Evaluating Australia's Social Policy on Mental Health & Suicide

This report provides a comprehensive overview and analysis of Australia's social policy concerning mental health and suicide prevention, with a particular focus on the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan. It examines the policy's objectives, guiding values, and implementation strategies, including its emphasis on human rights, equity, evidence-based practices, and accountability. The analysis includes a review of progress reports, highlighting achievements and challenges in areas such as regional planning, suicide prevention, and improving the physical health of individuals with mental health issues. Furthermore, the report addresses the specific implications of the policy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, acknowledging the disproportionately high rates of mental distress and suicide within these populations and outlining initiatives aimed at improving their mental wellbeing. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of continued efforts to reduce stigma, promote cultural awareness, and ensure equitable access to mental health services for all Australians. Desklib offers a platform to access similar solved assignments and study tools for students.

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Table of Contents
Overview of policy......................................................................................................................................2
Ideas and values.......................................................................................................................................3
Analysis of policy....................................................................................................................................5
Implications for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander............................................................................7
References...................................................................................................................................................9

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Overview of the policy
Mental health policies are developed for people with mental health issues; it is commonly
implemented by the government and followed by both national and state government. In
Australia, this policy has been used for many year and improvisations have been done at regular
intervals. The government has recognised the requirement of continued efforts,
acknowledgement of the important disabilities commonly associated with mental health,
investment, reforms, and the burden a disease has on the individual and the community (Martin,
Swannell, Milner, & Gullestrup, 2016). The mental health approaches that have been agreed in
the year of 1992 and included the national psychological health policy, the leading national
psychological health strategy, mental wellbeing declaration of rights and accountabilities, a
finance contract among the Commonwealth, states and the regions (Ridani, et al., 2015). In
August 2018 the fifth nationwide mental wellbeing and suicide avoidance plan were endorsed
with its application plan by the COAG (Council of Australian governments’ health council). It
was developed n focusing on different priority arias such as attaining the combined local
preparation and facilities delivery, efficacious suicide avoidance, coordinating cure and help for
the individuals with serious and multifaceted mental sickness.
Improving the physical health of the individual with psychological issues and decreasing
the early mortality. It was also intended to decrease disgrace and racism, to emphasis on safety
and quality of psychological health facilities for individuals, and making sure that the effective
systems performance improvement of the system is improved (Dorozenko, Martin, Gillieatt, &
Milbourn, 2019). This policy was developed for improving the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people's psychological wellbeing and to prevent suicide cases. The fifth strategy

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recognises twenty-four important performance indicators, directed by the areas prepared in
nationwide mental health commission's 2014 nationwide review of psychological health
programs and facilities. They originally range from the measures of health position of the people
to recognise the process of the psychological health upkeep. The strategy allows reporting on
mental health services on the basis of age, gender, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people. This plan was first of its type that particularly outlines an agreed set of action to deal
with the communal and emotional welfare, mental health and suicidal issues among Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander individuals. It was also the first program to elevate the significance of
both physical and mental health equally. This plan also identifies the tragic effects of suicides.
The fifth strategy developed on the groundwork recognised by the earlier nationwide
mental wellbeing strategy and reforms efforts and pronounces a cross-jurisdictional outline for
applying the nationwide; accomplishment over the upcoming 5 years with the directed action
throughout the eight significant areas. The specific implanting plans are an advanced level
document that delivers sufficient guidance for the government bodies, investors, and the health
care settings to comprehend the method of implementations. The application approach also
assists the efforts of the nationwide mental wellbeing commission in managing the development
of the carrying out of the fifth proposal (Williams, & Smith, 2019).
Ideas and values
The action in this policy is guided by a key set of values such as uphold the human rights
and dignity, co-production, recovery, equity, promotion, preventions, and early intervention,
accountability, evidence-based and high-quality services, and innovation. Upholding human
rights and dignity was the first priority values of the fifth plan policy. Human rights are for
everyone and must underpin every effort to endorse psychological health and wellbeing of

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people. The rights and self-respect of all individuals comprising who is at risk of committing
suicide must be appreciated and supported. The patients should be involved in the decision-
making process. Effort must identify the significance of advancement, stopping and early
treatment in supporting to better psychological health and wellbeing and lengthier term scheme
sustainability.
Equity is another value of this policy (Gerace, & Muir‐Cochrane, 2019). All individuals
must have the chance to attain their finest achievable psychological health and wellbeing,
irrespective their age, culture, sexual category, sexual orientation, or the place where they live.
Every individual living with psychological health problems and all who tried or might perform in
future must be equally assisted in their recovery. Next value of the fifth plan is evidence-based
and considered the high-quality facilities. Facilities must be reinforced by the quality indication,
deliver the best quality, secure and efficacious upkeep, and encounter the proper standards. There
must be present efforts to develop the evidence base, and filter and endorse any type of lessons
educated. Innovation must be mutual and connected (Council of Australian Governments, 2017).
Last value is Accountability according to which progress must be managed and reported on, and
a commitment should be there to present review to examine whether efforts are managed in the
correct places and providing expected results.
The ideas of this policy suggest that the government should be prepared the enablers to
assist the combined planning and supply of services at the local level and the government should
work with the primary wellbeing systems and local clinical or hospital top implement the
combined planning and the facility delivery. The government in this policy should work with the
primary wellbeing networks and local health care settings to prioritise the contribution and
timely delivery of follow-up upkeep for individuals who try to commit suicide or are at threat of

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committing suicide (Martin, Swannell, Milner, & Gullestrup, 2016). To decrease the incidence of
suicide cases and making sure those individuals with suicidal thoughts should be helped with
psychological support. The government bodies should also make effort collaboratively to grow a
combined approach to social and emotional assistance, mental wellbeing, suicide preventions,
and to reduce the consumption of alcohol and other drugs. Some of the ideologies also suggest
that in the policy also aims to allow the government to work collaboratively to strengthen the
evidence base required to inform the development of enhanced mental health facilities and
results for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals. Governments will effort with
important groups to decrease stigma and racism or discrimination in the health, staff through
headship and training, knowledgeable by the opinions and involvement of individuals, who have
mental health problems, and recognition and exposure of discriminatory, activities where it
caused (Dorozenko, Martin, Gillieatt, & Milbourn, 2019).
Analysis of the policy
The fifth nationwide mental wellbeing and suicide avoidance plan policy was integrated
to driving the integration of planning, facilities and treatment and enhancing the coordination for
persons with serious and complex mental health, to enhance the physical health of individuals
living with mental issues, to improve the safety of patients. It was also intended to build a
coordinated national strategy to stop suicides, to enhance the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people's mental health, and to reduce the stigma and biasness (National mental health
commission, 2018). In attaining these results, governments obligate to the belief expressed in the
National Mental Health Policy that recognizes that clients and carers have vigorous assistance to
make and must be associated in preparation and decision-making.

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Customers and caretakers must be at the middle of and allowed to take a lively role in
determining, the method in which facilities stand prearranged, brought and assessed. Supremacy
and application of the Fifth Plan replicate the intent of the National Mental Health Policy
concerning consumer and carer contribution, that is, ‘Nothing about us, without us (Department
of health, 2017). On 12 October 2018, the progress report has been published by the National
Mental Health Commission which described the outcome of the policy. To the priority are first
which was achieving regional planning and facility delivery reported Consumer commitment and
session was also stated as an achievement for PHNs, principally in relation to the progress of
local plans, stepped upkeep planning, and particular populations. In relation to the second
priority which suicide prevention no important or common achievements were recognized across
shareholder groups at this period in time.
Results for third priority reported a number of common attainments were stated across
stakeholder assemblies. For three-state (Queensland, NSW, and Victoria) and territory
government wellbeing departments, a two-sided contract with the Australian Government
Department of Health for the National Psychosocial Support Measure has been effectively
negotiated. For the fourth priority area, the results show that Multiple attainments were described
by PHNs as they effort towards refining mental wellbeing and suicide hindrance. The results for
fifth priority area which was improving the bodily wellbeing of individuals living with
psychological issues and dropping early mortality shows Increased and better access to health
workers for individuals living with psychological illness was likewise reported as an important
success for numerous PHNs. This better access comprises the application of primary
psychological health medical care managers to support better entrance to metabolic observing in
primary upkeep for persons living with mental disease, improved mental and physical health

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outcomes were reported by different health providers, and the introduction of communal care
nurses into overall practices to measure and backing patients living with psychological illness
and continuing disease is reported good results (Australian Institute of health and welfare, 2018).
The priority area the outcomes showed that dropping stigma and discrimination is serious to
refining the wellbeing of individuals living with the psychological disease and endorsing better
mental wellbeing within the community. Though there have been particular developments in
information about the psychological illness, there is still extensive misunderstanding, and
persons living with psychological illness still face substantial stigma.
A continued, shared effort is desired to dismiss the mythologies related with mental
illness; alteration ingrained negative approaches and actions and, eventually, support communal
inclusion and retrieval (National mental health commission, 2018). The results of seventh
priority area show some successes at this phase of implementation middle on the formation of,
and contribution in, groups and groups intended to make sure that protection and quality are vital
to mental health facility delivery. State and the territory governments likewise report functioning
closely with the Australian Government subdivisions to safeguard integrated local planning,
along with developing leadership in partnership on protection and quality in psychological health
facilities and experience of upkeep report. For the last priority area results showed that few
achievements were recorded (Council of Australian Governments, 2018).
Implications for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
The health assessment of 2012-2013 on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Survey revealed that these people were nearly three times more probable to face high or very
high stages of mental suffering than other people of Australia, are hospitalised for psychological
health and behaviour associated disorders at nearly twice the degree of non-Aboriginal

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individuals, and have double the degree of suicide than that of other (Community mental health
Australia, 2017). Numerous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals also remain to
experience great levels of elimination and harassment, discrimination and racism at individual,
social, and institutional levels. Discrimination remains to have an important influence on
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individual’s choices about when and why they pursue
health facilities, their receiving of and faithfulness to treatment.
The fifth nationwide mental health plan and suicide avoidance plan was intended to
improve the mental of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and prevent suicides among these
people (Council of Australian Governments, 2018). In this policy, a number of novel facilities
and programs that are precisely personalized to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies
have been commissioned. Various participants revealed that the delivery of education and
cultural teaching and other assets for GPs and other well-being care workers as main tools for
refining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychological health and suicide avoidance. State
and territory wellbeing divisions also stated their participation and engagement with Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander individuals by advisory groups and Assignment Reference Assemblies
as important attainments (Council of Australian Governments, 2018).

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References
Australian Institute of health and welfare (2018). Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide
Prevention Plan. Retrieved from:
https://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/695585
Community mental health Australia (2017). Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Plan. Retrieved from: https://cmha.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Community-
Mental-Health-Australia-submission-to-the-Fifth-National-Mental-Health-Plan-
December-2016.pdf
Council of Australian Governments (2017). Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Plan. Retrieved from: https://www.coaghealthcouncil.gov.au/Publications/Reports
Council of Australian Governments (2018). Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Plan, 2018 progress report. Retrieved from:
https://www.coaghealthcouncil.gov.au/Publications/Reports
Department of health (2017). Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.
Retrieved from: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-
fifth-national-mental-health-plan
Dorozenko, K. P., Martin, R., Gillieatt, S., & Milbourn, B. (2019). ‘Learning to re-create your
life’: an evaluation of a residential mental health recovery program. Advances in Mental
Health, 1-13.

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Fisher, M., Battams, S., Mcdermott, D., Baum, F., & Macdougall, C. (2019). How the Social
Determinants of Indigenous Health became Policy Reality for Australia's National
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan. Journal of Social Policy, 48(1), 169-
189.
Gerace, A., & Muir‐Cochrane, E. (2019). Perceptions of nurses working with psychiatric
consumers regarding the elimination of seclusion and restraint in psychiatric inpatient
settings and emergency departments: An Australian survey. International journal of
mental health nursing, 28(1), 209-225.
Maher, B. (2019). RU OK?: The Role of Community in Suicide Prevention. In Global Health
Leadership (pp. 79-90). Springer, Cham.
Martin, G., Swannell, S., Milner, A., & Gullestrup, J. (2016). Mates in construction suicide
prevention program: A five year review. J Community Med Health Educ, 6(465), 2161-
0711.
National mental health commission (2018). Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Plan. Retrieved from: https://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/our-reports/fifth-
national-mental-health-and-suicide-prevention-plan.aspx
National mental health commission (2018). First report on the progress of the implementation of
the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan. Retrieved from:
http://mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/media-centre/news/first-report-on-the-progress-of-
the-implementation-of-the-fifth-national-mental-health-and-suicide-prevention-plan-
released.aspx

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Ridani, R., Shand, F. L., Christensen, H., McKay, K., Tighe, J., Burns, J., & Hunter, E. (2015).
Suicide prevention in Australian Aboriginal communities: a review of past and present
programs. Suicide and Life
‐Threatening Behavior, 45(1), 111-140.
Williams, T. M., & Smith, G. P. (2019). Laying new foundations for 21st century community
mental health services: An Australian perspective. International journal of mental health
nursing.