Mental Health Service Policy and Planning



Mental Health Service Policy and Planning

Introduction

Professionals of mental health support the rights of consumers, carers and their families to sufficient health care. People who are suffering from mental health problems and disorders hold the right to be heard, informed and treated with respect and dignity, have their documentation taken care of in a manner that is confidential, have their privacy safeguarded and protection and safety with care offered in an environment that is least restrictive (Anonymous, 2008). The United Nations has created international codes and standards for promotion of respect and recognition of mental health consumers, carers and families (Anonymous, 2002). The main objective of this study is to understand the relevance and nature of National Mental Health Policy to service implementation and deployment, contemporary nursing practice and outcomes of health for consumer on mental health contexts. I have selected the principle titled 'Respect for the rights and needs of consumers, carers and families' to study in the detail the values recognized by this principle. I have also discussed how nursing practice has and should develop in this principle.

Mental Health Service

Mental Health Nursing, also known as psychiatric nursing, is a specialized branch of nursing. It emphasizes on meeting the health needs of people relating to their mental conditions. This objective is achieved with the partnership of carers and families of the consumer. There exist several definitions of mental health nursing. Majority of them are based on assisting consumers to manage their problems related to mental health. Previously, mental health nursing was associated with custodial practices and mindsets of asylums (Hazelton, n.d.). In today`s world, mental health nursing is about encouraging the consumers, carers and families regarding making decision about their health care. Australia`s mental health service has achieved these objectives to a great extent. The strategy of National Mental Health in Australia offers guiding principles to improve upon the health results of carers and consumers. It is expected that all the professionals of mental health are able to meet the guidelines of mental health within two years of initiating their practice as professionals.

Figure - Constructs and Attributes Contributing to a therapeutic relationship in Mental Health Nursing (Dziopa & Ahern, 2009)

The nurses in Australia employ a broad range of capabilities that are basic to any branch of nursing. These capabilities are supplemented by a wide range of attitudes, skills and forms of knowledge that are particular to the area of mental health (Anonymous, 2002). The universities of mental health have developed standards and codes of practice that incorporate the specialized skills, forms of knowledge and skills that are needed for mental health nursing. In this way, the area of nursing in Australia has achieved its objective in an accelerating speed. The practice standards of national mental health service emphasize on the fact that during cognitive behavioural therapy, the nursing professionals respect the clients, carers and their families and recognize those areas in which the client has been able to successfully function (Shives, ...