In-Depth Analysis: National Mental Health Policy 2008, Australia

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of the National Mental Health Policy 2008 in Australia, utilizing the Social Policy in a Cold Climate (SPCC) framework. It examines the policy's goals, which include promoting mental health and well-being, preventing mental health issues, and reducing stigma. The analysis delves into the socio-political context of the policy's development, highlighting the recognition of mental illness as a common social and health issue. It assesses the alignment between the enacted policies and their aims, particularly regarding the inclusion of carers and service users. The essay further explores the resources mobilized by the government, noting the significant increase in expenditure on mental health services following the policy's formulation. Inputs such as connected care systems and vocational training programs are discussed, along with outputs like enhanced community understanding and access to care. The essay concludes by presenting different perspectives on the policy's outcomes, including increased accessibility to information and improved community understanding.

Assessment Task 3: National mental health
policy 2008 analysis

Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................2
Goals...........................................................................................................................................................3
Policies........................................................................................................................................................4
Resources....................................................................................................................................................5
Input............................................................................................................................................................6
Output..........................................................................................................................................................7
Outcomes.....................................................................................................................................................8
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................8
References...................................................................................................................................................9
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Introduction
In order to have an effective understanding of any policy and its success taking into
consideration framework for analysis may turn out to be effective. It helps in gaining an in depth
understanding of the alignment of chosen policy with aims and the extent to which it has been
successful.
Considering the above made discussion, the present assignment would focus on analyzing
National Mental health policy 2008 that would be analyzed with the help of Framework for
analyzing the effect of social policy which has been provided by Social Policy in a Cold
Climate (SPCC) (sticerd, 2012). In the process of this analysis, the socio-political context of the
policy development and the implementation of the policy would also be examined.
The steps associated with the analytic chain of the chosen framework are as follows:
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[Source: sticerd, 2012]
Goals
the main goal associated with National Mental health policy 2008 was promoting mental health
and well-being across Australian Community. The policy further aimed at preventing, in cases in
which it is possible the increase in mental health issues and illness. The policy had also aimed at
minimizing the impact of mental health issues and problems along with eradicating the impact of
stigma on families, individuals and communities who are experiencing metal health issues.
Promoting the recovery of mental health issues and illness has also been associated with the
goals of the chosen policy. It further aimed at ascertaining the rights of individuals suffering
from mental health issues. It has also focused on enabling and empowering the individuals
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suffering from mental health issues for participating and makes meaningful contribution in the
society.
Policies
In context to formulation of the policies associated with National Mental health policy 2008,
the underlying essence of socio-political context is clearly visible. It can be clearly observed with
the help of the fact that at the background for the formulation of policy, it recognizes the reality
of the situation wherein it is seen to acknowledge the fact that most individuals would be
impacted directly or indirectly at certain point of their life with mental illness. It clearly reflects
the fact that the social context associated with mental health issues have been addressed under
the policy. In addition to that, the fact that mental illness is a common social and health issues
with 45% of the Australian population experiencing the issue at some point of their life and 3%
of the population experiencing the issue at a severe level that results in impacting the carers,
families along with having major impact on the Australian community can be seen to be well
addressed in the policy (health, 2009). The political context associated with the policy can be
clearly observed with the help of the fact that on consideration of the social context associated
with mental health and issues within the community, resulted in revision of National Mental
Health Policy. It is with the help of the revision which resulted in revision of Mental Health
Policy wherein it demonstrates renewed commitment on the part of all Ministers and Health
Ministers for enhanced mental health system with in the nation (medibank, 2012). Thus on
taking into consideration, the social aspect associated with mental illness in Australia, it can be
clearly observed that political aspects associated with the condition got revised to meet the social
needs.
For the purpose of analyzing the chosen policy it is also needed to evaluate the alignment
between the enacted policy and the policy aims. In this context if the aim of the policy to include
the carers/service uses in formulation and review of the policy is analyzed as compared to
enacted policy it may be observed that the policy has been successful to a great extent in
formalizing the inclusion of carers and service users in working committees. This clearly
establishes the effectives of the policy in meeting the specified aim to great extent where in
formalized participation got enhanced (Bickman, 2008). This establishes the success of the
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policy to be in alignment with the objective of the policy and exact the needed policies to meet
the goals of the policy. The policy had also aimed at mainstreaming mental health service
management. In this context if the enacted policy is analyzed it can be clearly noticed that mental
health has been merged into mainstream health management. It is with the help of the enacted
policy that resulted in mainstreaming management arrangement which got adopted across all
jurisdictions. The effectiveness of the enacted policy in substantively meeting the mentioned
goal of the policy can be noticed with the help of the fact. In context to the goal of enhancing the
accessibility to community crisis services, the increase in ambulatory workforce establishes the
effectiveness of the enacted policy in meeting the mentioned goal of the study (Morgan et al.,
2011). The policy had also aimed at minimizing discrimination and stigmatization experienced
by mental health services users. Reviewing the anti-discrimination legislation establishes the
success of the policy in subsequently meeting the goals of the policy.
Basing on the above made discussion it may be stated that National Mental health policy 2008
embeds totality of the governmental approach to the nation’s Mental Health Strategy. The
underlying reason being the acknowledgement of socio-political context associated with mental
health across the nation (Bickman, 2008).
Resources
Under the aspect of resources, the resources that have been mobilized on the part of the
government in order to achieve the goals associated with a policy gets analyzed. Followed by the
formulation of the policy it may be observed that in the period of 2008-09 the government has
made a total national recurrent expenditure of $5.8 billion associated with all the mental health
services during this phase across the nation. Within this total amount of expenditure of $5.8
billion, 59.3% i.e. $ 3.5 billion was received from state and territory governments. The other
remaining 36.7% i.e. $2.2 billion was received from Australian government and the remaining
4.0% i.e. $234 million was received from private health insurance funds. It is worth mentioning
here that as compared to 2004-05 with 2008-09 the total expenditure associated with mental
health services on the part of territory and state governments increased with an average annual
rate of 6.1% [adjusted for inflation] (aihw, 2010). On making the same comparison for
Australian government it may be observed that the annual rate of increase on the part of the
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government was 7.5% [adjusted for inflation]. Thus the total expenditure associated with mental
health services which in 2005 were $225/ Australian that increased to $272/Australian in 2008-
09. It equates to average annual increase to mental health services at the rate of 4.8%. The above
made discussion clearly reflects the fact that followed by formulation of National Mental health
policy 2008 significant increase in the expenditure on the part of the state as well as central
government can be clearly observed which demonstrates the effort on the part of the government
towards achievement of the set aims and goals in National Mental health policy 2008.
In terms of funding it may be observed that most of the funding for territory and state i.e. 94.1%
or 3.4 billion specialized mental health services. In this context it may be observed that this
funding was from state or territory governments during the period of 2008-09. On the part of the
Australian government an increased 4.0% i.e. $145 million was provided to the state and
territories. Additional 1.9% i.e. $ 67 million was also received on the part of the territories and
state from patients and other revenues and recoveries (aihw, 2010). Thus, the above made
discussion, reflect the increased expenditure and funding on the part of the government for
mental health services followed by formulation of National Mental health policy 2008. This
helps in establishment of the fact that constant effort has been given on the part of the
government in order to address and met the set criteria of National Mental health policy 2008.
Input
One of the mentionable inputs that has been provided on the part of the government for
successfully addressing the goals of National Mental health policy 2008 is providing the care
users with connected care system. These connected care systems provided care users with mental
health issues with care users focused and recovery oriented care services. This acts as a
contributing factor in providing within support to care users in ascertaining involvement and
engagement of participant and community to their complete potential (Groom, Hickie, &
Davenport, 2007). This also acts as a contributing factor in identifying the attention for
prevention, promotion and early intervention in their life span that would turn out to be
beneficial for community in large. In this regards it can be mentioned here that the policy also
provides the community with the needed services associated with early intervention and
prevention of such condition. In order to achieve the set goal for this policy, under this policy
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inputs associated with training can also be seen to be provided to the care users (Slade, Teesson,
& Burgess, 2009). To get in depth of the mater, under the services provided in National Mental
health policy 2008 focus is given on ascertaining that individuals with mental health issues have
access to vocational training program along with peer support. Thus the policy can be seen to
emphasize on vocational training program for empowering the care users. It also highlights on
providing the care providers and professionals with needed training so that they may provide the
care users with quality care services. In terms of workforce or labor the policy is also seen to
highlight on employment support so that quality care providers get recruited there by providing
the care users with quality care services. Apart from hat, different financial and funding input has
also been made on the part of the government which has been specified in the resource portion.
Thus there are various impute may be seen to be made on the part of the government in order to
successfully address the aims or goals of the policy.
Output
Followed by the formulation of the policy and the input given for the achievement of the goals
the policy provides with certain output which is also needed to be analyzed. One of the
mentionable output of the policy is to provide the care users along with the community in large
in having an enhanced understanding of the significance and role of mental wellbeing and
identifying the effect of mental illness. The underlying reason being the enhanced services and
community attitudes and understanding with the help of national stigma reduction strategy.
Another mentionable output of the policy is keeping the members of the society well-prepared
for seeking help in order to provide support for intervention and recurrence of the symptoms
associated with mental illness (Grace et al., 2017).. It is also seen to result in enhanced access to
needed and appropriate care which helps in minimizing the relapse rate associated with such
condition. Another mentionable output of the policy is providing the community with enhanced
accessibility on service delivery and outcome on a local or regional basis. Other than that, the
policy has also resulted in making informed judgments regarding mental health reform. Thus,
there are different outputs associated with the policy which has been discussed the underlying
reason behind which being the effective input in the policy.
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Outcomes
There exist two different opinion regards the outcomes of the policy. On side of the argument
states that, it is the outcome of the policy which has resulted in providing the care users ad carers
with increased accessibility to information, collaborative functioning of service providers and
government for providing the care users with effective care services, enhanced understanding of
the community regarding mental illness and problems and enhanced outcomes in employment,
housing, income, on the part of the community (health, 2014). However, another side of the
argument states that the outcome of the policy has not been a success. In this regards it has been
stated that no clear reasoning associated with the reason of dedicating to early intervention and
promoting prevention, $ 483.9 million approximately of which in 2006-11 National Action
planning no significant expenditure was done establishes this fact (Cresswell, 2012).
Conclusion
Thus in the conclusion it may be stated that National Mental health policy 2008 has played an
integral role in enhancing communities understanding of mental health and issues. In this
regards, though the fact that no significant expenditure on mental health services were done
during 2006-11 national action planning, out of the funding of $483.9 million is needed to be
considered, this cannot take away the significant role of the policy in minimizing stigma
associated with such conditions along with increased the level of awareness among the
community.
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References
aihw. (2010). 14 Expenditure on mental health services. [online] Available at:
https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/3295e470-9df4-4179-8dc7-11d6488fde01/Mental-
health-related-expenditure-2008-09.pdf.aspx [Accessed 28 May 2018].
Bickman, L. (2008). Improving the Effectiveness of Mental Health Services. Administration and
Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 35(3), pp.230-230.
Bickman, L. (2008). Why Don’t We Have Effective Mental Health Services?. Administration
and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 35(6), pp.437-439.
CRESSWELL, A. (2012). Health policy 'fails to show results'. [online] theaustralian. Available
at: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/mental-health-policy-fails-to-
show-results/news-story/7518a1bb003ea803137ab5582a810d20?
sv=5bf4a360e2857e952e88ca5f917f4197 [Accessed 28 May 2018].
Grace, F. C., Meurk, C. S., Head, B. W., Hall, W. D., Harris, M. G., & Whiteford, H. A. (2017).
An analysis of policy success and failure in formal evaluations of Australia’s national
mental health strategy (1992–2012). BMC health services research, 17(1), 374.
Groom, G., Hickie, I., & Davenport, T. (2007). 'Out of Hospital, Out of Mind!': A Report
Detailing Mental Health Services in Australia in 2002 and Community Priorities for
National Mental Health Policy for 2003-2008. Mental Health Council of Australia.
health. (2009). national mental health policy 2008. [online] Available at:
https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/B4A903FB48158BAEC
A257BF0001D3AEA/$File/finpol08.pdf [Accessed 28 May 2018].
health. (2014). Fourth National Mental Health Plan. [online] Available at:
https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/9A5A0E8BDFC55D3B
CA257BF0001C1B1C/$File/plan09v2.pdf [Accessed 28 May 2018].
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medibank. (2012). The Case for Mental Health Reform in Australia: A Review of Expenditure
and System Design. [online] Available at:
https://www.medibank.com.au/client/documents/pdfs/the_case_for_mental_health_refor
m_in_australia.pdf [Accessed 28 May 2018].
Morgan, W., Jablensky, M., McGrath, C., Bush, C., Cohen, H., Gelletly, S., ... & Hocking, S.
(2011). People living with psychotic illness 2010.
Slade, J., Teesson, W., & Burgess, P. (2009). The mental health of Australians 2: report on the
2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing.
sticerd. (2012). A Framework for Analysing the Effects of Social Policy. [online] Available at:
http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/dps/case/spcc/rn001.pdf [Accessed 28 May 2018].
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