Observe the
world around you & consider a problem to be solved … reflect on the following...
Problem: What needs to be solved?
Mental illness is a growing issue in today's society and granted there is much more awareness surrounding mental illness in this day and age then there ever has been. However, there is still a negative perception attached to mental illness and those diagnosed with it, that needs to be solved.
Context: Describe the problem space (e.g.
political / cultural, technical capability)
The problem that arises with an issue such as this comes from a number of different areas:
Political - Working to get the perceptions changed within the government to get more funding and assistance legislation passed for those who cannot afford to pay for it themselves, is an ongoing issue. In addition, there is still a perception in our community that people with mental health conditions are going to break or need to be approached differently. This is slowly changing, however, with the help of the government the message that mental health conditions are nothing to be afraid of may reach places not previously aware.
Cultural - Australia is known as "the lucky country" with the she'll be right mate attitude. We are a multicultural society and growing up previous generations from all walks of life were raised tough, they did not talk about traumatic events they may have experienced. Mental illness was thought of as a dangerous and contagious disease that needed to be removed from society. This stigma is what is stopping people of those generations seeking help who desperately need it.
Technical - The internet has provided a wonderful pathway for those who would not ordinarily seek help face to face. The problem with this is that some people in these population groups, many of who come from a low-economic environment (Jacob 2011) could benefit from the assistance of medication, but may not have access to it. Also, the cost of these medications can be quite expensive and if it is a choice between food or medication, the medication is often not chosen.
Realities: Describe the practice space (e.g.
public / private)
Science has come a long way in the last fifty or so years in relation to the diagnoses and treatment of people with mental illness. However, the numbers of people effected appears to be growing, Beyond Blue (2014) have found that approximately 45 percent of our population will be diagnosed with a mental illness in their lifetime.
While there is a greater awareness of what mental illness is and how it effects the population, there is still the battle, both privately for those diagnosed and publicly for those organisations and communities trying to raise awareness of the issues surrounding it, that it is okay to talk about it.
Actors: Who are the key actors in the
network? (e.g. positive / negative effect)
There are many actors in the network of mental health issues, these have both positive and negative impacts on the issue.
People with mental health conditions - There are so many different factors involved for people living with mental health conditions, perceptions of what it is and how if effects them is going to be different for each individual. It is up to the individual to accept and take responsibility for how they look after themselves. In some cases, close support from the health care system is needed to ensure this is happening. How someone accepts and lives with their diagnoses can depend on an individuals positive and negative experiences in life such as their upbringing, education, political or religious views and relationships. It will determine how private or open they are about what they are experiencing as well as the support and reactions of those around them.
Family and friends - Sometimes it can be just as difficult for the family and friends of those with mental health conditions. As they want what is best for the person and may not know or understand what if going on and the reaction to finding out can be positive or negative, depending again on their upbringing and perceptions of what mental illness is. It can be stressful for this group as often they have a feeling of helplessness, not knowing how to approach the topic or how best to provide support, which can cause tension in the relationship.
Treating health care professionals - With the high percentage of people being diagnosed nowadays this group has the enormous challenge of providing enough adequate care to a hugely diverse community. As some mental health conditions are temporary and others are for life, learning to cope and live with the illness is important and medical help is always needed. Putting a strain on the already overloaded hospitals and out-patient clinics means individuals can be on waiting lists for months or years before adequate treatment is able to be given. In addition, due to the stressful nature of working in the mental health sector there is often a high turn over of medical professionals in the field, which often causes the patients being treated to start from the beginning after they have started to make progress.
Organisations raising awareness - As the population grows and the number of people effected rises, it is wonderful to see the increase in the amount of organisations promoting and offering support to anyone (including family and friends) effected by mental health conditions. Technology plays a great role in the spread of information to greater community, however, these organisations tend to rely on funding, donations and voluntary support to survive. Raising awareness is integral to these organisation and in doing so they are trying to change the perceptions of those who have negative views of mental health conditions.
Emergency services - Too often this group are called when people have reached the lowest point. They are either suicidal, have stopped taking their medication, have mixed their medication with other drugs or alcohol or have reacted negatively to something that has occurred in their life. The emergency services and hospitals and medical professionals see the worst sides of those with a mental health condition, when they need help the most. It is unfortunate that this occurs as often as it does and flows on from the above mentioned issues with medical treatment and perceptions of the individual and their family, friends and also the general public.
Government - This is an issue for governments worldwide, providing enough funding, resources and support to every area of their country is a constant fight. Millions of dollars every year is poured into all aspects of the health system in Australia. However, the economy and budget plays a vital role in just how much is allocated to each area and in times of economic hardship cut backs are made. In addition to this, is the perceptions of those in Government making the decisions, a negative or positive perception could mean the difference between adequate funding and not enough.
General Population - As previously stated, nearly half the population will experience some form of mental health issues in their lifetime, that statistic means everyone will know a person who is or has lived with a mental health condition. While there is more education, awareness and a willingness to speak about our mental health, there is still an underlying perception in some communities and areas of the population that they should keep silent. That it is the be all and end all of someone's life, defining them by their condition rather than who they are as a person.
Tensions: What are the tensions from the
problem/practice space? (e.g. what stops the problem being solved)
There are many problems that can cause tensions when addressing the issues surrounding mental illness such as:
- It can take a long time to reach a correct diagnoses
- Tests can be time consuming and costly
- An increasing number of people are experiencing mental health conditions
- There is a shortage of facilities for those that really need 24/7 professional help
- There is an element of danger posed to those trying to help - be it physical, emotional or mental stressors
- The different perceptions on the many different types of mental illness both positive and negative can cause variouis issues.
Problem definition: What would the problem look like if it
were solved?
If the problem were solved I think we would see many more people with mental health conditions living in a more positive and manageable environment. Acceptance creates support and this is what can benefit those that need help on a daily basis to live their lives as productively as possible, without the added stress of possibly being judged negatively because of it.
Concepts:
What possible concepts might provide a solution?
I believe that the best way to solve the problem is to find a manageable system, that there would be enough support and funding provided to all who are effected. Without the fear of having to start over when they get a new medical practitioner or worry about being judged if people know what they have will greatly aid in furthering the improvement of the culture of mental illness.
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