COMPLETED Mental Health Assignment

 

What are the key factors affecting both positive and negative mental health in young people?

Young people are affected very highly by their upbringing and childhood environment. Positive mental health extends through the many characteristics that we value, such as showing positive emotions, interest, maintaining good relations, feeling the accomplishment, resilience, high self-esteem, and working towards your life goal. Healthy lifestyles may also have a large role to play in positive mental health. Young people are less likely to become mentally unhealthy due to reasons similar to adults and other higher age groups. They may have specific genetic, psychological and personality factors that can cause a person to be more vulnerable to illnesses. (World Health Organization 2016) Positive mental health can be maintained by taking care of your everyday life. It is the many aspects of life that determine whether we have positive mental health or not.

School can at times be stressful, and young people may also have cases of physical illness which can easily lead to negative mental health. Broadly, the main factors that influence the mental health of youth are self-esteem, confidence in themselves, characteristics of family, and the self that they are born with and develop. Events in life and school can affect both positive and negative mental health. Learning personal, social and emotional skills at an early age and developing the skill of resilience are crucial in order to avoid mental illnesses. Negative mental health can be caused by events in life that cause us to become worried or anxious. There are many factors that combine to cause a lack in motivation and energy. Sleeping too little, using substances, and any other factor that can cause people to change their lifestyle or character can be considered as a negative mental health factor.

Mental illness can have a negative stigma, how has/can education and increased awareness change attitudes and beliefs to accept diversity and hence improve the mental health and wellbeing of all people?

Stigma and discrimination is (or has been) combatted by the Mindframe National Media Initiative, beyondblue, Mind Matters, Inspire Foundation, and many, many other current and past programs. Stigma-reduction strategies usually have the best effects when different forms of stigma is acknowledged, people with (previous) mental illness experience are involved, and the strategies are implemented on a wide scale. Social media has also been used for several years as an effective combatting strategy.

Education in the form of information and knowledge can change attitudes and beliefs if they are implemented in the primary to secondary stages of schooling. It is difficult to launch programs targeted towards the general public concerning mental health issues. Research has shown that attitudes are difficult to maintain and must be reinforced by implementing the same programs each year.

One of the most widely known and effective methods for improving the mental health and wellbeing of all people (and actually change attitudes) is having people spend time with patients suffering from a mental illness. People who do spend some time with patients will most likely change their attitudes positively. The people who are suffering may reduce their social distance and lessen their fear(s). Television shows or movies with accurate portrayals of mental illness can help to teach others about this issue and reduce ‘self-stigma’ in patients. There can be improvements through media but it is not the complete solution.

In the past, boys and men didn’t want to show their weakness to others. Attitudes and norms are changing rapidly. The activity on social media is attempting to raise awareness of the importance of asking other people whether they are feeling alright. Programs utilizing social media sites can influence or change people. It is a low-cost  way  to  bring  thousands  of people into the campaign. It is the most effective method available through the Internet, as it allows for people without knowledge of mentalhealth problems to find out more about the experiences of people with mental healthproblems. There is no need for any visiting of websites to raise personal awareness.
In secondary schools (Years 8 to 10) across Australia, skills and abilities required for dealing with life challenges are taught in health classes or through other programs (such as the beyondblue/Mindmatters programs) Students learn or revise their strategies to promote positive student mental health. They may also address issues related to youth depression and anxiety. There are not many programs and initiatives to raise awareness but there are numerous agencies that can be contacted in times of crises. The National mental health strategy, begun in 1992, is the backbone of all advances in mental health improvement nationally. I believe prevention is more important than intervention.

Through your research, identify various strategies/agencies being employed both at school and in the wider community to support young people to deal with, and hopefully overcome, the complex issues surrounding mental illness.

At our school, there are counsellors and teachers that can refer students to different help groups. There are many services in Australia that are set up to help young people overcome certain events in their lives.youthbeyondblue.org.au is one of the largest sites providing help for depression. Internet sites are more easily accessible than clinics, and often have information and support measures that can change the lives of many people. Mindmatters supports teachers and students and there are 1386 schools participating in their program. It can lead to maintaining a positive school environment which is the foundation of positive student life.

Although support does play a large role for young people dealing with mental illness, the main form of help is usually the same as the type that adults receive. Treatment usually begins with seeing a health professional. For young people, treatment can involve learning and developing ways of helping themselves go through the hardships. Psychological therapy, medication, and various supports in the community can also make up a part of the treatment.

Public hospitals, residential mental health services, community mental health care services, and private psychiatric hospitals make up the total of specialised mental health care facilities. Community mental health care services do not provide beds. Instead, they train patients to manage their self-care, improve social and relationship skills and achieve broader quality of life through physical health, social connectedness, housing, education and employment.Headspace provides information and services to all people. School Support programs are available, although the primary target is the reduction of suicide rates. An online and telephone service, eheadspace can provide what the headspace centres cannot. Their services are shown to be effective.

Suggest any other strategies that could be employed to improve attitudes towards accepting diversity in order to improve community connections for people suffering from mental illness.

Acceptance of diversity in Australia has a long history. This country has always been an egalitarian society without too many class divisions. The culture has always been characterized with ‘fair go’ and social justice. Modern Australians speak over 400 languages and the education of younger generations has helped in creating a more accepting society. Building a strong civil rights culture may be helpful.The existence of a guarantee of fundamental freedoms (such as the freedom of association, freedom of movement, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of thought, belief and opinion, and freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention) and the equality of all persons in Australia before the law, however distant from the issue of mental illness, can possibly bring about a significant change to attitudes and community connections. In addition to this, role models in society and school education must continue to strongly emphasize the importance of acceptance, respect, inclusion, and equality. A balanced lifestyle will help people with mental illness regain their good health of before. Activities and programs in the community that can help people develop skills in dealing with stress or cope with symptoms could be made more accessible. More clubs and facilities should be created and more information about them distributed. The availability of physical activity and fitness facilities for young people may need some reconsideration.

There must be more community based residential recovery care services set up throughout the country. There is far more that is done in those facilities than in any others which can eventually bring ‘real recovery-oriented vocational opportunities’ for individuals with mental illnesses. Many patients do have the abilities or can develop the abilities to become a normal member of society again. In particular, young people will benefit from these services because it suits their requirements. A clear plan will be required first, and then adequate funding must be allocated. If patients are not given the opportunity to interact with the community, there is little chance that any improvements can be made. Ultimately, the patients to receive this care will have to be chosen by health professionals. Everything will be improved in the end, although we could start with social media first. Perhaps patients should be allowed the usage of media involving virtual interaction. This is another way to help bring a positive impact upon both sides of this issue.

Bibliography

Parliament of Australia 2016,Chapter 9 - Mental health services in the community

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Former_Committees/mentalhealth/report/c09(accessed 18 Aug 2016).

SANE Australia 2013, A life without stigma: A SANE Report.https://www.sane.org/images/PDFs/ALifeWithoutStigma_A_SANE_Report.pdf PDF from sane.org, (accessed 29 Aug 2016).

SANE Australia 2016,Treatments for mental illnesshttps://www.sane.org/mental-health-and-illness/facts-and-guides/treatments-for-mental-illness(accessed 18 Aug 2016).

State of Victoria 2016,Young people (13-19)

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/healthyliving/young-people-13-19(accessed 18 Aug 2016).

Western Sydney University 2013, True Acceptance of Diversity - Is Awareness enough?

https://www.uws.edu.au/equity_diversity/equity_and_diversity/tools_and_resources/reportsandpubs/true_acceptance_of_diversity_-_is_awareness_enough(accessed 18 Aug 2016).

World Health Organization 2016,Mental health: strengthening our response. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs220/en/(Accessed 16 Aug 2016).

Achievement Standards	A	B	C	D	E
Knowledge and Understanding
1.1 Critically analyse contextual factors that influence their identities, relationships, decisions and behaviours.
1.2 Analyse the impact attitudes and beliefs about diversity have on community connection and wellbeing.
1.3 Evaluate the outcomes of emotional responses to different situations
1.4 Access, synthesise and apply health information from credible sources to propose and justify responses to health situations
1.5 Propose and evaluate interventions to improve fitness and physical activity levels in their communities.
1.6 Examine the role physical activity has played historically in defining cultures and cultural identities.

 

Comments:

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Overall achievement for this task:        

A             B             C             D             E

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