Mental Health and Community Assignment: Critical Analysis and Insights

This assignment delves into the multifaceted aspects of mental health within the community, specifically focusing on the Australian context. It begins by exploring philosophical perspectives on learning and mental health, drawing parallels between Buddhist concepts and the understanding of mental illness. The assignment then examines the structure of mental health care in Australia, evaluating its strengths and weaknesses based on WHO guidelines. A significant portion of the assignment involves reflecting on historical paradigms in mental health and critically analyzing the impact of gender bias in diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, it explores cultural differences in mental health care using Trompenaars' model and discusses the importance of culturally competent practices. The assignment aims to provide a comprehensive overview of mental health issues, policies, and the challenges faced in providing effective care within a diverse community.

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH AND THE COMMUNITY
MENTAL HEALTH AND THE COMMUNITY
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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Answer 1.1
According to Magliola (2017), learning in Buddhism is stated to be a fallacy. As per
the first principle, everyone is walking through the path of life in a trance or sleep, and only
the ‘Enlightened’ ones are awake, also known as the Awaked One by Buddha. Since the
followers are sleeping, it was difficult for Buddha to preach and explain Dharma to them; as a
result, it was found he had given up before starting. However, compassion toward life form
inspired him to find a way. The solution was not to worry about absolute truth. The Large
Sutra on Perfect Wisdom was elaborated and as per the summary of Edward Conze, it is
stated that one should be a Bodhisattva; however, there is no such thing. This is exactly
similar to mental health comes its play. Bowditch (2016) opined that mental illness is a
metaphor that is commonly used in anti-psychiatry circles.
Answer 1.2
The Australian government, state as well as the territory is responsible for taking care
of the mental health system in both private and public sectors. The local government are
responsible for funding and delivering services that offer specialised care to severely affected
people. The Australian government funds a wide range of mental health-related services such
as:
 The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
 Medicare Benefit Scheme
 Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme
 Other programs and services
In addition, the government has subsidised the related service by the Primary Health
Network, and the State and territory government is responsible for taking care of other needs
such as accommodation aid (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2020). Even though

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no standard exists with respect to mental health service, however, there is a valid provision of
mental healthcare service and facilities available to the Australian over the years. Therefore,
it ranks high among the world in term of the services or programs related to mental
healthcare.
Answer 1.3
From the historical perspective, it can be noted that there are underlying values and
assumption that encircle the traditional paradigm in mental healthcare. This involves the
response of society with respect to the people who have a serious mental illness. With time
and change in the technology, research and healthcare setting, the changing paradigm in
mental health had assimilated various variations as a result of which, in today’s time, it is
noted that a community-based empowering integration paradigm was developed (Jorge-
Monteiro and Ornelas 2016). The support, integrative approach and coordination are
responsible for conduction of research and evaluation that allowed in the modification of the
mental health setting over time. The most significant aspect that has been responsible for the
change is the socio-political component that has prioritised the voices of people that are
directly associated with mental health policy and planning. This suggested that the reform
require immediate concern; however, the process was slow. Over time, various activities
were conducted with this aspect in many countries that lead to the emergence of mental
illness as a public health issue.
Answer 1.4
The answer to the questions posed on page 52 of the above-prescribed reading is
missing.

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Answer 1.5
According to the report of the World Health Organisation, mental illness is associated
with a burden of disability and morbidity. It is found that there is a significant gender bias in
the mental health field. Depression is common among women; however; the substance abuse
is prevalent among men. In developing countries, there are 1 in 5 men and 1 in 12 women
who are dependent on alcohol in their lives (Who.int 2020). The factors that are stated to be
important in understanding gender differences are age, symptoms, frequency of the
symptoms, course of action of the disorder, social adjustment and the outcome. According to
Fuss, Briken and Klein (2018), gender bias is found in the treatment of a mental disorder
where depression is more likely to be diagnosed among women even when similar conditions
and measures were found in both the gender. There is also a significant difference in gender
with respect to seeking psychological help. The women are found to be more likely to ask for
aid and disclose their issue than men due to social stigma. On the other hand, men are more
open to discuss their issue related to alcoholism than women are. Therefore, it can be seen
that gender bias is significant in the modern mental healthcare sector. Astbury (1999) opined
that mental illness is still considered as a social stigma that not seen as a common illness such
as physical illness. Therefore, it complicates the aspect leading to the delaying of early
identification of the disorder. As a result, it poses a severe challenge in treating it.
Answer 1.6
The answers related to Reading 1.3 cannot be answered as it is missing.
Answer 1.7
According to McSweeney (2016), Trompennar’s model of national culture difference
is stated to be a framework that describes the application of cross-cultural communication in
business and management. It includes seven dimensions out of which five are associated in

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dealing with the human being, one with time and one with the environment. The seven
dimensions are:
 Universalism vs particularism
 Specific vs diffuse
 Individualism vs communitarianism
 Achievement vs ascription
 Neutral vs emotional
 Internal direction vs outer direction
 Sequential time vs synchronous time
As per the study of Carolina (2019), in the mental health setting, people from diverse
background and culture competency are admitted and in many cases, working with them is
smooth. However, in some incidents, the operations do not go well and in such situation, this
model can be applied that will help in assessing a various aspect of the root cause and thus,
allowing in the generation of ideas and solution that would help in resolving the issue. The
cultural difference allows in the creation of a better understanding of the reality and it takes
into account the different culture types that can be understood using competent values stated
in the framework. It can be applied in a mental health setting in an effective manner that will
allow in taking into consideration the cultural background of the patient while treating in an
appropriate manner as well as the development of care plan by incorporating the needs and
demands of the particular patient, family members as well as a healthcare practitioner.

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References
Astbury, J., 1999. Gender and mental health. Harvard Center for Population and
Development Studies.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2020. Mental health services in Australia,
Overview of mental health services in Australia - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
[online] Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/mental-health-services/mental-health-
services-in-australia/report-contents/summary-of-mental-health-services-in-australia/
overview [Accessed 25 Feb. 2020].
Bowditch, P., 2016. The myth of'The myth of mental illness'. Australasian Science, 37(6),
p.47.
Carolina, Ț., 2019. Dimensions of National Culture–Cross-cultural Theories. Studies in
Business and Economics, 14(3), pp.220-230.
Fuss, J., Briken, P. and Klein, V., 2018. Gender bias in clinicians’ pathologization of atypical
sexuality: a randomized controlled trial with mental health professionals. Scientific
reports, 8(1), pp.1-9.
Jorge-Monteiro, M.F. and Ornelas, J.H., 2016. “What’s wrong with the seed?” A comparative
examination of an empowering community-centered approach to recovery in community
mental health. Community mental health journal, 52(7), pp.821-833.
Magliola, R., 2017. Response to John D'Arcy May's Review of Facing Up to Real Doctrinal
Difference: How Some Thought-Motifs from Derrida Can Nourish the Catholic-Buddhist
Encounter by Robert Magliola. Buddhist-Christian Studies, 37, pp.291-293.
McSweeney, B., 2016. Hall, Hofstede, Huntington, Trompenaars, GLOBE: Common
Foundations, Common Flaws. In Transculturalism and Business in the BRIC States(pp. 39-
84). Routledge.

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Who.int. 2020. WHO | Gender and women's mental health. [online] Available at:
https://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/genderwomen/en/ [Accessed 25 Feb. 2020].