations, a detailed conversation with
patients would result in effective outcomes.
Anticipate Crisis Scenarios- The organization must be proactive and organize communication
teams in order to function during extensive hectic sessions during potential emergencies that
could take place within the organization. Various scenarios might occur when individuals
suffering from certain mental illnesses experience bully and other social as well as physical
assault. Headspace must establish teams, which would effectively work on assisting such clients
(Hickie, Scott and McGorry 2013). These procedures of evaluation facilitate in establishing a
Crisis Response Plan that is considered as an appropriate approach for the organization. It further
involves operational as well as communication elements.
Identification of Crisis Communication Team- A small set of officials of comprising of senior
must be identified in order to provide services to the Crisis Communication Team of Headspace.
The company’s CEO will be leading the team along with the organization’s top public relation
officials as well as legal counsel (Montague et al. 2014). Other members of the team are
employed as the chiefs of the organizational structure of Headspace, whereby several scenarios
rises to the level of being an emergency that might affect the entire functioning of the
organization (Jorm 2015). However, it must be noted that teams also require incorporating
employees possessing skills and knowledge related to the current crisis further known as subject
specific experts.
4. Research one key network that exists between your organisation and anther agency in
the community services sector. Explain the key purpose(s) of this network and how it helps
the organisation to achieve its goals.

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Headspace however has been experiencing increasing pressure in order to collaborate and
further provide services at the regional strata with fewer income and resources. The staffs has
been performing with the young population in order to cooperate non government organization
employees working with the youths who are experiencing complexities related to mental illness
and disorders (Dowling 2014). The organization has gained the potentiality to provide
constructive contribution to the community with effective assistance, guidance, knowledge and
enthusiasm. Headspace has eventually become one of the organizations whereby people work
with a passion and desire to reduce the distress, complexities of the individuals suffering from
certain impairments (Rickwood et al.2015). The fundamental association to the community
sector permits them to resolve issues that the administrative bodies are unable to address. The
amalgamation with the governmental services is considered as one of the primary achievement to
the services of Headspace (Hickie, Scott and McGorry 2013). In absence of communitarian
intervention and support, the association with its partners, clients as well as stakeholders the
successive growth of Headspace would not have been possible.

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References
Burns, J. and Birrell, E., 2014. Enhancing early engagement with mental health services by
young people. Psychology research and behavior management, 7, p.303.
Coughlan, H., Cannon, M., Shiers, D., Power, P., Barry, C., Bates, T., Birchwood, M., Buckley,
S., Chambers, D., Davidson, S. and Duffy, M., 2013. Towards a new paradigm of care: the
International Declaration on Youth Mental Health. Early intervention in psychiatry, 7(2),
pp.103-108.
Dowling, M., 2014. Young children's personal, social and emotional development. Sage.
Montague, A.E., Varcin, K.J., Simmons, M.B. and Parker, A.G., 2015. Putting technology into
youth mental health practice: young people’s perspectives. SAGE Open, 5(2),
p.2158244015581019.
Rickwood, D.J., Mazzer, K.R. and Telford, N.R., 2015. Social influences on seeking help from
mental health services, in-person and online, during adolescence and young adulthood. BMC
psychiatry, 15(1), p.40.
Rickwood, D.J., Telford, N.R., Mazzer, K.R., Parker, A.G., Tanti, C.J. and McGorry, P.D., 2015.
The services provided to young people through the headspace centres across Australia. The
Medical Journal of Australia, 202(10), pp.533-536.
Rickwood, D.J., Telford, N.R., Parker, A.G., Tanti, C.J. and McGorry, P.D., 2014. Headspace—
Australia’s innovation in youth mental health: who are the clients and why are they
presenting. Med J Aust, 200(2), pp.108-11.

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Jorm, A.F., 2015. How effective are" headspace'youth mental health services?.
Hickie, I.B., Scott, J. and McGorry, P.D., 2013. Editorials. The Medical Journal of
Australia, 198(9), pp.461-462.
Rosenbaum, S., Tiedemann, A., Stanton, R., Parker, A., Waterreus, A., Curtis, J. and Ward, P.B.,
2016. Implementing evidence-based physical activity interventions for people with mental
illness: an Australian perspective. Australasian Psychiatry, 24(1), pp.49-54.