Open AccessFuture directions for mental health services in Australia
Author(s) -
Whiteford Harvey
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
australian journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1035-7319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-6405.1992.tb00080.x
Subject(s) - mental health , milestone , scrutiny , promotion (chess) , mental health service , health promotion , health policy , service (business) , medicine , business , public relations , nursing , political science , psychiatry , public health , marketing , geography , politics , archaeology , law
The last decade has seen a marked increase in the attention given to mental health policy and services at both a state and national level. Mental health consumers, carers, service providers, and a number of professional bodies have contributed to the scrutiny of what had been a relatively neglected area. The release of Australia's first National Mental Health Policy is a milestone in the development of a national focus on mental health promotion, prevention and the provision of enhanced services for persons with mental disorder and mental health problems. This paper discusses briefly the directions promoted in the national policy, including mental health promotion, reorientation of mental health services, the nongovernment sector, consumer rights, intersectoral links, service quality, research and evaluation.