Mental+WHO?

Mental WHO?

This image of the “human being” t-shirt is an artefact that I feel I can relate closely to mental health and mental illnesses within individuals, communities and populations. The image is of a t-shirt made up of various words and images all of which can be closely associated with mental health and the illnesses associated with poor mental health.

__Public health Issues__ The main public health issues surrounding mental health in Australia is the difficulty in quantifying who is affected and why. Often in Australia, surveys are used to gain information on the statistics associated with illnesses, death and disease. This is the case with determining the prevalence of mental health disorders. The problem lies in the fact that many mental health illnesses are often than not self-identified or denied. This makes quantifying the subject very hard and asks the never ending question of; How are we then supposed to identify areas that need fixing to try and control mental illnesses amongst Australians? Through various research studies, specific groups have also been highlighted to be more affected then other Australians by mental health problems and illnesses. Through thorough assessments of these groups we should be able to identify aspects of these individuals’ lives that need attention in hope of reducing the likelihood of mental health issues amongst Australians. With astounding statistics such as 1 in every 5, mental health is a public health issue that should be of a focus to try and fix within the Australian society.

__Literature review __ According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) mental health is a state of emotional and social wellbeing that influences how an individual copes with everyday stresses, and how they interact with other people and their environment in ways that promote wellbeing (Abs, 2007). The ABS also states that measuring mental health in the community is a complex task as mental disorders are usually determined through detailed clinical assessment and include's such a wide range of illnesses; such as substance abuse disorders, anxiety disorders and affective mood disorders such as depression (ABS, 2007).

One particular group of people who might experience worse mental health than others, are those who are involved in the process of deinstitutionalisation. Certain factors of these individuals’ lives should be focussed on to try and improve their mental health and the incidence of mental health problems amongst Australians. According to Katrina Clifford (2010) shifting the care, treatment and accommodation of mentally ill individuals from psychiatric custodial institutions to community based settings has been afflicted by significant deficiencies. One of the major problems with deinstitutionalisation in Australia is the lack of funding, programs, supervision, and support services required to actually fulfil the proposed outcomes of deinstitutionalisation (Clifford, 2010, 355). These outcomes include; a reduction in the incidence of mentally ill individuals’ within Australia, a decline in the mistreatment of these vulnerable people and an improvement in their use and access of appropriate health care services according to their needs. As a result the Australian mental health program has been described as “failing”, “ineffective” and “in crisis” with many mental health patients high support needs and very complex health needs being unmet (Clifford, 2010, 355 & Lenox 2006).

A research study carried out by Lennox et al. (2006) used a comprehensive health assessment program (CHAP), to identify health issues experienced by those moving back into the general community after being a patient in institutionalised care. Amongst the 25 patients reviewed 22 needed other forms of health care such as dentistry, optometrists, psychiatrists, family planning services etcetera, all of which would not have been recognised without the use of the CHAP (Lennox, 2006). This particular study highlighted the need for more detailed assessments of these patients in order to try and make these individuals’ lives as easy as possible during the transition, and to reduce the likelihood of future mental health problems that may have formed due to difficulties in access to and use of health care services.

These research articles highlight the need for high social support and care for mental health patients who are living through the process of de-institutionalisation. In the real world we need to recognise that they are chronic patients who still require long term if not continuous care (Krupinski 1995), and by removing the “stigma” that’s shadows mental health patients, the Australian society can provide the necessary care to these individuals that they require to function normally as a part of a well- structured society.

Another particular group of individuals associated with a higher prevalence of mental health related illnesses are those Australians who live rurally or remotely. In Australia, according to statistics, one farmer living in a rural or remote location commits suicide every four days (Judd, 2006). This is an alarmingly high rate, and one that is much higher than that of the non-farming men in Australia (Judd, 2006). Within the study there were no clear links to living rurally and having the occupation of a farmer as an indicator for mental health problems, rather it was found that the occupational stressors of being a farmer as well as feelings of loneliness and social isolation increased there likelihood of experiencing at some stage within their lives a mental health problem (Judd, 2006). A research study carried out by Jorm (2006) to examine geographical and household variation and there effects on mental health within Australia, showed no direct links between mental health and differences at the area level of living, however there were significant variance at the household level (Jorm, A 2006). Instead the measures that most strongly and independently were associated with mental health problems were age, physical health and financial hardship (Jorm, A, 2006). A limitation within this particular study was the small geographic location used within the sample, indicating two possible outcomes; there is no substantial link between geographic location and poor mental health outcomes, OR the type of area examined was not appropriate (Jorm 2006).

These two research articles are arguing two very different points about living rurally and or remotely and the impact this has on ones’ mental health. Due to the difficulty in quantifying this problem both articles could be correct, however which do we believe. Maybe rather than geographic location, an individual’s occupation is more highly associated to poorer mental health outcomes with a research study in the UK recognising jobs with high levels of job demands, especially emotional demands and lack of job security as having a higher risk of developing mental health problems amongst individuals within the workforce (Head & Singleton 2011).

A research article by Lisa Slominski, Arnold Sameroff, Katherine Rosenblum and Tim Kasser (2011) recognised and appreciated that the transition into adulthood is one of social changes, and is extremely important in an individuals’ psychological development. By this time most of society have reached some level of education with the majority being employed, these attainments are indicative of social status and economic well-being- factors they believe impact on an individuals' mental health (Slominski et al 2011). Other factors of which may have a controlling effect on the social status and mental health of these maturing individuals are peer support and encouragement and parent expectations and values (Slominski 2011). For humans the overwhelming importance of social life could well explain why social interactions have the ability to affect an individual’s psychology to such a degree that they may be at a higher risk of poorer mental health outcomes than others within society (Roy 2004). Both of these journal articles link lower socioeconomic status with a greater risk of poor mental health, however the difficulties of quantifying an individual’s socioeconomic status places an emphasis on the difficulties in determining who is affected by mental illnesses and why. The research that is available can be used to intervene in an effort to reduce the incidence of mental health problems within Australian society.

__Cultural and Social Analysis __

To an extent I believe that society are behind the public health issues surrounding mental health; including the high incidence of such illnesses within Australia, and the stigma that surrounds mental health patients. Social support is very important to us as human beings and can determine how well we can function mentally in a lot of situations. Jean-Pierre Roy (2004) has stated in her article that marked social hierarchies seem to have appeared only recently with the development of agriculture and private property around 10, 000 years ago. The creation of such complex social hierarchies multiplies the conflicts therefore multiplying the occasions for shame, hostility and despair, all of which can add to feelings that alter our mental health (Roy 2004). Although David Emile Durkheim directed his attention on suicide amongst society and not merely on mental health, it is important to recognise that in his view: society functioned as a source of control and regulation of its members, providing a kind of collective consciousness and will, which had profound influences on individual thought and behaviour (Robertson 2006).

The stigma that societies have placed upon people suffering from mental health disorders have extremely negative consequences on the delivery of and the access to appropriate health care to those who suffer from such disorders (Sartorius 2007). These negative attitudes have discriminating effects on the provision of health care, as people with mental illnesses are portrayed as “dangerous” and “scary” and are often not looked after to the best of the professionals abilities due to the false stigma of all mentally ill are violent (Sartorius 2007). This shame of having a mental illness is most definitely a social influence that greatly affects the particular public health issue at hand.

The main public health issue surrounding mental health is the difficulty in quantifying who is affected, this is mainly due to the large scale of forces that are said to be behind poor mental health, including brain deficiencies, lack of social support or isolation or economic difficulties. Groups of people who are affected are so wide ranging and on in depth analysis often there are quite a number of research articles contradicting each other. Add this to the alarming statistic of almost half (45% or 7.3 million) of the 16 million Australians surveyed had experienced some form of mental disorder at some stage within their lives; highlighting that this is an issue that affects a large proportion of individual's within society (ABS, 2007). For this reason public health experts, the Australian government and all sectors of the Australian society and community need to work together to distinguish forces behind mental health disorders, and eliminate the stigma behind mental health to provide the most appropriate levels of care for all sufferers. In recognition of de-institutionalisation the Australian health care system for the mentally ill should be directed at improving the wellbeing and recognising the civil rights of all people who have, do or will suffer form a mental illness.

__Artefact and Reflection __

My artefact is symbolic to mental health as these disorders are one of the hardest things to quantify in terms of who is affected, and because of this every human being should be treated with respect and “handled with care” due to the “fragility” of the human mind. The quote “Contents may vary in colour” on the shirt opens our eyes to the endless possibilities of who and what groups are affected by mental health issues including but not limited to; rural and remote Australians, low socioeconomic groups and those who live with the process of de-institutionalisation. On a personal level this picture reinforces how truly fragile we are as human beings and how many things can go wrong with our mind and body. Most of the other disease states I have previously studied have identifiable risk factors such as cardiovascular disease and smoking, however the human mind is so uniquely individual for everyone and it is interesting that so many people are affected by these disorders for so many different reasons. The topic of mental health is so wide covering and affects so many Australians every year and through critical analysis I have learnt much about the stigma and difficulties in narrowing who is at a higher risk than others. This topic has played a major role in my thoughts and views of those who suffer from mental illnesses, and has changed my views of our body in more ways than one; we are not only delicate physically, but also emotionally and socially. I am a Paramedic student and in my training I have come across alot of patients who could be suffering from a mental illness, through this analysis I have discovered alot about these people and how I should be treating them socially. This assignment has opened my eyes about the treatment of these vulnerable people, and how I should not believe the stigma that surrounds these types of illnesses.

Discussion Through the looking glass Hi there, firstly congratulations on an excellent choice of artefact for the topic of mental health. It was very interesting and closely related to your topic, especially seeing as it was a real painting by a gentleman who unfortunately fell suspect to mental health problems himself. It was an extremely interesting way of looking at his life through the use of the paitnings and how having a mental illness affected him. It was also very interesting to read (similarly to my own wiki) about the never ending list of individuals' within society who may be affected by a mental health disorder, and with so many limitations to the research articles, for me it was a reinstatement that mental health problems are an illness that is very hard to develope appropriate thoughts/evidence about who is affected and why. Would you agree? You applied Durkheim really well, with the highlight being your use of linking mental health to social events and society through his social theories. You wrote about the whole topic extremely well, and reading afterwoods that it was something close to your heart, in that it is involved heavily in your line of study, made it very clear why. Well done. Good luck with your results. Boots, Ball and.... Bra? Women in Sport

Hi there, Firstly congratulations on a wellwritten wiki, and excellent choice of an artefact. The topic you wrote about was extremely interesting to read and was something that I feel I can relate to; I am female and I love my sport! The picture you used is a very controversial image, but an excellent choice for the topic. This really opened my eyes to why most women are involved in sport and how we think we are playing a sport for benefits very different to what a male veiws us to be. But it doesnt help when there are competitions out there where women play in their underwear. Do you think in order to make the playing feild more equitable competitions like these should be banned? How are women supposed to be taken seriously if this is the image that we are placing on oursleves. Men did not make them dress like this. Do you think that it has alot to do with how women want to be seen by men? I mean we all like to dress up, are we confusing sport for a fasion contest? You made very valid points about why physical activity is good for us, all of which I thouroughly agree with and an excellent argument made about how this is a very societal problem. In order to tackle this as a public health issue you have stated that we need to change our veiws and the stigma surrounding females and sport participation...... this is very TRUE, hit the nail on the head. Thanks for an excellent and interesting piece of writing.

Well done. Good luck with your results.

Reference List Australian Bureau of statistics. (2007). National survey of mental health and wellbeing: summary of results. Retrieved from: [] Butterworth, P., Rodgers, B. & Jorm, A.F. (2006). Examining geographical and household variation in mental health in Australia. //Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry 40//(5), pg 491-497. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1614.2006.01827.x

Clifford, K. (2010). The thin blue line of mental health in Australia. //Police practice and research11//(4). Pg 355-370. Doi: 10.1080/15614263.2010.496561

Head, J. & Singleton, N. (2011). Occupation and mental health in a national UK survey. //Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology 46//(2). Pg 101-110. doi: 10.1007/s00127-009-0173-7

Judd, F. 2006. Understanding Suicide in Australian farmers. //Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology 41//(1). Pg 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s00127-005-0007-1

Krupinski, J. 1995. De-institutionalisation of psychiatric patients: progress or abandonment. //Social science and medicine 40//(5), 577-579. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(95)80001-z

Lennox, N., Rey-conde, T. & Cooling, N. (2006). Comprehensive health services assessments during de-institutionalisation: an observational study. //Journal of intellectual disability research 50//(10). Pg 719-724. Doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2006.00835.x

Robertson, M. (2006). Books reconsidered: Emile Durkheim, Le suicide. //Au stralasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 14 // (4). Pg 365-368. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1665.2006.02305.x

Roy, J. (2004). Socioeconomic status and health: a neurobiological perspective. //Medical hypotheses 62// (2). Pg 222. doi: 10.1016/s0306-9877(03)00315-3

Sartorius, N. (2007). Stigma and mental health. //The lancet (British edition) 370//(9590). Pg: 810-811. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61245-8

Slominski, L., Sameroff, A., Rosenblum, K. & Kasser, T. (2011). Longitudinal predictors of adult socioeconomic attainment: The roles of socioeconomic status, academic competence,and mental health. //Development and psychopathology 23//(1). Pg 315-324. doi: 10.1017/S0954579410000829