The+Invisible+Plague.+Mental+Illness+on+The+Rise

 Name: Sam Manfield Student Number: n8332991 Topic: Mental Health Tutor: Judith Meiklejohn


 * __ARTEFACT. __**

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The artefact that has been chosen is a song by Pink Floyd called Brain Damage. The song is about insanity, a condition that the band was all too familiar with. Ex-singer/guitarist Syd Barrett's unfortunate slip into an unstable mental state in the late fifties and early sixties which eventuated to his death not long after. Also many believe that the whole album “Dark Side of The Moon” represents mental illness, and how the modern day lifestyle can drive a person insane, such as money, mortality, and medications. Additionally research will be conducted into the fact that mental illness is on the rise over the past forty odd years.


 * __ PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. __**

The artefact represents how mental is on the rise over the past forty years due to the stresses of everyday life. This essay will report on the negativity that surrounds mental illness and how this discrimination must be altered. Also it will critically analyse mental health concerns on the population and discuss both the treatments along with awareness campaigns that have been provided to reduce mental health within Australia and the world. Additionally research will be conducted into the increasing number of insanity patients since the mid nineteen hundreds in Australia and the world.

**__LITERATURE__** **__ REVIEW. __**

According to the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing mental illness is defined as “a health problem that significantly affects how a person feels, thinks, behaves, and interacts with other people. It is diagnosed according to standardised criteria. The term mental disorder is also used to refer to these health problems. Mental health problems are more common and include the mental ill health that can be experienced as a reaction to the stresses of life.”(Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (2011).As stated, Mental health is caused from a variety of events and situations that occur in everyday living; however, many of these occurrences may be altered or stopped from many government campaigns and events which promote mental illness in Australia.

Mental health is a very serious issue in Australia with The 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics finding that an estimated 3.2 million Australians or approximately 20% of the population had a mental disorder in the twelve months prior to the survey and at least 10 to 15% of young people in any one year. Mental illness is classified as a disease just like any other physical illness. However, the sympathy and support showed towards physical illness is normally ignored when it comes to people suffering from a mental illness. This lack of support is due to the many myths, misconceptions and stereotypes that surround mental illness. Mental illnesses cause a great deal of suffering to those experiencing them, as well as their families and friends. Furthermore, these problems appear to be increasing. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression will be one of the biggest health problems worldwide by the year 2020. (World Health Organisation (2011). Data and Statistics.) This is why the Australian government has set up several events and programs to help promote and raise money for mental illness throughout Australia

A study conducted by Morris, B. (2003), on Australia’s mental health status showed that there were an estimated 10.8 million visits to general practitioners for mental health-related conditions in 2000-2001 and an estimated 2.1 million visits to private psychiatrists in Australia in 2000-2001. Of these 10.8 million depressions accounted for one in every three mental health problems managed by general practitioners and general practitioners managed a larger number of mental health problems for female patients than for male patients. This applied across all age groups with the exception of people under 15 years of age. The majority of patients with a mental health problem managed were aged 35 to 54 years. This study proves that Australia’s health care system needs to review and reform the mental health care system.

Mental illness is not only on the rise in Australia, a recent report by Veinot, T. (2011). about Canada’s mental illness and its strain on society shows that it is not only Australia suffering. The report illustrates how it is estimated that approximately one in every three Canadians will suffer from a mental illness at some point in their lifetime. (Veinot, T. (2011). Also many businesses are beginning to understand the huge impact that mental illness has on the workforce. Canadian business leaders, medical experts and mayors from across the country met at the Canadian Business and Economic Round Table on Mental Health to raise awareness of mental health issues. This event is important because it recognizes the need for different groups to come together and join forces to address the problem. (Tempier, R et. al (2009). Although mental illness is a very serious problem, many people have no idea of how to diagnose a mental illness, know how to approach a mental illness or what to do if someone has a mental illness. This is why several events have been set up in order to create and promote awareness throughout the country and nation. Events such as mental health week, which is held on October the 15th every year to help raise the awareness of mental health within Australia. Also the well being expo held every year raises funds that are then donated to several mental health charities across Australia. These events try to both raise funds and awareness that will hopefully eventuate to a healthier Australia. (Activities, events promote mental health month. (1997, May 02).

Finally, mental health has progressed over the past five years, when the government reviewed the National Action Plan for mental health. According to the agreement a total of 4.1 billion dollars was committed to a wide range of initiatives including treatments and programmes promoting awareness (Australian Government of Health and Ageing (2006). The promotion and awareness area of the report is broken down into four main points, building resilience, raising community awareness, improving early identification and referral to appropriate services and investing in mental health research. Whereas, the treatment area is broken into two points, resourcing health and community support and developing a range of care that is provided across the continuum of primary, acute and community services by public, non-government and private sector providers. Since the report has been published in 2007 mental health has almost dropped a whole 25% since the year 2000. This statistic proves that Australia’s government’s new action plan has altered one of Australia’s largest health crisis’s and is now moving towards a healthier country.

Mental Illness affects social, economic and cultural aspects of society. Mental illness does not just affect the patient, it can also has dramatic affects on surrounding friends and family who are in regular contact with the person. Mental illness can affect a family in many ways. Physically Living with someone with a mental illness can put extreme stress on the family both as a unit and as individual. If a family member becomes ill, the demand of assisting someone who is mentally ill may be almost overwhelming. Emotionally, the family member may be going through some often conflicting and intense emotions. Worry, fear, anxiety, anger, confusion, guilt, love, helplessness, resentment, embarrassment, frustration are among them. Families may feel guilt that they caused the illness or that they could have prevented it. Mentally, the family often feels that they are solely responsible for the care of the mentally ill person. This can cause the family member to become so wrapped up in the mental illness of their loved one that their own life may get forgotten. And spiritually, if all the energy a family has is going to caring for an ill individual and keeping the household operating, it leaves little energy for the nourishment of the spirit. (Sasseville, S. (1999, Dec 18).
 * __ CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ANALYSIS. __**

Along with the social impacts also comes the economic impact of mental illnesses. The economy suffers dramatically due to mental illness, In Australia it has been estimated that mental health symptoms result in a loss of $ AU2.7 billion in employee productivity (Saxena, S., & McQueen, D. V. (2005). Wherever economic statistics of mental illness have been recorded or studied, the figures are astonishing. The most inclusive set of estimates comes from the Unites states. Mental illness cost the United States a massive $150 billion last year for treatment, for the costs of social service and disability payments made to patients. It’s not only nations that have issues of economic pressure and mental health, patients families also feel this burden. Many families often experience reduced productivity at home and at the workplace which can lead to a loss of a job. Lost wages, combined with the possibility of huge health care bills, can seriously affect patients and their families’ financial situation, creating or worsening poverty and the mental status of the whole family.

Since Australia is known to be such a multicultural society from both, overseas to rural remote indigenous communities many studies have been conducted into the prevalence of mental or behavioural problems among people born overseas is similar to those born in Australia. Similarly, the rates among people who speak a language other than English at home are about the same as for those who speak English at home. There is very little recorded data about rural and remote indigenous communities and mental illness. However, the 1997 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing found no differences in the overall rates for affective disorders, anxiety disorders and substance use disorders between urban and rural areas but did note some gender differences. There are also many myths surrounding culturally different groups and mental illness, mental illness occurs from any background, cultural background affects how people experience mental illness and how they understand and interpret the symptoms of mental illness. (Mental Illness and Suicide (2011).

Mental illness will never be eradicated from planet earth, however, if these three points (social, economic and culture) are used in conjunction with the acceptance and awareness of mental health, Australia and the world will be able to live in a much healthier and happier place.

My cultural artefact represents both the hardships that go along with mental illness, and how the awareness of mental health must be drastically improved. It shows how bad mental illness has become over the past decade, with more and more people being diagnosed with a mental illness. Also of how the proper endorsement of the awareness of mental health is able to minimise both the myths and misconceptions that surround mental illness along with the promotion and donation to help mentally ill patients. However, it is slightly worrying that mental illness is still on the rise within Australia even with a new National Action Plan in place.
 * __ ANALYSIS OF THE ARTEFACT. __**

By investigating this research topic, I have come to the conclusion that the governments new program (National Action Plan for Mental Health 2006 – 2011) (Australian Government of Health and Ageing (2006). National action plan on mental health.) needs to focus on the awareness side of mental health in order for people to understand the seriousness of mental health, and be able to treat mental illness before it turns into something more severe, instead of looking as pills and crazy remedies as a way of treating mental illness. This assessment piece has raised my awareness of mental health and its huge role in society, and how it affects a lot more people than just the people that have been affected by this crippling disease that is sweeping the nation.


 * __ DISCUSSION __**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Saxena, S., & McQueen, D. V. (2005). The momentum for mental health promotion. Global Health Promotion, (17579759), 6-6-9, 61, 67.
 * __ REFERENCE LIST __**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Morris, B. (2003). Australasia: Mental health in australia. International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 16(4), R7-R7.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Sasseville, S. (1999, Dec 18). The impact of mental illness on the family: Effects 10 per cent of C- K residents. Chatham Daily News, pp. 10-10.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Veinot, T. (2011). Trapped: The state of mental health in canada. Canadian Pharmacists Journal, 144(2), 94-94-95.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Canada's mental health crisis. (2002). Benefits Canada, 26(12), 13-13.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Tempier, R., Meadows, G. N., Vasiliadis, H., Mosier, K. E., Lesage, A., Stiller, A.(2009). Mental disorders and mental health care in canada and australia: Comparative epidemiological findings. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 44(1), 63-63-72. doi:10.1007/s00127-008-0409-y

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Australian Government of Health and Ageing (2006). National action plan on mental health. Retrieved from: []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Mental Illness and Suicide (2011). Mental Illness Facts. Retrieved from: []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Activities, events promote mental health month. (1997, May 02). Houston Chronicle, pp. 1-D, 1:4.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">World Health Organisation (2011). World Mental Health Day. Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">World Health Organisation (2011) Mental Health. Retrieved from: []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">World Health Organisation (2011). Data and Statistics. Retreived from: []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (2011). What is Mental Illness? Retrieved from: []