Identifying a Need for Mental Health Promotion - Literature review Example

Identifying a need for mental health promotion Name Institution Community: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) population in rural parts of Gippsland, Victoria, Australia: There are many cases of mental health problem experienced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People living in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia among other communities. The choice of this community and the reason for identifying it as a community is because it is a group of people living in this particular economic-rural region, especially in the rural parts (Boardman, 2011). This is a community that is widely identified with social and economic problems that trigger their mental status (Awofeso, 2010). Nonetheless, individuals in this group go through the same challenges and in most cases, they practice activities that are similar (Parker, 2010). It is clear that many ATSI individuals report some rising rates of mental distress since they have increased levels of self-destruction and suicide, as compared to the particular population in the region (Dunn, Balfour, Moyle, Cooke, Martin, Crystal, & Yen, 2013). This paper seeks to identify the mental health need in this particular community. The article also looks at the appropriate methods of promoting their health need and the manner through which the particular practices would be useful in empowering this community. Although there are many cases of mental disorders in Gippsland, Victoria Australia, especially from the rural areas, the ATSI is the major population identified to be reporting more incidences. ATSI is one of the major groups of dwellers of Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. However, the community is profoundly affected by mental problems (McAllister, 2010). Mental health comprises of subjective well-being, autonomy, intergenerational dependence, perceived self-efficacy, self-actualization, and competence of one’s emotional and intellectual potential among other psychological problems (Ziersch, Gallaher, Baum, & Bentley, 2011). Mental health is paramount in social relationships and living with other people in society (Parker, 2010). As identified by McAllister (2010), mental health problems in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are very common, challenging, and changing with time. Besides, because of dwelling in the rural areas, the population faces problems associated with lack of access to adequate mental health services (Gray, & Price, 2014). It is apparent that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people smoke, thus a high risk of getting postnatal depression to a pregnant woman, therefore improving their vulnerabilities and chances of being at risk towards suffering from mental health needs (Skingley, Clift, Coulton, & Rodriguez, 2011). The primary factors leading to the increased cases of mental health problems among this community include; cultural beliefs, perceptions, health practices, and behaviors contributing to mental health/addiction among the ATSI communities (Ziersch, Gallaher, Baum, & Bentley, 2011). Need for mental health promotion Mental health among the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders is characterized by high rates of substance use, social adversity, as well as general health problems. As identified by, Southcombe, Cavanagh, and Bartram, (2014), many people with mental health issues experience a life of poor socio-economic, as well as health status. Isaacs, Pyett, Oakley‐Browne, Gruis, and Waples‐Crowe, (2010), indicate that people with mental illnesses are likely to commit criminal acts than individuals with mental health. Priest, Paradies, Stewart, and Luke, (2011), argue that, in Australia, government and non-government organizations have a great role of paying their attention to the issue of mental health and drug abuse disorder. It is the duty of mental health doctors to address the issues of treatment, prevention, assessment, and support to the mentally ill individuals in the affected communities (Parker, 2010). It is clear that the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders communities experience high death rates twice the rate of other communities living in Gippsland, Victoria. Moreover, Boardman, (2011), articulates that the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders experience high levels of psychological distress twice that the rate of non-indigenous communities as per the report from Awofeso, (2010). Many people in this region believe that depression among the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Island people is a most frequent problem and the rate of hospitalization for the individuals diagnosed with mental disorders because of psychoactive substance use is very high compared to other communities in this location (McAllister, & Handley, 2013). Mental health problem is an issue associated with some underlying cultural beliefs and perceptions among the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders communities (McAllister, 2010). Moreover, communities believe that people with a history of mental health are likely to be imprisoned because of their criminal behavior (Davis, Sawyer, Lo, Priest, & Wake, 2010). According to Skingley, Clift, Coulton, and Rodriguez, (2011), depression from drug and substance use leads to high preferences of mental health among the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders populations. Besides, Gray and Price, (2014) postulate that the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders have shorter life expectancy and they mostly experience a higher burden of disease throughout their life compared to non-aboriginal communities in the same area. As identified by Khanlou, and Wray, (2014), discrimination, racism, and marginalization from the Australian society led to the removal of many children from the Aboriginal families and this influenced emotional, psychological, and social well-being of the Aboriginal people. This is one of the aspects that influenced the development of mental distress among members of this community (Jorm, Bourchier, Cvetkovski, & Stewart, 2012). The Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders are subjected to trauma because of their experience of loss of land, family, cultural practices, and problems related to colonization experiences (Southcombe, Cavanagh, & Bartram, 2014). Therefore, the problems faced by the population are major contributing factors towards their increased cases of mental health issues (Davis, Sawyer, Lo, Priest, & Wake, 2010). In the particular rural parts of Gippsland, access to health care services is a problem, and this makes the mentally ill people fail to seek for healthcare (Davis, Sawyer, Lo, Priest, & Wake, 2010). Also, some of the practices and behaviors related to health illness are drug and substance abuse among the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. McAllister (2010) finds out that many young people among the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders engage in substance use. This problem significantly affects the young males who even drop out of school and join groups of addicts as a way of trying to solve their socio-economic problems (Parker, 2010). However, Boardman, (2011), indicates that Aboriginal women have little knowledge about the risks associated with the smoking habit during pregnancy, as well as the need for good health and nutrition. Therefore, even women in these areas are major victims of psychological distress (Priest, et al., 2011). In a study conducted by Moyle, Kellett, Ballantyne, & Gracia, (2011), the findings are that the perception of from many aboriginal women that this behavior is triggered by lack of money, and a range of psychosocial issues, thus high chronic stress. As articulated by McAllister and Handley, (2013), the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders are claimed to be young population groups in Australia compared to the non-indigenous population, thus being disadvantaged in accessing many resources and services offered in the country. It is evident from the argument put forth by Awofeso, (2010), that, the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders have weak and non-sustaining cultural identity community and family life, thus weakness against poverty, adversity, as well as neglect. Thus, because of the being poor and leading a life characterized with disadvantages, the community highly experience mental issues (Price, Gray, & Thacker, 2015). About one-third of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, adults are associated with high or low rates of psychological problems and suicides in 2.5 times than the other Australians living in Gippsland (Price, Gray, & Thacker, 2015). Furthermore, Gray and Price, (2014), point that the network of relationships between the individual and community traditional family, land, ancestors, kin, as well as the spiritual dimensions of their existence, leads to high level of mental health problems. Mental health services are rarely provided to the Aboriginals, and Torres Strait Islanders compared to other people in this particular region because of ethnic-based discrimination (Price, Gray, & Thacker, 2015). Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders have some traditional beliefs that affect them since majority claim to have power from the black magic from drug and substance use, thus leading to high level of mental problems. According to Price, Gray, and Thacker, (2015), the differential diagnosis provided by the medical professionals to the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders contributes to their mental health. Also, the perceptions of mental health providers regarding the nature of life spent by this community prevent them from offering quality mental care to the clients (Parker, 2010). Therefore, isolation even in the medical facilities contributes to the rising rate of reported psychological issues among the community members (Dunn, et al., 2013). Mental health problems among the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders is determined by peer pressure and the background whereby some people copy bad habit from their friends, while children learn from their parents. Skingley, Clift, Coulton, and Rodriguez, (2011), identify that many Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders women smoke a lot when they are pregnant. Additionally, many Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders claim to have problems associated with racial discrimination, and this leads to their substance use and depressed behaviors (McAllister, 2010). It is evident that the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders grieved a lot when they were separated from their families, this led individuals, and the community to lose their function and suffer from social stress because the majority of the victims were highly oppressed (Jorm, Bourchier, Cvetkovski, & Stewart, 2012). Besides, some families among the communities in this region are not concerned about the mental health status of their relatives, thus not providing the necessary care and concern (Khanlou, & Wray, 2014). This means that the particular sufferings experiences in the past are fresh even to the current generations because of the continued hardships that were triggered by the separation of children from their families, as well as loss of properties (Davis, Sawyer, Lo, Priest, & Wake, 2010). Some families in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population living in Gippsland hide the problem and lock the victims instead of seeking for mental health services from the hospital setting (Parker, 2010). It is clear that some families discriminate members with mental health illness claiming that the cause of their problem is from their behavior and they should solve their problems in their ways (Heffernan, Andersen, Dev, & Kinner, 2012). Consequently, victims of mental health illness commit suicide from being separated from their family members and psychological distress (McAllister, & Handley, 2013). Furthermore, the majority of patients with mental health illness are claimed to have gained a small amount of knowledge regarding the causes, symptoms, and the diagnosis of their problems (Price, Gray, & Thacker, 2015). As articulated by Awofeso, (2010), lack of sense of identity, social connections, and weak family bonds leads to high level of mental health among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. Hence, due to the failure of the community members to be open and go looking for assistance, the cases of mental health problems continue increasing within this community (Davis, Sawyer, Lo, Priest, & Wake, 2010). The socio-economic based mental health issues are a need among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities because of the social problems experienced by the community members since the ancient times McAllister, 2010). Besides, this is a major issue because mental health concerns experienced by this community are triggered by the nature of life they live, as well as the problems faced by this community unlike other communities in Gippsland. Moreover, because of the continued suffering, this community regularly reports many cases of psychological distress. Therefore, it is vital to look for a solution towards this need to promote the community's mental health (Parker, 2010). Health promotion method To meet this particular mental health promotion need, it would be necessary to implement methods such as the improvement of social and economic life of the victims and their families (McAllister, & Handley, 2013). Besides, access to mental health care should be improved (Boardman, 2011). It would also be necessary to end discrimination and segregation that is experienced by the ATSI community in this region (McAllister, & Handley, 2013). Organizations and institutions operating in Gippsland are supposed to collaborate with the communities in this area and provide welfare assistance to the victims of mental health problems (Moyle, et al., 2011). This would entail the provision of the appropriate economic support through the provision of employment chances and grants to the affected families to enable them to meet their basic needs (Gray, & Price, 2014). Besides, the involvement of the particular individuals in various community activities going on in the region would act as a way of motivating them to live a life free from social isolation (Burns, Davenport, Durkin, Luscombe, & Hickie, 2010). Thus, the practices towards the enhancement of economic and social lives of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population would contribute to the improvement of their mental health (Skingley, Clift, Coulton, & Rodriguez, 2011). Mental health care is essential to this community in order to work towards the improvement of their health (Heffernan, Andersen, Dev, & Kinner, 2012). Moreover, this would enhance the provision of hope to the individuals with mental health issues and the community in general (McAllister, & Handley, 2013). Therefore, it is necessary for the Victorian government to ensure that there are mental health facilities available in these rural areas to serve the community. Awofeso, (2010) argues that cultural practice and values should be considered when providing mental health services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. Reavley, Cvetkovski, Jorm, and Lubman, (2010), identify that the mental health needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander should be approached with consideration to their cultural context. It is the role of the community nurse to identify many issues affecting the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders especially the ones living a miserable life because poverty is one of the major contributing factors to substance use (Ziersch, Gallaher, Baum, & Bentley, 2011). McAllister and Handley, (2013), claim that the health care provider should educate pregnant women about the risks linked to substance use during pregnancy and guide them on ways to avoid psychological distress during pregnancy. The community nurse should provide specialized mental health services to the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders and began by seeking to understand the mental health needs of these communities (McAllister, 2010). Mental health nurse in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population should know the mental health history of the patients for the effectiveness of the treatment process (Burns, Davenport, Durkin, Luscombe, & Hickie, 2010). It is the role of mental health nurse in partnership with a psychologist to close the mental health gap between the different communities in Gippsland through prioritizing the agenda of indigenous mental health in the provision of community service (Gray, & Price, 2014). In general, mental health care providers are supposed to change their attitudes and perceptions, as well as to practice their responsibilities towards this community with the intention of enhanced health improvement (Parker, 2010). Community nurse should be aware that Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders are highly likely to engage in self-harm such as committing suicide, thus dying at an early age (Dunn, et al., 2013). Mental health doctor should also be in a position to decide what the interventions are necessary for mental disorders among the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders and consider their cultural and social backgrounds during identification of the treatment methodology (Khanlou, Wray, (2014). The community nurse should understand the background of the mental health illness among the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders because the majority of them were affected by colonization experience, loss of family, land, and lives, as well as the behavior of substance abuse (Moyle, et al., 2011). Therefore, the support from mental health care providers would be essential in meeting the mental health requirements of the particular community (Price, Gray, & Thacker, 2015. It is also important to eliminate issues of discrimination, as they are major problems in this region (Davis, Sawyer, Lo, Priest, & Wake, 2010). Such practices would be possible if the ATSI individuals are embraced in the entire region and have their voices listened to (Boardman, 2011). Besides, it is necessary to allow this community to enjoy other services offered to the entire region and not separating its individuals when offering the specific services to other individuals in Gippsland (Ziersch, Gallaher, Baum, & Bentley, 2011). There are many problems suffered by this community that is linked to discrimination and can only be solved by all people in the region learns how to embrace diversity and means of eliminating separation to interact freely with the aboriginal populations (Southcombe, Cavanagh, & Bartram, 2014). Conclusion The Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander population living in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia have high cases of mental health problems because the majority of them engage in substance and drug use including pregnant women and children. The majority of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population live a life of poverty and do not have access to healthcare services, thus the level of mental health problems compared to other communities in the particular region. There are behavior and health seeking practices associated with the mental health condition of the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders whereby they engage in smoking and drug and substance use in their young age. It is the role of the community nurse to address the issue of mental health problem, whereby he or she must assess the cases among the victims for community strengthening and providing treatment and care to the victims. Some beliefs and social practices lead to high level of mental health problems among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals compared to other communities in Gippsland, Victoria. The healthcare provider should seek to understand the indigenous cultural practices and behavior of the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders in Gippsland to be able to offer the appropriate healthcare. The mental health care providers should also identify and manage the problem of mental health illness and provide help to the depressed and anxious people among the other communities in this region. Moreover, the health care providers serving patients among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population should understand and respect their culture during the process of providing care and treatment to the victims. References Awofeso, N. (2010). Preventing suicides in prison settings - the role of mental health promotion policies and programs. Advances in Mental Health, 9, 255-262. Boardman, J. (2011). Social exclusion and mental health - how people with mental health problems are disadvantaged: An overview. Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 15(3), 112-121. Burns, J. 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