COU202A - Mental Health: Attitudes, System Changes & Therapist Roles

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of mental health in Australia, examining current attitudes, required changes for a more sustainable and equitable system, and the roles of counsellors and psychotherapists. It highlights the prevalence of mental health disorders, public concerns about access to care, and initiatives aimed at improving mental health services. The report also outlines specific changes needed to enhance the mental health system, such as increased funding, improved regulations, promotion of clinical services, and government support. Furthermore, it details the crucial roles of counsellors and psychotherapists in providing care, leadership, research, advocacy, and education within the Australian mental health landscape.

Mental health and the
Community

Table of Contents
Mental health and the Community...................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Examination of current attitudes to mental health in Australia...................................................3
Outlining and discussing changes required to create more sustainable and equitable mental
health system in Australia............................................................................................................4
Explanation of counsellors and psychotherapists current role in the mental health system in
Australia.......................................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Mental health is defined as emotional, psychological and social well-being of an
individual (Ellison, Belanger and et.al., 2018).
Therefore, the report will analyse the current attitudes to mental health in Australia in
detail. Further, changes that might be required to create more sustainable and equitable mental
health system in Australia with the help of literature will be analysed and identified. Moreover,
counsellors and psychotherapists current role in the mental health system in Australia will also
be analysed and created at large scale which will help in analysing that what are the patients and
people suffering from.
MAIN BODY
Examination of current attitudes to mental health in Australia
Mental health is defined as emotional, psychological and social well-being. It is very
important that mental health of an individual is to be taken care of by themselves and this helps
in addressing the major concerns of how effectively mental health is improved within Australia.
It has been examined that there are current attitudes of mental health in Australia which are to be
taken into consideration (Happell, Platania-Phung and et.al., 2018). Current attitudes to mental
health in Australia is being analysed by how the people are concerned about the issues and
problems which they are facing due to poor mental health conditions. The current attitudes of
mental health are dependent on The National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being which
was conducted in 2007 identified that estimated 1 in 20% Australians aged 16-85 experienced
mental health disorder in the previous 12 months. The mental health attitudes of individuals help
in addressing the aspect that their mental health issues can be solved in appropriate manner.
The Australians are not confident that they can gain access to mental health care services
for the individuals who are reaching the crises of having the adverse mental health issues and
problems. Australians are concerned about gaining the access to mental health so that they are
able to solve the issues which they are facing (March, Day and et.al., 2018). 9 out of 10
Australians say that they need mental health system which helps in serving the needs and provide
the care services to the individuals. 88% of the individuals should have the access to community
based mental health care. The adults and young people in Australia are trying to incur the mental
healthcare services and care concern so that there is removal of stigma of mental health which

the Australians are facing at large scale. The National Mental Health Workforce Strategy
Taskforce. The taskforce is developing the strategy which helps in considering the quality,
distribution, supply and structure of mental health care concerns in the Australia. There are
certain standards which helps in addressing the aspect of how effectively and in appropriate
manner the mental healthcare services are provided to the Australians through hospitals and
community services. Digital Mental Health Standards helps in ensuring that the online services
are accurate, safe and of high quality. This standard helps in delivering the aspect as to how
effectively and appropriate manner the mental health care services can be provided to the
individuals (Spiker and Hammer, 2019). Along with this, the usage of digital devices for mental
health care concerns will help in improving the mental health care conditions at large scale and
removing the mental stigma which the Australian’s are facing.
The initiatives and programs are also framed in concern of mental health which are to be
taken into consideration for care and concern of Australians’. Psychological Support Programs
helps in supporting people with the severe mental illness. Australians have created program
which helps to improve the lives of people, families, communities and families at large scale
along with carers. Therefore, the current attitudes to mental health in Australia helps in knowing
that the people are more inclined and are focused in gaining the care facilities which are not
provided to them (Gulliver, Farrer and et.al., 2019). People are more concerned and are creating
value for the mental health attitudes and the perceptions which the Australians have generated at
large scale. The different perspectives of people help in addressing the mental health are more
towards knowing the effects as to how effectively the care is being provided to all age groups at
large scale. The initiatives and programs are more concerned with the facilities and mental health
provided at large scale.
Outlining and discussing changes required to create more sustainable and equitable mental health
system in Australia
As per Astell-Burt and Feng, (2019), there are certain changes which are required to create more
sustainable and equitable mental health system in Australia which helps in addressing the aspect
that how effectively and in appropriate manner the care and facilities are to be provided to the
people which are living in Australia. The changes required to create sustainable and equitable
mental health system in Australia are –

 Considerable amount of money should be spent for creating sustainable mental healthcare
systems. This change will bring the major concern of how effectively the mental health
concerns are solved at large scale.
 Australian mental health regulations should be framed in such manner that it helps in
addressing the aspects of growth and development in the facilities to be provided to the
people who are residing in Australia.
 Promotion of clinical services should be ensured so that Australians are aware of creating
more sustainable and equitable mental health system.
 Right incentives and initiatives of healthcare should be drawn in appropriate manner such
that people are aware of the mental health which is being drawn.
 Initiates and programs should also be framed in such manner so that the people are able
to initiate and engage themselves in incurring the mental health provisions and programs.
 Australian government should take concern of the mental health issues and problems
which have been faced and people of Australia are facing (Gopalkrishnan, 2018).
 Changes in the arrangements of medicines through the establishment of pricing
medicines at large scale and in appropriate manner.
 Certain frameworks for psychological and mental health care concerns should be drawn
such that the care system is being addressed and people are aware of the stigma which
can impact their mental health.
 There should be increased in the facilities of mental health by making the system more
transparent rather than inputs which are been analysed at large scale.
Berry, Waite and et.al., (2018), states that these are some major changes which are required to
create more sustainable and equitable mental health system in Australia. Along with this, there
are certain aspects which helps in addressing and creating value for the mental health problems
which the Australians are facing. Sustainability and equability within the mental health can also
be developed by regularizing certain programs and initiatives at large scale for mental health.
According to Sashidharan, Mezzina and Puras, (2019), the mental health in Australia is
major concern for the people as the people of Australia need more mental health care services
and facilities in appropriate manner. The mental health care services are in favour of how the
care is being provided to the people so that they are aware of the mental stigma which the people
are facing. The programs and initiates helps in knowing that the people of Australia are in major

need of facilities and needs to be provided to them in appropriate manner at large scale. For
leading a quality life, Australians are facilitating and are incurring the mental health services
which helps in ensuring that the community and families and are engaged into the practices of
leading a more stable and significant lifestyle without falling into mental stigma. The mental
health programs and services are taken into consideration which is helping to analysing and
value of how the programs are benefiting the access to mental health care services in appropriate
manner. Thus, the changes should be regularized and taken into concern by the Australia’s
government so that the rules and regulations are framed in appropriate manner which adds in the
request of providence of services and facilities at large scale.
Explanation of counsellors and psychotherapists current role in the mental health system in
Australia
The counsellors and psychotherapists current role in mental health system in Australia is defined
and is mentioned as how effectively these two play major role and responsibilities in the mental
health care system at large scale within Australia including the families, communities and people
themselves. The counsellors are the professionals who are provided licence by treating the
behavioural, cognitive and emotional aspects of mental health and the substances which are used
within the mental health care services and care to be provided at large scale (Titov,
Hadjistavropoulos and et.al., 2019). They work with families, couples, groups and communities
and society when there are adverse mental health conditions which the people of Australia are
facing. The psychotherapists are the people providing mental health care and concerns to the
people who are unaware of the services and facilities that can be provided to them in the mental
health care practice. The role of counsellor and psychotherapists plays major role in mental
health care in Australia. They are the people treating all kind of mental illness, emotional
disturbance and abnormal behaviour of the people.
Proper treatment and care is being provided to the Australians by counsellors and
psychotherapists who prepare proper treatment plan and provides the medicines and treatment
according to the long and short term care provided to the people depending upon their
understanding and getting treated well (Ormond, Laurino and et.al., 2018). The counsellors and
psychotherapists listens and takes interests in curing the mental illness through which they are
suffering. The people suffering from the mental health issues and problems are ensuring that they

are provided proper medicines and care and mentally supporting them by providing the care
services and facilities by enabling them to take part in the personal activities and analysing how
well they are able to cure themselves in appropriate manner. In addition to this, mental health
care services are provided to the patients and people who are suffering from serious mental
health problems and are unable to incur the facilities which the people of Australia are wanting.
The current role which the counsellors and psychotherapists are playing are –
 Caring for the patients by providing them adequate services and listening to their matters
and incidents in which they need help.
 Providing the leadership which is in clinical terms will help the patients and people of
Australia are concerned about (Cook, 2019).
 Researching about the mental illness for better understanding of the illness which the
patient is suffering from.
 Advocating for health concerns by challenging the stigma and discrimination which
addresses the issues and concerns at large scale and helps in delivering the aspects of
effectively evaluating that what are the patients suffering from and it can be cured in
appropriate manner.
 Teaching and training is the major role of counsellors and psychotherapists who are
educating the patients and are adding value to life of patients in appropriate manner by
making them aware of the consequences of large scale (Hammond, Crowther and
Drummond, 2018).
The wellness and benefits of leading a happy life helps in understanding that how the care
concerns are being provided by the counsellors and psychotherapists. They help in promoting the
skills and understanding of how the patients suffering from mental issues are suffering and what
are the major health challenges which they are facing. The counsellors and psychotherapists
helps in creating value for leading a quality life and ensuring that the care concerns and facilities
are provided to the patients in appropriate manner at large scale. This is also helping in taking
care of the population of Australia at large scale in significant manner to address their issues and
problems (Yang and Hayes, 2020).

CONCLUSION
Thus, it is concluded from the above report that current attitudes to mental health in
Australia was explained and described in detail. Further, changes that might be required to create
more sustainable and equitable mental health system in Australia with the help of literature was
analysed and identified. Moreover, counsellors and psychotherapists current role in the mental
health system in Australia was also analysed and created at large scale which helped in analysing
that what are the patients and people suffering from.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Astell-Burt, T. and Feng, X., 2019. Association of urban green space with mental health and
general health among adults in Australia. JAMA network open. 2(7). pp.e198209-
e198209.
Berry, H.L., Waite, T.D. and et.al., 2018. The case for systems thinking about climate change
and mental health. Nature climate change. 8(4). pp.282-290.
Cook, L., 2019. Mental health in Australia: a quick guide.
Ellison, M.L., Belanger, L.K. and et.al., 2018. Explication and definition of mental health
recovery: A systematic review. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental
Health Services Research. 45(1). pp.91-102.
Gopalkrishnan, N., 2018. Cultural diversity and mental health: Considerations for policy and
practice. Frontiers in public health. 6. p.179.
Gulliver, A., Farrer, L. and et.al., 2019. University staff mental health literacy, stigma and their
experience of students with mental health problems. Journal of Further and Higher
Education. 43(3). pp.434-442.
Hammond, T.E., Crowther, A. and Drummond, S., 2018. A thematic inquiry into the burnout
experience of Australian solo-practicing clinical psychologists. Frontiers in Psychology.
8. p.1996.
Happell, B., Platania-Phung, C. and et.al., 2018. Nursing students’ attitudes towards people
diagnosed with mental illness and mental health nursing: an international project from
Europe and Australia. Issues in mental health nursing. 39(10). pp.829-839.
March, S., Day, J. and et.al., 2018. Attitudes toward e-mental health services in a community
sample of adults: online survey. Journal of medical Internet research. 20(2). p.e9109.
Ormond, K.E., Laurino, M.Y. and et.al., 2018, March. Genetic counseling globally: Where are
we now?. In American Journal of Medical Genetics Part C: Seminars in Medical
Genetics (Vol. 178, No. 1, pp. 98-107).
Sashidharan, S.P., Mezzina, R. and Puras, D., 2019. Reducing coercion in mental
healthcare. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences. 28(6). pp.605-612.
Spiker, D.A. and Hammer, J.H., 2019. Mental health literacy as theory: current challenges and
future directions. Journal of Mental Health. 28(3). pp.238-242.
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Titov, N., Hadjistavropoulos, H.D. and et.al., 2019. From research to practice: ten lessons in
delivering digital mental health services. Journal of clinical medicine. 8(8). p.1239.
Yang, Y. and Hayes, J.A., 2020. Causes and consequences of burnout among mental health
professionals: A practice-oriented review of recent empirical literature. Psychotherapy.
57(3). p.426.
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