Health Policies And Advocacy For Mental Health Issues Among Adolescents In Australia

National Mental Health Policy And Suicide Prevention Plan

There are different policies, which help to address the mental health of young people in Australia. The national mental health policy directives state that all people with mental illness have equal rights and responsibilities to get acknowledged and respected (Health.gov.au, 2010). Adolescents with mental health issues needs to be able to access required support of mental and general health services without any discrimination. These services need to be provided as per national and international rules and regulations. The young people with mental health problems have every right to get involved while decision-making and get informed about their own treatment (Dick and Ferguson, 2015).

Youths with mental illness are prone to committing suicide, which is a major risk factor. Different factors act as precursors to mental health illness for adolescents. This includes unemployment, breakdown of relationship, breaking of family and lack of social support. In August 2017, fifth national mental health and suicide prevention plan was introduced by the health ministry of the country. In 2019, the Australian government has announced a series of mental health-related guides. They have provided a $736.6 million funds for prevention of mental illness and suicides in the next seven years (Aihw.gov.au, 2019). This can help the concerned department to incorporate strategies, which can help to prevent suicidal tendencies among adolescents due to mental illness.

Another basic health policy that can be applied to the topic is identifying and treating mental health problems as early as possible. Any sort of mental illness that occurs among youths like depression needs to be identified and treated in the initial phase (Shochet et al. 2016). This health policy helps to reduce the severity of the illness and the duration of the condition can also be minimized. Several indications of mental illness generally occur in early childhood or during adolescence phase. This disrupts school or work life of the individuals and impacts their social life and family relationships. This policy is implemented through early intervention programs, which access the emerging mental health problems and risk factors in children and youths of the country. Early Identification And Treatment Of Mental Illness Discussion Paper

The national mental health policy is framed in 2008, which ensures the right care given at a proper time. This policy can be aligned with the topic because provision of proper care in early stages of illness among adolescents increases the chance of getting cured. This policy states that individuals with various types of mental health problems should have access to coordinated care and good quality treatment. This can help them to improve their condition and they can get back into normal life. This policy has been implemented by linking different service of mental health with the wider healthcare services. This has provided certain benefits that include improving the quality of mental health treatment. Moreover, potential of early detection and intervention has also been increased.

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Early Identification And Treatment Of Mental Illness

Australian government has implemented a framework for improving the condition of individuals including youths who are suffering from mental illness. The policy of 4As framework has been implemented for preventing mental illness. Awareness is a part of this framework, which is directed to develop an understanding of mental health needs. Lack of awareness among youths regarding harmful impacts of mental illness like stress and depression is a major cause of its growth (Lawrence et al. 2016). Anticipation is another essential point of this framework, which enables people to make proper decisions regarding their life and illness. The point of alternatives to this framework helps to recognize the need for a wide range of treatment and support from community. On the other hand, Access is another point, which supports early intervention and wellbeing of individuals who are having mental illness. This framework can be applied to provide support to adolescents and improve the quality of their life.

Healthcare promotion has been accepted throughout the world after launching of the first conference on international healthcare promotion, the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. This conference has been held in Ottawa, Canada, 1986. This Charter has described health promotion as a method that supports people to control and improve their health condition (Who.int, 2019). They have mentioned their five strategies including building healthy public policy, developing environment that are supportive in nature. Other strategies include developing personal skills, strengthening community actions and reorientations of health services. These strategies need to be reviewed while promoting mental health for adolescents in Australia. It has been found that five key principles have supported the development of health promotion strategies. According to these principles, health promotion is driven by context and it integrates the three dimensions of WHO including mental, social and physical dimensions (Who.int, 2019). Health promotion underpins overall responsibility and it champions good health like public good. On the other hand, the core principle of health promotion is participation.

Different principles of primary health care include accessing of equity and empowerment of health literacy. Other principles include community participation, sensitivity and safety to culture. Use of health promotion and appropriate technology along with following to inter-sectoral collaboration are other principles. According to Kilian and Williamson (2018), mental health of adolescents can be managed if all people get an equal chance of having healthcare services and all people participate in health promotion. The government of Australia must focus on inter-sectoral collaboration, health promotions and advanced technologies to protect the mental health of adolescents. At the adolescent period of life, people face many stress factors that can impact on their mental health. Principles of primary health care and health promotion can help to manage this issue.

4As Framework For Preventing Mental Illness

Advocating mental health of adolescents is challenging as there are no such rules to advocate a cause. According to Ptakowski (2010), advocating refers to supporting a cause by speaking out. For example, fighting for specific legislation can be considered as political advocacy and social advocacy allows speaking on behalf of concerned population. Issues of mental health policies are being solved one by one through continuous advocacy of various authorities. In Western Australia, the Mental Health Act of 2014 is advocating the mental health of adolescents. The government of this country is indicating about basic rights of people with mental illness. It is near about impossible to implement plans for advocating mental illness of adolescents without having financial and political support. Adolescents are dependent on others regarding advocacy, it is important for the government and the society to advocate their needs for mental health. There are many advocacy organizations that advocate adolescents’ mental health. Financing that is based on long-term interests can be considered suitable for advocating the mental health of adolescents. Several facts can help to advocate mental health of adolescence. These are changing legislation and government policies, ensuring equity, improving health promotion, putting adolescents on agendas of government, reducing discrimination and stigma and considering mental health while developing policies (Who.int, 2019).

Young aboriginals are facing challenges in transitioning to adulthood. Due to the increasing racism, socio-economic disadvantages, prejudices and trauma, adolescents of this Australian community are facing mental distress. Approximately, 67% of indigenous youth under the age group 15 to 24 have been found to have moderate level of mental stress (Aihw.gov.au, 2018). Reportedly, the statistic of homeless indigenous people aged 10-24 was approximately 4%. These facts are postulating that adolescent indigenous people are not getting enough support from all levels of society to ensure good mental health. However, these people have right to access healthcare services equally. As mentioned by Kilian and Williamson (2018), the government of Australia is taking initiatives to protect the mental health of these people with legal boundaries. According to the Mental Health Act, 2014 of VIC, identity, and culture of aboriginals must be recognized by the mental health service providers. Similarly, the Mental Health Act 2016 of QLD is supporting consideration of communication, cultural and other needs of aboriginal people while proving with mental health care. On the other hand, the Mental Health Act 2007 of NSW is also postulated about supporting spiritual and cultural beliefs of indigenous people while providing mental health support. Aboriginal adolescents are connected to their culture and facing different levels of discrimination in their daily life. Hence, these legislations can help them to access mental health care that can value their culture.

Principles Of Health Promotion And Primary Health Care

The government of Australia has invested $1.7 billion for improving mental health of aborigines in the years 2015 and 2016. The aborigines and other indigenous communities in this country have right to gain mental health services.  Different public organizations like beyond blue design programs for indigenous communities of Australia to support them and provide information about mental illness. As stated by McCormack and McCann (2015), proper support and information about mental illness help to generate awareness about the condition. A health plan was framed in 2013, which is based on the health equality and different human rights of indigenous communities. The health plan follows principle regarding the rights of indigenous communities that were framed by United Nations. It is also the right of aboriginal people to get support to mitigate mental health issues at community level. Moreover, different government structures are responsible to conduct regular monitoring and review the process of implementation of the health plan. These rights can help adolescents to get proper support to mitigate the problem of mental illness.

References

Aihw.gov.au (2019), Mental health services in Australia, Available at:  https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/mental-health-services/mental-health-services-in-australia/report-contents/summary/prevalence-and-policies [Accessed on 21st October 2019]

Aihw.gov.au. (2018). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescent and youth health and wellbeing 2018. Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/indigenous-australians/atsi-adolescent-youth-health-wellbeing-2018/contents/summary [Accessed on 19th October, 2019]

Dick, B. and Ferguson, B.J., 2015. Health for the world’s adolescents: a second chance in the second decade. Journal of Adolescent Health, 56(1), pp.3-6.

Health.gov.au  (2010), National mental health policy 2008,  Available at:  https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/B4A903FB48158BAECA257BF0001D3AEA/$File/finpol08.pdf [Accessed on 21st October 2019]

Kilian, A. and Williamson, A., 2018. What is known about pathways to mental health care for Australian Aboriginal young people?: a narrative review. International journal for equity in health, 17(1), p.12.

Lawrence, D., Hafekost, J., Johnson, S.E., Saw, S., Buckingham, W.J., Sawyer, M.G., Ainley, J. and Zubrick, S.R., 2016. Key findings from the second Australian child and adolescent survey of mental health and wellbeing. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 50(9), pp.876-886.

McCormack, C. and McCann, E., 2015. Caring for an adolescent with anorexia nervosa: parent’s views and experiences. Archives of psychiatric nursing, 29(3), pp.143-147.

Ptakowski, K.K., 2010. Advocating for children and adolescents with mental illnesses. Child and Adolescent. Psychiatric Clinics, 19(1), pp.131-138. Early Identification And Treatment Of Mental Illness Discussion Paper