As a consumer of mental health services in Australia, ie: a person who lives with mental illness and accesses mental health services (by the way - I hate the term "consumer" but unfortunately we're stuck with it), I've had the opportunity to experience our 'Mental Health System' first hand and it looks a little bit like this (yes, I did have fun with Excel charts this afternoon):
Consumers are an after-thought, the very bottom of the barrel ... unless of course they are a 'high profile' sports star/actor/former-MP who can be brought out as the token 'consumer advocate' by corporate mental health organisations on special occasions. Australia's mental health system is all about layers, upon layers, upon layers of awareness raising organisations, special interest groups and bureaucracy. State and federal governments have recently introduced new Mental Health Commissions and Consumer Reference Groups to address the issue, however many consumers (myself included) are skeptical about yet another ineffective layer of bureaucracy gobbling up much needed funds for on-the-ground services.
Here's what I think ... if we want a mental health system that works, it needs to look like this:
Pretty simplistic I know BUT: just because someone has a mental illness it doesn't make them stupid. People with mental illness, whether it's a short-term or life-long experience, have voices, have intelligence and have a huge stake in successful outcomes! Consumers NEED on-the-ground services and ethical professionals who will work alongside them in partnership to achieve good mental health. All the flyers and information services in the world are not going to help anyone if there isn't a place for them to go to receive the help and treatment they need. Just think about it ... it's common sense really.
Recommended reading: Mental Health Superstars
2 comments:
I love your model....that's exactly what it should be. Nothing about you without you! (Or me....you never know when or if something in your life will place you in a position where you could fit into a diagnosis!)
I hope this is a comfort, I am studying Social Work at a Masters level at Uni of Melb, and this model you have here was the focus of a subject called Psych Disability - a subject with Consumer speakers and input.
Australia's mental health, after layer, in order to improve the understanding of the organization, special interest groups and bureaucratic layer, system layer. Information. Thank you gave me!
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