Change+our+minds,+People's+perception+of+mental+health+issues.


 * Tutor: Judith Meiklejohn**
 * Student no: N8295085**

[] **WHAT IS ****“CHANGE OUR MINDS?” ** Change Our Minds is an initiative addressing the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness in Queensland. It aims to make us aware of how our negative attitudes and behaviours affect the lives of people living with mental illness, including their families and carers. It also promotes positive attitudes, acceptance and social inclusion of people living with mental illness in the Queensland community. ([|www.changeourminds.qld.gov.au]) As the above excerpt details change out minds aims to change people’s behaviour towards mental health issues by making them more informed. People’s reactions or treatment of someone with a mental illness has been identified as a major factor in how well someone with an illness copes in their day to day life. The television advertisement is currently airing with an encouragement for people to pledge their support for a change of mind or attitude towards mental health. Mental health problems are an issue that have increasingly captured people’s attention in recent times. Given that 45% of people in society today are likely to have some kind of mental health problem (during their lifetime) it is appropriate that this area should be receiving the attention and resources it deserves (NIMH, 2011). Compared to other developed countries Australia displays slightly lower levels of mental health problems. Every year approximately one in five people will develop some kind of mental illness (ABS, 2008). Britain and America are higher with just over one in four people being diagnosed. As these figures are calculated on known cases the actual numbers could potentially be much higher. Recognition and understanding within society of the significance of mental health problems is only the first step to fixing them. Historically mental health has been treated very differently to the way it is today. The earliest reports of mental illness gave explanations ranging from demon possession to simply madness (with no known cause). People suffering would often be locked away in conditions not much different to a prison with little thought given to their wellbeing let alone a diagnosis, treatment or possible cure. These inhumane practices continued right up unto last century with changes in treatment only happening more recently. Starting in Europe during the last 30 years, there has been a more focused approach to deinstitutionalising patients rather than simply locking them away from society (Sharp, 2004). This view of analysing the causes of mental health problems and minimising the impact while attempting to effect a cure/treatment continues today. So how significant are mental health problems within Australia today? As conditions such as depression often go undiagnosed the effects tend to be greater than the data would suggest. In males approximately one in eight and one in five females suffer from depression each year. Aside from the effect on the person themself factors such as time off work, medical expenses and the cost to the health industry mean that mental health problems add a significant burden to the system. The effects on family members or friends are something that is not readily recognised. The stress and strain placed on a caregivers or family can cause themselves to often become sick, take time off work or even possibly withdraw from their friends and others who do not understand the situation. They can experience feelings of guilt about the person’s illness thinking that in some way they have contributed to the problem (NIHM, 2009). While this aspect of mental health is not as serious as for the person suffering the illness it is significant due to its wide reaching affects with the number of people affected. Developing strategies to help family, friends or carers to cope with someone’s mental illness is vital to minimising the wider reaching affects of someone’s illness. If people better understand the reasons behind why someone with a mental disorder is acting differently they are better able to give the person and also themselves the help and support they need. The statistics themselves are quite shocking. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics on average 18% of men and 22% of women experience a mental disorder within a 12month period. Anxiety disorders, affective disorders and substance disorders make up the mental disorders seen in society. Of these, anxiety disorders show the highest rates of illness with 18% of women and 11% of men being affected. Age also plays a part in the incidences of cases. Mental illnesses are highest in the 16-24year old category (26%) decreasing to 5.8% in 75-85 year olds (ABS, 2007).  Treatment of mental health problems today varies from country to country. In general most mental health illnesses are treated by a mix of medication and communication with a physiatrist about the person’s problems and possible causes that can be worked through and dealt with. For Australia one major problem is not so much the actual treatment but the numbers of people who are actually seeking treatment. The 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing found that only one third of people (34.9%) with a mental illness used the available treatment services. The question is why this figure is so low, is the treatment not effective or is it too costly? Medicare does cover part of the cost of public mental health services but within Australia today there is a call for more resources to be put towards mental health. A combined approach is necessary with informing people being vital but also providing the basic resources to help people affected get better. A side effect of informing people as to the prevalence of mental health issues is that as the importance of it becomes realised then an increase in resources to provide treatment would also more likely be obtained.
 * PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE
 * LITERATURE REVIEW

How mental health is seen or perceived in a culture has a direct impact on how people will respond to those suffering from a mental illness. Individualistic cultures such as Australia (and many western countries) place a high emphasis on the health and well being of the individual. Compared to a collectivist culture people are more likely to seek help for a mental illness. There is less emphasis placed on someone embarrassing their family or social group by admitting that they need help. Many eastern countries (eg: China, Japan) tend to see admitting to a mental problem as a sign of weakness or embarrassment to the social group. Although many collectivist cultures do have the resources to spend on mental health factors such as the above mention social culture can play a greater part making the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses much more difficult.  Even in Australia cultural factors contribute to the severity and incidence of mental illness. Australia typically is a laid back easy going nation. While it would seem that people would be happy to casually talk about their problems this does not seem to be the case. Historically Australia has been a rural nation with a culture of stoicism and holding up against the odds. This culture has lead to a reluctance to talk about ones problems with the resulting covering up of someone’s illness no doubt doing more harm than good. <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Communication seems to be the key regardless of what culture someone is in. Informing people as to the actual facts regarding mental illness is vital if people are to know how to treat someone with a mental illness. Social prejudice and intolerance invariably comes from a lack of information and/or rumours and this seems to be where historically (and today) the many issues associated with mental illness stems from. <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;">In Australia today compared to 100 years ago, the emphasis on communication has improved greatly. Socially there is much more information available in the media, workplaces and in day to day life. This improvement in communication is having an effect but progress is understandably slow as changing people’s attitudes does take time.
 * <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;">CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ANALYSIS

<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;">This artefact, as part of a broader information campaign, represents an effective way to educate a large number of people. The underlying message it conveys is primarily to change our views about mental illness but, also to change our view of the //person// with the illness. It is very easy to dehumanise someone with an illness so that they simply become “that person with bipolar”. Often it is easier to view the illness instead of the actual person. Or, to take the persons behaviours personally and blame them when the way they are acting is simply due to their illness. <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ideally if people with mental illnesses were treated equally and more fully understood there would be less implications from the side effects of mental disorders (ie: loneliness, suicide). While understanding does not necessarily cure mental illness this is not what the advertisement is claiming. The effectiveness of the advertisements lies in its ability to change people’s perspective or prejudices. I don’t see any real disadvantages to this kind of advertising. Like most advertising (ie: Smoking advertisements) it will probably lose its effectiveness over time but for now simply beginning to educate people is vital and it does fulfil this role. <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;">This assignment has been an interesting learning experience and has changed my perspectives on mental health problems. The thing which surprised me most was the prevalence of mental health disorders in society today. The high rates of (for example) depression and its side effects on peoples live was something I had not considered. In one sense someone with depression is no different to someone with a broken leg; they have an illness/health issue and need care and support to fix it. This has highlighted how being judgmental or prejudiced towards someone will most likely just make life harder for the person ending up with them feeling more isolated and misunderstood. <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I think the government’s treatment of mental health is currently making progress but does need some improvement. Educating people is excellent but more resources are needed if real changes are to be made. With mental health problems being so prevalent it would seem fair that they are given a much higher priority in the overall health system. While compromises certainly need to be made mental health does not look to be an area that, as in the past, can just be ignored.
 * <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;">ANALYSIS OF THE ARTEFACT AND LEARNING REFLECTIONS

<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">1. National Institute of Mental Health. (2011). //<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Any disorder among adults //<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">. <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Retrieved from: http: www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1.shtml <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2008). //<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mental health services in Australia //<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;">. <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Retrieved from: [] <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 3. [] <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 4. [] <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 6. Hazelwood. Z, and Shakespeare-Finch. J, (2011), I’m listening: //<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Communication for health professionals. //<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Brisbane, Inn Press. <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">7. National Institute of Mental Health, (2009). //<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Bipolar Disorder, //<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> US Department of Health and Human Services, Science Writing, Press & Dissemination Branch, Bethesda, MD 20892-966 5. Sharp. D, (2004), //Return to the asylum: the search for clients with enduring mental health problems in Italy.// Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, [|Volume 11, Issue 5,] pages 562–568. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2850.2004.00779.x. Retrieved from: [|http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365- 850.2004.00779.x/full] <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Retrieved from: [] <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">8. Mental Health Council of Australia. (2008). //<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">MENTAL HEALTH FACT SHEET, Statistics on Mental Health in Australia //<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">. <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> Retrieved from: www.mhca.org.au/documents/AboutMentalHealth/FactsonMentalHealth.pdf
 * <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;">REFERENCE LIST