Mental Health - Case Study Example

Running Head: Moody GYM Mental Health Programs Moody GYM Mental Health Programs Name Course Lecturer Date MoodGYM programs aims at supporting the mental health of people in the society. As such, its programs are direct at helping people to identify and overcome emotions and learn how to develop coping skills in order for them to enjoy excellent mental health. Indeed, this fit with the National Primary Health Strategy of Australia Plan, the Fourth National Mental Health plan and National Standards for Mental Health Services. The National Primary Health Strategy appreciate that health care is obviously a priority issue in the society. The primary health care is in the frontline in ensuring that the health care systems of Australia are universal despite the fact the fact that some population groups are experiencing barriers to access health care. It is important to note that the term primary health care basically refers to the general interaction of the patients and a general practitioner (Australian Government, 2008). There are about ten elements that are under the National primary Health Services which target the future primary health care of Australians. They include making sure that all citizens access the basic health care services in order for them to be healthy and manage illness getting affordable and timely health checks; improvement in services delivery related to health; and supporting the health care providers through providing good working environments. Notably, all the above need to be cost effective and efficient. It is obvious that this important for the various population groups that may not always be in a position to receive medical care. Such groups that form part of the community include those with mental illness and disability, the indigenous society and the homeless ( Australian Government, 2008). With the above understanding of the National Primary Health Strategy, one may not doubt that Mood GYM programs fits within the strategy as it targets various group in the society while assisting in coping in one of the health issues. The National Standards for Mental Health (NSMH) was introduced in order to implement and develop the required guides and practices in improving mental health services in the country. The NSMH mainly focuses on the services delivered, whether the services do comply who the policy as directed, and whether the reach the right standards of consent and communication. It is worth noting that these standards have been established in order for them to be used in all health issues that are related to mental health. It includes community based mental health services; the Mood GYM programs fall under these categories, therefore, clearly fit in this standard; non-governmental and clinical sector, general practice, private sector and in primary care. It is important to note that the set standards do not apply to areas within the health sectors where the mental health issues are not the point of focus. As per the given standards, the Mood GYM focuses on the experience of the healthcare givers and the number of patients to measure the effectiveness of the health services it delivers. Notably, the program comprehends that investment in both resources and staff is important in order to provide the health services that meet the needs of the clients as stated by the NHSMH. The Moody GYM program also fits in the National Health Standards for Mental Health as the NHSMH recognizes such programs offer health services to personal client, families and support various communities. In addition the program follows principles that have been set by the Standards that are expected to be met by all mental health services renders (Australian Government, 2010). These include; promoting quality of life to people suffering for emotional and mental problems, the health services offered are done so with the aim of facilitating recovery, the clients or patients are involved in decisions that pertains their care and treatment as to some extent, they are allowed to choose the care and treatment they wish to undergo. Other principles as per the Standards that are followed by the programs include; allowing the patients to select their health givers; the roles set for the health givers in terms of requirements and needs are different from the patients; the treatment accorded to the patient, as expected, meet the personal requirements of every patient that receive help from the program; the services provided are effective, appropriate, accessible, efficient, responsive, continuous, sustainable, safe and capable of handling clients issues as indicated by the standards ( Governemnt of Australia, 2010). Indeed, as the Moody GYM follows the above principle and its effectiveness is measured using the set standards, it therefore, fits in the National Health Standards for Mental Health. The Fourth National Mental Health was developed in order to develop and implement guides that of the National Mental Health Policy that was established by the Ministry of Health. High accountability on reforms of mental health is one core issue to the Fourth Plan. There are areas of priority that the Fourth Plan is targeting including; recovery and social inclusion which states that the community comprehend better the role and significant of mental health and understand the effects the mental health. As such there is a need to improve service and community understanding of mental health issues and sustain the reduction strategy. Indeed, this is one of the aims of the program. It aims at working at the community level in order to help people deal with mental and emotion needs and adopts coping skills leading to the reduction of mental health problems in the country. Still, the Fourth Plan coordinate education in the community as one of it effort in creating awareness among people on issuing pertaining to health programs. Being one of the programs offered in the community, Moody GYM programs is also part of the education programs offered to the community. The Fourth Plan has also observed that people have an understanding on the various needs of mental health issues which including introduction of coping skills and development of resilience. As such, the plan aims at working with workplaces, schools and the communities in order to promote literacy and enhance resilience in relation to the mental health issue which is indeed part of the Program strategy (Australian Government, 2009). Essentially, the Plan aims at introducing policies and programs that will result to the reduction of mental health issues in the communities which is part of the Moody Gym programs indicating a harmonized plan. There are various benefits that have been faced and experienced by the program in the community (Kendall & Kessler, 2002). It is important to recognize that mental health as the quintessence of emotional, spiritual and social wellbeing. Mental health programs offer personal individuals with vitality that is necessary for an active, interact with other people in the communities in a respectful and acceptable manner, and achieve goals. The programs are beneficial to the communities as they offer coping skills that assist the community to face various stress events such as floods, fire and other natural disaster, and harsh environmental conditions that may affect the community. When this programs are implemented in the community, they help assist in dealing with emotional problems that the community may be facing. These programs are positive approach involving policy and practices that do enhance capacity for excellent mental health for a population group through various actions at community, group and the societal levels. It is important to note that as the program relies on all health sectors to strengthen coping skills and emotional resilience, there is a need to create an environment that will reduce barriers to maintaining and achieving mental health. As such, an individual is able to stay in an environment that will assist in coping with stress situations, which is a benefit to the individual. Therefore, the individual is able to improve his or her physical health, be productivity at home, work and school, and improve relationships in the family and at the same time lowering the rate of substance abuse associated with emotional problems (Swanton et al., 2007). As a result violence and crime associated with substance abuse are reduced in the community. In addition, one cannot rule out the fact that mental health is good for business. Indeed, businesses benefit from employees who have less emotional problems and there are able to cope with stressing skills in the workplace. This is attributed to the fact that good mental health care is associated with productivity at the workplace more consistency, better performance, and limited workplace accident. This is why most employers safeguard and strengthen their business by employing people who are mentally fit and have adapted skills needed in coping with emotional issues in the workplace. There are various challenges that are faced by these programs as they are delivering their services. Moody GYM being one of the programs is also susceptible to the following challenges; in most communities especially the indigenous people, geographical distance and barriers, insufficient health insurance and insufficient funding for indigenous communities for medical health services; in addition, there are cases of few of utilization of accessible mental health services in some communities. It is important to note that there are challenges that faced in the rural areas especially among women which affect increases the challenges faced by the programs. Most women in the rural areas are unemployed and have attained low level of education. As such, their financial capacity has been affected leading to psychological, stress and depression (Burns et al., 2009). In addition, the harsh living conditions in the rural areas has made their lives difficult resulting to challenge in offering mental health programs in such areas. Other challenges faced by the program include the accessibility to share mental health roles and responsibilities with medical care givers who are not specialists in the area, getting rid of the fear of some specialists in losing their jobs, income and identity as a result of failing to reach the intended objectives; there is limited time that is devoted in training personnel and more time is spent in working with patients and clients. As such, there is overload as they are few trained personnel who are available to handle the ever-increasing number of patients. As the program is also working with non-specialists, there is a major challenge as they is less time devoted in supporting and supervising the non-specialists. This is a major challenge as reports on mental health care indicates that there is a need to have the support of non-specialists and psychiatrists in curbing the mental issues in the community. Another challenge that is facing these programs, is the fact in the some communities especially the indigenous ones, there is limited skills that is required to work in the community such as education personnel, voluntary organization, policy makers and welfare sector personnel. As such, there is limited services that is offered to the community (Hickie et al., 2001) Essentially, there is a challenge in simplifying the mental health issues and review them continually so that they can easily suit the needs of the community. In addition, it is important to note that for mental care to undertaken in the community by the volunteers, family members, health workers and teachers, it calls for simple interventions (Srinivasa, 2006). Specialists need to develop the correct guide and information in a simple style and format in order to be able to identify the limits and stages of the care to be offered by the personnel. It includes selecting priority mental issues to be addressed in training and developing specialized coping skills. In order to promote the benefits and reduce the challenges that are faced within the programs, there is a need to implement an understandable reform package in order to address the challenges. Indeed, holistic and systematic approach in addressing mental health issues is important in order to prevent and stop effects of mental illness. There is a need for the Ministry of Health in Australia to establish and implement a working mental health governance structure in order to oversee that the health services are delivered by having a country level coordinator (Probst et al., 2006). The program should design longitudinal and population studies so as to have a better understanding of the causes, prevalence and efficient and effective treatment of mental problems in a particular community. In order to sensitive communities on the need of taking up skills that will help the cope with emotion al problem, the coordinators of the program should use various strategies to increase community awareness of various emotional and mental issues facing them, and reduce stigma that is associated with mental health. There is also a need to train more people within the community who may assist in helping the clients in coping with emotional issues (Irwin et al., 2002) In addition, more time should be allocated in this training as it will help the program to handle the increasing number of clients in the country. Incentives and awards may be awarded to the specialists who are able to carry out their work effectively. As such, it will motivate them to work towards achieving the goals that have been set by the programs. According to Lopez et al (2006) More technology infrastructure should be put up in the rural areas in order to handle the increasing number of the emotional and health problems that have continued to be experienced (Swanton et al., 2007). Online primary healthcare programs are important tools while working on this program. This is so especially the young people who are mostly affected by mental illness. As such, the usage of internet has grown tremendously among the young people therefore, the internet provide an opportunity to provide offer services to a very large population (Gould et al., 2002). In addition, it will possible to reach the communities that live in remote areas and such services are not available in the tradition methods. The use of internet will indeed increase the services that are delivered to the clients (Webb et al., 2008). This is attributed to the fact that internet has started becoming on the areas that most people are seeking solutions to health problems. Indeed, more than 65 per cent turn to the internet for support and advice. With the above understanding, the internet will serve as a useful tool in the professional (Collin, 2008). The creation of online community forums, where people are able to express themselves, will serve as an effective platform where people will freely express their personal experiences freely. Such forum will create a movement which pave way for people to discuss their mental and emotion issues and get to learn on how people have used some skills in coping with the problem. This is significant in the medical field as it will ease the work of specialists who are expected to handle one client at a time (Mission Australia 2008). References Australia, G. o. (2010). National Health Standards for Mental Health. Sydney: Commonwealth of Australia. Australia, M. (2008). National survey of young Australia: key and emerging issues. Victoria: Mission Australia. .Burns, J., Ellis, L., Mackenzi e, A., & Nicholas, J.(2009).Reach Out! Innovation in Mental Health Service Delivery for Young People. Counselling, Psychotherapy, and Health,5(1) 675-786 Collin, P. (2008). The Internet. Youth participation on policies and the development of young people's political identities in Australia. Journal of Youth Studies , 11(5), 527-542 Government, A. (2012). Fourth National Mental Health Plan: AN agenda for collaborative action in mental health 2009-2014. Sydney: Commonwealth of Australia. Government, A. (2008). Towards a national primary health care strategy. Sydney: Australian Governemnt; Department of Health and Ageing. Hickie, I.B., Koschera, A., Davenport,T.A., Naismith, S.L., & Scott EM. (2001). ‘SPHERE: A National Depression Project’. Comorbidity of common mental disorders and alcohol or other substance misuse in Australian general practice. Irwin, C. E., Burg, S. J., & Cart, C. U. (2002). America’s adolescents: Where have we been, where are we going? Journal of Adolescent Health, 31, 91–121 Kendall, P.C., & Kessler, R.C. (2002). The Impact of Childhood Psychopathology Interventions on Subsequent Substance Abuse: Policy Implications, Comments and Recommendations. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 1303-1306 Lopez, A. D., C. D. Mathers, M. Ezzati, D. T. Jamison, and C. J. L. Murray, eds. (2006). Global Burden of Disease and Risk Factors, New York: Oxford University Press Munfakh. J.L., H., Lubell, K., Kleinman, M., & Parker, S. (2002). Seeking help from the Internet during adolescence. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 41(10), 1182-1189. Probst, J. C., Laditka, S. B., Moore, C. G., Harun, N., Powell, MP., Baxley, E. G. (2006). Rural-Urban Differences in Depression Prevalence: Implications for Family Medicine. Family Med.38 (9):653-6 Srinivasa, R. (2006). Mental health by the people. Bangalore: Peoples Action For Mental Health Swanton, R., Collin, P., Burns, J., & Sorensen, I. (2007). Engaging, understanding and including young people in the provision of mental health services. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine & Health, 19(3), 325-332. Webb, M., Burns, J. & Collin, P. (2008). Providing Online Support for Young People with Mental Health Difficulties: Challenges & Opportunities Explored. Early Intervention in Psychiatry,(2)108-113 Read More