Where+are+we+from?+Mental+Health+History+in+Australia

__**Where did we come from?**__ Bianca Faust N6823033 Tutor: Colleen Niland



**__Mental Health__** __**History**__ __**in Australia**__ **Public Health Issue**  How sensitive are Australians towards mental health suffers? The likelihood of knowing someone suffering or had previously suffered from mental health illness is extremely high with 1.1 million Australians are living with depression and 1 in 5 Australians will suffer from some form of mental illness, and at least 1 in 10 will develop a serious form of mental illness (MNMI, 2011). The Australian government has a strong recent history improving and creating policies to improve mental health facilities, services, funding and policies. The beginning of mental health policy in Australia started in 1991 when the Australian health ministers recognized the effects of mental health by agreeing to the Mental Health Statement of Rights and responsibilities and in 1992 ministers agrees to the national mental health policy (Australian department of Health, 2009). This was Australia’s starting point of Australia’s very proud and revolutionary mental health polices, reform and funding.

 **Cultural Artefact** media type="youtube" key="mY27YfstRZA" height="480" width="853" align="center"

The Queensland government Change our Minds campaign, is the first campaign in Australia that targets the effects of stigmas on the lives of mental health suffers. The campaign uses confrontation to capture the audience. The advertisement forces the viewer to see life through the eyes of a bipolar suffer, and the stigma she faces through the reaction of others. Confrontation is used most effectively at the end of the short 46-second commercial when the character faces the mirror and says “I can treat my mental illness, how you treat me because of it I cant”. This statement at the end makes the audience reflect on their attitude towards mental health. Overall the Queensland government has taken positive first steps towards community awareness about the issue of mental health. However on a national level more needs to be done to enhance community awareness in relation to stigmas that surround mental health, as currently national programs are symptom and support focused. **Literature** For many people who suffer from mental illness, it is the stigma that is a lot harder to live with. The change our mind campaign addresses how living with the stigma of mental health affects mental health suffers. This add is now seen on television and is part of the Healthier Queensland campaign. This advertisement puts the audience to see life, especially people’s reactions through the eyes of a young lady suffering from bipolar disorder. It takes the viewer on a journey through the characters work place as people stare, turn away and ignore her presence in the room. The change our mind campaign uses confrontation as a way to target and address the stigma the character is facing. Mental health is an important issue within Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) the 2007 mental health and wellbeing survey found that one in five people suffer from a form of mental health disorder and that 1.9 million people accessed services for mental health problems in the 12 months prior to the survey. The 2007 findings are an increase on the 2001 survey, which found that one in ten of the population suffered from a form of mental illness (ABS, 2003). Mental health within Australia becoming a growing health issue within the community it is important that this issue agenda stays on the minds of health ministers to focus on implementing community awareness, funding and policies to improve the lives of millions of Australians suffering from mental illness.

In 2008 Kevin Rudd reminded Australia of the importance and the urgency of changes towards mental health when he proposed a new mental health scheme acknowledging the importance of promotion, prevention and early intervention and addresses the need of improving collaboration across a range of services provided or funded by different government and private sectors, non-government agencies, individuals and organisations in the community (Australian department of Health and Ageing, 2009). These changes were brought forward in the 2009 policy, which focuses of five key priority areas surrounding mental health. These priority areas focus on social inclusion and recovery, prevention and early intervention, service access, coordination and continuing care, quality improvement and innovation, accountability- measuring and reporting progress (Australian Department of Health and Ageing, 2011).

Despite the introduction of these relative recent changes improving the lives of millions of Australians, Australia’s history of the treatment of mental health suffers prior to the recognition of mental health, as a health issue back in 1991 was a far cry from the policies and awareness established today. Mental institutions were found across Australia and were used to “treat” people of mental illness and disability, where patients were subjected to over crowding and experimental treatments (McRobert, 1997). One example of the treatment of mental health suffers in one of Australia’s largest mental asylums was brought into the media spotlight with ABC All in the Mind national radio program, broadcasting a show devoted to the formally known Wolston Park Hospital now called the Goodna Hospital.

Life within these walls was appalling compared to the new policies, treatment and conditions that have been introduced in recent years. A nurse on the show gave an insight to conditions within the Wolston Park when she reflects on her time working at the hospital. She recalls the treatment of one of the patience she looked after, a woman, “her name was Ethyl and she slept in a small white room and every night without fail when you went to wake her up in the morning there would be shit everywhere, all over her, all over the white flimsy gown that she was dressed in, even in winter when it was minus 4 degrees, and she would be woken by the registered nurse with a fire hose. She would be sprayed out of bed with a fire hose.” (ABC: All in the Mind, 2010). Despite the horrific treatment of patients, The Wolston Park Hospital was a revolutionary institute where change and patient rights was firs seen within these walls in 1977, when the first inside patient advocate was appointed (ABC: All in the Mind, 2010).

Australia has come a long way since then when patient advocates petitioned for milk and sugar to be served separately with patients’ tea (ABC: All in the Mind, 2010). Patients of mental health illnesses enjoy independent living, better living conditions, proven medical treatment and most importantly freedom and quality of life (ABC: All in the Mind, 2010). However for many patients of mental illness living with the symptoms of recurrent hallucinations, delusions, anxiety, or mood swings, its the stigma of mental health that effects suffers (Corrigan, 2005). These stigmas effect suffers of mental health in more ways than one, suffers face discrimination, prejudices about mental illness, turn them against themselves, and lose self-confidence that later can develops into self-stigma (Corrigan, 2005). In Australia especially Queensland (QLD) governments are aware of this issue and are funding campaigns to address stigmas against mental illness. The QLD government has recently funded $8.5 million campaign to change the way people regard the mentally ill. There is no national campaign addressing stigmas surrounding mental health (Bayside Bulletin, 2011) despite the 2009 policy stating to provide community awareness as a priority area for mental health. The QLD government is the only state with a stigma-based campaign in Australia. **Cultural Analysis**  Mental health development in Australia has come along way from the institutionalization of mental health. With attempts to improve mental health services and awareness the Australian government funding has increased over the years with the 2011 budget dedicating $1.5 billon over the next five years, combined with the 2010 budget which delivers $624 million over the same time period of five years to help people who have mental illness receive the care they need when required (Australian department of Health, 2011).

Mental health in western cultures is explained by a biological, environmental, lifestyle, health and social causes however in Australian indigenous culture health and wellbeing is effective by holistic and spiritual causes (Brown, 2001). Although exact numbers of indigenous people suffering from mental illness is difficult to find recent studies estimate that between 35 per cent and 54 per cent of Indigenous Australians are effected by mental illnesses (Australia Department of Health and Ageing, 2003). Further studies showed that 25 per cent of Indigenous adults had attempted suicide at some time in their lives (Australia Department of Health and Ageing, 2003). In Queensland suicide rates for young indigenous men between 15-24 years of age are three and a half times higher than non-indigenous men (Baume, 1998).

Cultural differences between western Australians and indigenous Australians effects how indigenous Australians view mental illness and treatment. In indigenous culture severe disruption to a persons mental is seen as a spiritual problem, therefore the community, family or the person themselves seek spiritual treatments are by a traditional healer (Australian Department of Health and Ageing, 2003). Treatment of mental health is taken upon the suffers family and the community and western medicine is over looked as mental illness is seen as a spiritual phenomena not biological because of these cultural differences and views on mental health diagnosis of mental disease among the indigenous community is complicated. Behaviours that are seen to be culturally accepted in the indigenous community can be misdiagnosed for psychotic symptoms and be treated inappropriately with antipsychotic medications, which can cause other symptoms of as normal cultural variants (Australian Department of Health and Ageing, 2003). One theory explaining why indigenous people are at high risk for mental health issues is due to the colonization of Australia and the break down of families, traditions, loss of identity and culture (Brown, 2001). To help individuals reconnect with their heritage roots, programs developed to help indigenous Australians find their identity through finding their family and history. The Link-Up Program, provides a national network of services supporting and assisting Indigenous people affected by past removal policies in tracing their genealogy and family history and potentially reuniting them with their families (Bring them home, 2007).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Overall a greater improvement of policy and funding needs to be dedicated towards education, awareness, services and treatment of mental health in the indigenous community. Programs which where funded for in 2006-2007 provided counselling through a holistic approach, specifically to help indigenous communities. Such programs for example the BTH Program to provided counselling to individuals, families and communities affected by past practices regarding the forced removal of children from Aboriginal families and focused on the trans-generational effects of separation causing emotional harm throughout families and across generations, entire (Bring them home, 2007).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Mental health in general is an increasing problem within Australia but limited access to mental health services and cultural differences tarnish the recovery of many indigenous Australians. To help minimise the effect of mental health more programs such at the BTH program and the link up program should be in place and easily accessible, as well as substance dependence programs with a holistic aboriginal approach to treatment. Better understanding of cultural differences of health professional is also needed to help diagnosis of indigenous people.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">**Personal Learning Reflection** Originally i wasn't excited researching past policies and reforms implemented by the Australian government. I was more looking for to researching the institutionalisation of mental health in Australia. However finding information regarding treatment, conditions and patients rights was extremely hard to come across. My research suggest that australia doesn't want to acknowledge the poor treatment of people within institutional walls. Although state governments will state the history of buildings that still remain and acknowledge the existence of institutions they did not mention life behind these walls. I also wanted to find government guidelines prior to the 1990's but i was unable to find information on these.

I would personal love to see research into the lives of the patients that survived the institutionalisation of mental health and how the exposure has effected their lives today.

Overall i belief that australia has come in right direction as far as policy reform and funding however not all the policies have been implemented into the public. There is still problems with service access, infrastructure, and community awareness in regards to stigmas. In relation to indigenous australians more programs need to be in place with a less westernised approach and a more holistic approach to counselling and a campaign to minimise discrimination against indigenous people in the work place. I believe if we minimise the unemployment rate,combined with culturally aware services results will show an improve socio-economical status and living conditions improving the overall health and wellbeing.


 * Reference List**

Australian Bureau of Statistics: Mental Health and Wellbeing Survey 2007 October 17 2011 from []

Australian Bureau of Statistics: Mental Health and Wellbeing survey 2001november 1st 2011 from []



Australian Department of Health and Ageing: Fourth national mental health plan: an agenda for collaborative government action in mental health 2009-2014 retreived October 17, 2011 from []

Australian Department of Health and Ageing: National Mental Health Policy 2008 October 17, 2011 from []

Australian Department of Health and Ageing: A Manual of Mental Health Care in General Practice, Indigenous mental health issues November 3rd 2011 []

ABC: All in the Mind Up the Line to Goodna: Patient rights and staff fights retrieved November 3rd 2011 from [|http://www.abc.net.au/rn/allinthemind/stories/2010/2921625.htm#]

Australian Department of Health and Ageing: Bring them Home November 3rd 2011 from []

Brown, Ron (01/03/2001). "Australian Indigenous mental health". //Australian and New Zealand journal of mental health nursing//, 10 (1), p. 33

Corrigan, Patrick W (01/12/2005). "Mental illness stigma: concepts, consequences, and initiatives to reduce stigma". //European psychiatry//, 20 (8), p. 529 (18/10/2011). "State aims to change thinking on mental health". //Bayside Bulletin//, p. 20

Baume PJM, Cantor CH, Mc Taggart PG. //Suicides in Queensland: a comprehensive study, 1990-1995.// Brisbane: Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, 1998.

McRobert, E. (1997). //Challinor Centre : the end of the line : a history of the institution also known as Sandy Gallop//, Dept. of Families, Youth & Community Care, Brisbane, Qld, p.112.

MNMI. (2011). Australian Government of Health and Ageing. ISBN: 0642829004 Retrieved from: [] **Peer Review** 'THIS IS MODERN LIFE' - The Future for Generation Y? http://healthculturesociety.wikispaces.com/%27THIS+IS+MODERN+LIFE%27+-+The+Future+for+Generation+Y%3F

This topic is an interesting topic and you have done a lot of research on this topic. I personally would have liked to see how new technology effected other generations and a comparison between how technology has effect previous generations and Gen Y. There have been many positives to technology which isn't mentioned in your essay and i found your essay solely focused on computers, when there are many different new modern technologies with pros and cons e.g. mobile phones. Overall you have presented a well informed essay and i thought the research was interesting.Great Job.

Happy Pills - Are we just pills away from curing mental illness? http://healthculturesociety.wikispaces.com/Happy+Pills+-+Are+we+just+pills+away+from+curing+mental+illness%3F

A very interesting essay. Firslty your title is very eye catching and very relevant to todays society. I love how in dept your essay was. I was very interesting about your social analysis and how people using these "happy pills" are becoming younger and younger. There is so many components in medication for mental illness's and i personally don't believe there will be a miracle drug that will help millions of people with different mental health issues because of the biological differences between individuals (and essentially the medication is used to change the biological elements of brain to change moods and behaviours). Great Essay.