Mental Health Policy of Australia
Mental Health Policy of Australia
The National Mental Health Policy gives ‘a strategic framework to’ design plans and
actions, for synchronized government efforts to form mental health plans to improve the
delivery of mental health services. National health plans are formed to start out actions
required to achieve the objectives of the mental health policy ("The Fifth National Mental
Health and Suicide Prevention Plan", 2017). In 1993, the first Mental Health Plan for five
years was launched. The ongoing fifth plan for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (2017-
2022), is built on the foundation instituted by all the previous mental health reforms
("Monitoring Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Reform: Fifth National Mental Health
The government intends to modify certain areas of mental health policy. This is done
by addressing the priority areas in the national mental health plan. The government has
initialized change in the health care system of Australia by setting up facilities with a new
concept of holistic care of mentally ill people. There also has been an impact on mental
The fifth mental health plan consists of eight priority areas which are identified by
keeping in mind, the aims of the mental health policy to enhance the quality of care and
outcomes. The areas include integrated planning and service delivery, prevention of suicide,
coordination of support and treatment for persons with serious complicated mental
conditions, improvement in mental health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders,
improvement of physical health and reduce early mortality of mentally ill people, reducing
discrimination and stigma, delivering safe and quality mental health care, ensuring that the
factors contributing to effective system performance and system improvement are in place
("The Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan", 2017). Advisory
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committees have been instituted by the government for guidance pertaining to advise on
planning, investment, the system of recording, evaluation, and reporting the progress of the
fifth plan ("The Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan", 2017).
The government supports linkage in planning and service delivery at the regional
level by working with the public and local bodies. This aims at a holistic approach to
patient’s health so as to meet their individual needs, thus achieving personalized care, support
and treatment ("The Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan", 2017). The
government also aims at providing several different means to educate people about suicide
prevention and treatment for people who attempted suicide by implementing several
interventions, public information campaigns, promoting the use of mental health services, as
well as coordinating research, training and service with institutes or agencies. These
measures ensure knowledge and access to available services to people who are at high risk.
This also supports families, careers, and communities affected by suicide ("The Fifth
Support needed by people with mental illness varies according to the nature of their
illness. Some require minimal clinical services, others, hospital-based support while some
may require community support. In Australia, the Government Department of Health, the
Primary Health Networks, as well as the state and territory government health departments
are responsible for the actions involved in this area. The government also plans to support
people who are not under the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Primary Health
Networks (PHNs) and Local Hospital Networks (LHNs) are to focus on coordinating
treatment with consumers. This will provide support for people with severe or complex
mental illness to enable them to live a productive life ("The Fifth National Mental Health and
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities face many obstacles including
racism and discrimination while trying to obtain mental health services. Their cultural
viewpoints also affect their approach to receiving mental health support. Therefore, the
government is trying to build culturally adapted models of care. This involves among various
other measures, a plan to include persons of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’s
community as staff in multidisciplinary teams involved in mental health care ("The Fifth
Additionally, mentally ill people are at a high risk of developing other physical
illnesses like cardiovascular, respiratory, and other chronic diseases. Thus, the government
has devised guidelines for health professionals to facilitate early detection and interventions.
("The Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan", 2017).
Another objective of the plan is to bring awareness about the effect of stigma and
and by empowering the people affected to talk about it ("The Fifth National Mental Health
The ‘Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care’ has designed a
framework for ensuring safety and quality, specifically in mental health service delivery.
Available information about quality and safety will enable consumers to be a part of the
decisions about their care, support, and treatment. Therefore, the government encourages and
enhances the use of digital mental health platforms. The government develops and adapts
digital mental health services by taking into consideration the people who are unfamiliar with
new technologies ("The Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan", 2017).
The Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council and its’ Chief Committees are
responsible for the proper implementation of the fifth mental health plan. The Council of
The impact of the Mental Health Policy on the health care system
The mental health policy emphasizes coordination and partnership of services. The
government must note that the outcomes of these changes in the system may not show
expected results (Ellis, Churruca & Braithwaite, 2017). Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS)
thinking is helpful for a better understanding of the difficulties inherent in the mental health
sector. It can also be utilized as a guide for all the future endeavors for improvement of care.
agents like doctors, mental health providers, and patients. The second characteristic is the
interlinkage of agents who interrelate and influence each other leading to coevolving of
behaviors. The third characteristic is the gathering of the agents around an attractor or a
central driver and their behavior pattern is unpredictable. The fourth characteristic is the
emergence of behaviors in the system like interconnectivity at the local level which leads to
complicated rules, workplace hierarchies as well as certain cultural aspects (Ellis, Churruca &
Braithwaite, 2017).
more efficient and effective coordinated models of care for persons who are chronically ill.
The main role of the PIR is to coordinate care and support for mentally ill persons. It is
concerned with not only the mental health issues of this population, but also with social
connection, physical health, employment, education, and stable housing. In this; assessments
are carried out, multisector action plans are made and there is a coordination of services.
Thus, providing mentally ill patients with collaborative and holistic, person-centered care
Program’ intended to provide primary care in mental health; social, educational and
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vocational participation; and in drug and alcohol use, for twelve to twenty years young
people (Ellis, Churruca & Braithwaite, 2017). A friendly ambiance and a responsive staff
make healthcare accessible at Headspace. The headspace holistic assessment tool is used to
evaluate all the areas of a young person’s life thus rendering effective and suitable service. It
also accommodates the needs of family and friends. The headspace center carries out a
number of activities to create awareness in the community about the facility and how to
One more aspect that is worth noting is that housing is a basic necessity for the
maintenance of physical and mental health. Treating a homeless person, and sending him/her
to live in the same circumstances which cause the illness, is unproductive (Parsell, ten Have,
Denton & Walter, 2018). In Australia, a permanent supportive housing scheme is integrated
with health care and has been approved for homeless people. Tenants from these facilities
are also provided with transport, access to medical practitioners and health care advice which
assist them to take care of their everyday health care needs (Parsell, ten Have, Denton &
Walter, 2018).
Government policy also incorporates new tools to reach out to people with mental
disorders like depression by authorizing the use of technology. Smartphone apps are
developed that are ideal for self-management of depression of less severity. One feature of
the digital platforms is their capacity to calculate responses according to the data entered and
‘activate emergency response systems’ if a certain threshold has reached. Thus, it is a means
The mental health policy recognizes the significance of utilizing Recovery Focused
Care (RFC) by nurses in severe mental health care situations for the reduction of aggressive
behavior (Lim, Wynaden & Heslop, 2018). The use of RFC by nurses can help patients to
MENTAL HEALTH POLICY 7
identify and regulate their own behavior, thereby making them an instrumental part of their
own recovery (Lim, Wynaden & Heslop, 2018). RFC consists of skills in helpful
communication, respect, empathy, active listening, adaptability, and trust. As patients and
their cares have the best knowledge of their own experiences, they may be motivated to take
care of their mental health in collaboration with the health care team (Cleary, Lees, Molloy,
Escott & Sayers, 2017). For example, Mental Health Policy emphasizes on safety of the
aggressive patient and the least restrictive care. This is particularly challenging for nurses
refrain from restraining aggressive patients, interventions of all the levels in an organization
are required, together with training and education of nurses (Muir-Cochrane, O'Kane &
Oster, 2018).
Another strategy that has developed in nursing practice is the Trauma Informed Care.
Trauma Informed Care is a process that aims at promoting recovery and preventing
moderate and manage fears which lead to destructive reactions. This fosters a therapeutic
alliance between the nurse and the patient in mental health (Sweeney, Filson, Kennedy,
Collinson & Gillard, 2018). This, in turn, encourages the involvement of patients, with
complex mental ailments, in planning their own treatment and support (Bee, Brooks, Fraser
Conclusion
The Mental Health Plan is set up as per the strategies of Mental Health Policy. It
comprises of eight priority areas to improve the overall health of the mentally ill people. This
has led to a complex adaptive system in Australia. The government has initialized facilities
such as ‘Partners in Recovery’ and the ‘Headspace program’ to provide a holistic health care
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system. It has also used modern digital platforms to reach out to this population. The Mental
Health Plan has influenced nursing practice in mental health settings. Mental health nurses
are required to change traditional ways of providing healthcare. Thus, nurses are required to
be well informed and updated to be competent in implementing the plans of the Mental
Health Policy.
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References
The Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan (2017). Retrieved from
http://www.coaghealthcouncil.gov.au/Portals/0/Fifth%20National%20Mental%20Hea
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Monitoring Mental Health and Suicide prevention reform: Fifth National Mental Health and
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http://www.coaghealthcouncil.gov.au/Portals/0/Fifth%20National%20Mental%20Hea
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