Mental health promotion and suicide prevention plan for Brisbane Student Name Student ID
Table of Contents 1 Introduction... 3 2 Background and Context... 3 3 Program Goal... 4 4 Program Objectives... 4 5 Strategy Selection Criteria... 5 6 Strategy Development Framework... 5 7 Strategies... 6 8 Conclusion... 7 References... 8 Appendices... 9
1 Introduction The main aim of present report is to develop mental health promotion plan based on the needs identification of Brisbane North PHN region, which is facing higher level of psychological illness and stress among varying population groups, causing higher rate of suicide. The focus has been maintained on highlighting the needs of population based on the rate of psychological illness thus goal and objectives of the program are developed accordingly. The need assessment has served as the way of development of program objectives which can be addressed through selective preventive framework and separate strategies are made for achievement of each key objective. By combining all the strategies and making reliance on an integrative approach, improvement in mental health can be ensured and suicide rate can be lowered in targeted area. 2 Background and Context The health promotion program is based on need assessment of Brisbane North PHN. The program is aimed at promoting the mental health improvement and suicide prevention, which is considered as one of the heightened issue among different populations in Brisbane. It has been highlighted in the case that people of 18 years and more age are experiencing very high distress level and this rate is 10.1 per 100 people, which calls for immediate attention for a health promotion and prevention program. Along with this, the 15% of people above age 65 are experiencing anxiety and 10% are experiencing depression. This psychological distress is not confined to only older people but in PHN region, people with age of less than 25 years are also experiencing higher level of mental and behavioural issues based on the socioeconomic deprivation in some areas. This high vulnerability of mental issues among children is also an important motivational factor which required development of mental health promotion program. Further going through the evidences of case, it was obtained that there are some hard to reach population groups in PHN region, which are not receiving services effectively and their greater chances of mental sickness and suicide among those groups. For instance, there exist 6800 to 9000 children and youngsters with mental disorders and around 4000 to 6000 mentally distressed people with age of above 65 years. Further, the evidences have maintained that distress and suicide rate is much higher among LGBTIQs than other normal population. It can be clarified by the instance that almost half of the transgender have attempted suicide once in their life time based on higher level of stress and anxiety. Similarly, cultural and linguistic diverse groups, homelessness and contact with justice system are also some important factors of mental distress and these groups also require help for improvement of their mental health.
Additionally, there exist huge gap in the mental health of aboriginal and general population of the region and case has highlighted that psychological distress in women has been reported to be more than men in aboriginal and islander groups. It is indicating that there is greater need to formulate mental health promotion and suicide prevention program to help the people who are facing psychological issues and are attempting suicide under the compulsion of anxiety. The case has also offered that there are some gaps in the services of mental health in PHN region. For instance, unknowability of service locations, lack of acute mental health beds for children, maldistribution of services to some areas and groups, lack of service integration with primary community health services and limited response on suicide prevention programs. However, in spite of these issues, most of the people are willing to take mental health services which asserts that there is a need to develop a well formulated mental health promotion plan which might offer assistance to people with psychotic illness to lower the level of distress and anxiety among them. Thus, the underlying health promotion plan is based on highlighted needs of community. 3 Program Goal The main goal of underlying program is to address mental health needs of population with an aim of preventing suicide and lowering the suicidal pre-age death rate among the population. 4 Program Objectives In order to achieve program goals, following program objectives are devised in underlying plan; To enhance awareness among population regarding mental health promotion and working proactively for addressing mental health issues at early stage. To work closely with the primary health service providers to ensure that mental health issues are well addressed and suicide threat is lowered to substantial limit. To Increase connections and networking in mental health promotion by making alliances with all stakeholders including local Government, health institutions, health research centres and with all groups who might help in prevention of suicide. To focus on enhancement of intensity of targeted actions for the people who are experiencing higher level of economic and social disadvantage
5 Strategy Selection Criteria The strategy has been selected by seeking guidance from the selective prevention criteria which asserts that there is a need to identify groups of population which are at greater risk of suffering from mental health issues and can commit suicide. For instance, as highlighted in need assessment, LGBTIQ are having more suicide rate than rest of population. Along with this, in the Brisbane North PHN region, some groups have limited access to mental health services and they are unable to gain assistance for improvement of their mental health, thus leading to greater risk of suffering from very high level of distress which might lead to suicidal attempts. Thus, reliance on selective prevention program might help to help those who are deprived of services and are greater risk of suffering from poor mental health. 6 Strategy Development Framework The framework mentioned in figure 1 in appendices has served as basis for formulation of strategies for promotion of mental health and prevention of suicide. It has been highlighted in the framework that there are some risk factors which are contributing to risk of mental health at four levels including; societal, community, relationship and individual level (Zechmeister, Kilian & McDaid, 2008). The contribution of all these four areas can be combined with the mental health issues of Brisbane PHN as factors in society, community, relationship and individual might combine or individually exert pressure for creation of stressing conditions among individuals. Thus, by focusing on prevention factors related to all four areas, the mental health of individuals can be improved significantly and risk of suicide can be lowered. The framework for strategy development in accordance with each objective of mental health promotion is being given in table 1. All of these objectives and strategies are aligned with goal of improvement of mental health and reduction of suicide rate. Table 1. Framework for strategy development in accordance with objectives of promotion plan Objective: To enhance awareness among population Strategy: This objective will be achieved by developing supportive and preventive actions at each stage of individual s life Objective: To Increase connections and networking in mental health promotion by making alliances with all stakeholders Objective: To work closely with the primary health service providers Strategy: Collaborations will be made with all health professionals and partnership development will be carried out Objective: To focus on enhancement of intensity of targeted actions for the people who are
Strategy: Capacity building will be implied by strengthening communities with the knowledge of lowering psychological issues and preventing suicide experiencing higher level of economic and social disadvantage Strategy: Sustainability practices can be relied upon with an aim of ensuring that tripe bottom line in being incorporated and environment, social and economic aspects are being catered for improvement of mental health that can lower suicidal rate. 7 Strategies Supportive actions at stages of life: It is indicated that biological and social risks interact at different stages of life and supportive and preventive actions aligned with different life stages can work well for improvement of mental health of an individual (Browne et al., 2004). The focus on supportive investment at early life stages will help to build resilience that may offer benefits throughout the life of individual. As highlighted by life course perspective, early good health and resilience can ensure good mental health at older age (Greenberg, Domitrovich & Bumbarger, 2001). Key transitions points will be addressed when people have high responsiveness to change and thus development of intervention will lower chances of mental illness (Herrman, 2001). Collaboration and partnership development: Development of collaboration with health service providers will serve as the way of ensuring that all population groups are receiving support for improvement of their mental health (Miller, Eckert & Mazza, 2009). This collaboration will help to ensure that mental assistance reach to all areas and to all groups regardless of their location and position within diverse community (Jorm, 2012). Timely psychological and behavioural assistance can act as proactive prevention for lowering the risk of suicide among people of Brisbane. Capacity Building: The community capacity building will be carried out to bring social and behavioural change among community members which might lead to better mental health (Patel et al., 2007). The community groups will be offered awareness about cognitive behavioural aspects for improvement of their skills and abilities to help the people for coping with stress (Knapp, McDaid & Parsonage, 2011). The ability of people to assist each other in stressing situations can lower the chances of mental illness and can subsequently lower the rate
of suicide (Prince et al., 2007). The community will be encouraged to offer equal treatment to all groups including LGBTIQ so that they do not develop stress and suicidal attempts and suicide rate can be lowered. Sustainability of health promotion: Inclusion of triple bottom line is one important way of addressing social, economic and environmental aspects (Wells, Barlow & Stewart-Brown, 2003). Development of sustainability will substantially lead to positive environment and it will also address economic and social inequality, which will lead to reduction of mental issues among population groups (Prince et al., 2007). Through sustainability development, efforts of mental health promotion can be intensified in areas that are economically and socially ignored and thus all population groups will be fostered to feel valued (Zechmeister, Kilian & McDaid, 2008). This will result in the form of improved mental health and thus suicide rate will also reduce to substantial limit. 8 Conclusion The goal of health promotion plan is to ensure that mental health issues are lowered among Brisbane North PHN region and suicide rate can be lowered to the substantial limit. This gaols can be achieved through different objectives including; enhancement of awareness among population, close collaboration with health service providers, networking and development of alliances with all stakeholders and intensified efforts for the people who are experiencing higher level of economic and social disadvantage. These objectives can be best achieved by development of supportive actions at each life stages, partnership development, capacity building and sustainability development respectively.
References Browne, G., Gafni, A., Roberts, J., Byrne, C., & Majumdar, B. (2004). Effective/efficient mental health programs for school-age children: a synthesis of reviews. Social science & medicine, 58(7), 1367-1384. Greenberg, M. T., Domitrovich, C., & Bumbarger, B. (2001). The prevention of mental disorders in school-aged children: Current state of the field. Prevention & treatment, 4(1), 1a. Herrman, H. (2001). The need for mental health promotion. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 35(6), 709-715. Jorm, A. F. (2012). Mental health literacy: empowering the community to take action for better mental health. American Psychologist, 67(3), 231. Knapp, M., McDaid, D., & Parsonage, M. (2011). Mental health promotion and mental illness prevention: The economic case. Miller, D. N., Eckert, T. L., & Mazza, J. J. (2009). Suicide prevention programs in the schools: A review and public health perspective. School Psychology Review, 38(2), 168. Patel, V., Flisher, A. J., Hetrick, S., & McGorry, P. (2007). Mental health of young people: a global public-health challenge. The Lancet, 369(9569), 1302-1313. Prince, M., Patel, V., Saxena, S., Maj, M., Maselko, J., Phillips, M. R., & Rahman, A. (2007). No health without mental health. The lancet, 370(9590), 859-877. Wells, J., Barlow, J., & Stewart-Brown, S. (2003). A systematic review of universal approaches to mental health promotion in schools. Health Education, 103(4), 197-220. Zechmeister, I., Kilian, R., & McDaid, D. (2008). Is it worth investing in mental health promotion and prevention of mental illness? A systematic review of the evidence from economic evaluations. BMC public health, 8(1), 20.
Appendices Figure 1. Framework for protective and risk factors for strategy development