Topic:
Purpose:
The research aims at identifying the various elements of a good mental health and wellbeing policy to a society. In achieving the desired level of mental health and wellbeing in the society, the research acknowledges the fact that there are some elements that are vital and that need to be incorporated into the policy.
The research also aims at establishing and explaining the roles and the importance of the good mental health and wellbeing policy in the building of a better society across the populations. This is founded on the fact that good mental health is critical for the development of an entire society as it leads to ultimate healthy economy. The good mental health and wellbeing policy is also seen as a remedy for the increasing mental illnesses and an instrument of promoting good mental health.
Hypothesis:
The researched is based on the belief that an effective and well-chosen mental health and wellbeing policy plays a critical role in building a better society across populations. Through a policy that is comprehensive and has a definite framework, the society can be transformed into a mentally strong society that is void of mental disorders.
Justification:
The provision of support and care for the individuals who suffer from mental illnesses in the society has been ignored for long. Moreover, the provision of treatment and support for those suffering from mental related illnesses alone does not improve the mental health of the individuals in the society. There has been lack of initiatives and framework set to address the mental health issues as the entire community and the various stakeholders have not been brought to work together in an amalgamated framework. The support from the community has been lacking and the individuals who are vulnerable to mental illnesses have been left in the dark. There has been a long period neglecting the mental health policies, thus, the process of building a better community has adversely been affected. The research is therefore built upon the justification that there is dire need to increase and extensively research on the development and application of mental health policies that are proper and that will act as a stepping stone towards the building of a society that is better and void of mental illnesses and full of wellbeing among the populations.
Method:
For this research, I will employ both primary secondary sources of data. The primary research will involve conducting a survey among medical professional, and scholars on mental health matters. There shall be interviews and the use of questionnaires in order to achieve reliable data from the first hand informants on the issues of mental health and wellbeing. The secondary research will involve conducting a study on books, and journal articles on this topic. The research will be extensive and detailed in an attempt of acquiring sufficient information and arguments for the research on the topic of mental health and wellbeing.
Expected Results:
Through the research, it is my expectation that I will gather adequate proof of the fact that proper mental health, and wellbeing policies contribute in developing better societies’ populations; and that it is only through such policies that a society can rise above the disadvantages that are caused by mental illnesses and lack of wellbeing among the populations.
Expected significance:
The expected significance is that findings of the proposed research will be reliable, and authentic, and will be used as future hypothesis for other future research in this field. Secondly, is that the research will prove the hypothesis true. Through the research, I will be able to demonstrate the importance of the good mental health and wellbeing policies in attaining success and development in a society
Abstract
Having mental health goes beyond the absence of a disorder that affects the mind. Being in state of mental health is characterized by one being in a state of well being and being able to realize his or her potential fully, be able to cope with the stress which is normal in life. Be able to work fruitfully and productively and ultimately be in a position of making contributions to the community that one lives in. it may be difficult to describe the daily life stresses as they go beyond just chores, passions, hobbies among others. The achievement of good mental health and wellness can prove to be challenging especially where there is a lot of environmental pollution. However, the achievement of the wellness and mental health must be viewed in the angle of an individual as it is largely based on ones behavior and perceptions in the daily today life. Having a good mental health is said to have been met when one cares about one’s self and cares for one’s self. It is about loving one’s self as opposed to hating one’s self; minding about the physical health through enjoying, exercising, sleeping well and eating well. Mental health and wellness is rooted to one seeing him or her as having some value in one’s own right in existing and not having any time for earning the right to exist. One has to believe that his or her existence is a right and that is not to be sought. One has to use reasonable standard in judging oneself and not by setting goals that may seem to be unreasonable to achieve. Punishing oneself for not achieving the set goals should be out of the picture if mental health and wellness is to be achieved.
Introduction
The Mental Health and Wellbeing policies have key elements that are determinant in the approach to the promotion of mental health and wellness. Consequently, the promotion of mental health and wellness is not a sole responsibility of the governments alone, but also the nongovernmental organization. However, the government is considered as being the main player in the mental health and is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that there are policies, structures and the social environment to support the attainment of the mental health and wellness of the populations. Developing and implementing these policies are also a responsibility for both the government and the nongovernmental organizations at various levels (Andres,2010,156). The government, as earlier stated, does have critical roles to play in the whole process. The main roles of the government include the policy framing and development, making a definition of the roles of the private and the public as far as the implementation of the mental health and wellness policy is concerned in terms of the implementation and the funding of the policy, the identification of the major issues that are responsible for the well being and the mental health of the population and ultimately, making the relevant organizations for the achievement of the policy. The development of the policies of mental health can be done in any association, organization, workplace, club or any level of the government (Boardman,2010,59).
The policy form part of an infrastructure that is always necessary in the supporting of the promotion of health. However, the public and the private sector do have various roles to play in the development of the mental health as both have various structures and framework in addressing the issues of mental health. Developing a mental health and wellness policy is characterized by the development of the health personnel; sharing the understandings, vision and the identities of an organization in as far as the health issues and wellness are concerned. The presence of such policies in the organizations do show that the various organizations are committed to promoting mental health while at the same time identifying the resources and support that are responsible for the motivation of the staffs. Currently, there is no such strong evidence of the mental health promotion effectiveness due to the fact that there are very few evaluations that are done on the subject of mental health and wellness. This is further attributed to the fact that this field has not been well defined and is relatively abstract. The fundamental thing is that the mental health and wellness policies should be subjected to evaluations and has a clear definition of the meaning of health promotion policy development (Barry.2007,124)
Importance of mental health and well being to the populations
There is a good reason behind the formation of the mental health and well being policies by any government or institution. Both the public and the private institutions have critical responsibilities in the realization of mental health and wellness. Some may wonder whether it is worthy for the government or the private sector to have investments in the policies of mental health and wellness policies. Of course there are clear evidences that offer support and reason to invest in the policies. The basic fact is that mental health is enshrined as a basic human right and forms a foundation of having a society that is health. It goes without saying that having a healthy society is the ultimate necessity for having a healthy economy. With the ever increasing burden of mental illnesses in the nations and the globe, the treatment of one individual every given time does not offer a remedy for the challenge. In contrary, there is need to establish an approach that is pro active and that provides a positive mental health that will fast track the prevention of more people getting mentally ill (Cooper, Goswami & Sahakian,2009,483).
It is also notable that having many people with poor mental health greatly impacts on the socioeconomic composition of a nation in a negative way hence making a direct contribution to an increase in the rate of poverty. Through the prevention of mental illness by the promotion of mental health, there can be an attainment of healthier and safer families. This will eventually have a positive impact in various sectors there will be achievements registered in the higher education sectors, communities, workplaces, an improvement in the personal dignity and an improvement in the interpersonal relationships in a community. It is also clear that the achievement, change and the improvement of the mental health and wellbeing of a population cannot be achieved through mere mental health services but through policies that are specific and that offer conceptual frameworks and guidelines towards the achievement of the same. Moreover, there are various sectors that are key and of significance in the promotion of mental health and wellness among populations. The major challenge is always the provision of leadership that is strategic and that will allow for a systematic coordination in order to have the changes in the systems and to achieve services (Cattan &Tilford,2006,132).
Impact of mental wellbeing and mental disorder to the populations
The mental well being is usually associated with a wide range of health outcomes that are improved. These include the reduction in the mental illness, physical illness, morality and the general health which are related to other factors like the improvement of the achievements in education, an improvement in the social relationships and a reduction in the behaviors that are of health risk. There are a variety of factors that are responsible for the improvement of mental health while others are responsible for mooting mental disorders. Most of the mental disorders are always on the rise by the age of fourteen the mental disorders in the childhood of the adolescents and the children do have a lot of impact and are a conduit to inequalities both in the childhood and during adulthood. These range from affecting the educational attainment levels, the social skills and physical health. The more reason as to why the mental health and wellness policy is vital is the fact that mental disorder and illnesses can eventually result to behaviors that are of health risk including suicide and self harm. The mental disorder is also on the rise in adulthood hence the need for the mental health and wellness policy (Galea,2005,23).
Those people from areas that are mostly deprived are prone to the risk of having poor mental health and are likely to develop problems that are related to mental health just as it is the case with the children. Such people are usually more likely to engage in committing suicide during their childhood days. This can be escalated by the increased levels of depression and anxiety in those areas that are usually deprived. Unemployment, as a conduit of social seclusion, do have a number of effects that can be adverse which include self harm, anxiety, depression and a reduction to the psychological stability. On the other hand, employment does have effects that are beneficial to the mental health of an individual’s mental health and wellness. Poor housing is considered as being an aspect of deprivation that always has a hand in the increase of poor mental health among populations. Lack of an educational attainment of quality has a lot of impacts on the mental well being. Poor mental health usually culminates to crime and the fear of crime. Most of the deprived areas do experience an inequality in the levels of crime. There are incidents of increased criminal activities in the areas that are more deprived (Goldman, Buck &Thompson, 2009,113).
Elements of a good mental health, and wellbeing policy to a society
Promotion of good mental health in a society calls for action. There are a wide range of strategies that can be undertaken in order to make a positive impact on the provision of a good mental health to the populations both by the public and the private sectors (Great Britain,2007,130). These strategies and actions include the steps that are taken in an aim of providing an environment and conditions that are favorable and convenient for the wellbeing and strengthening of the mental health. These are conditions that assist the people to adapt and adjust to living style that are healthy. The choices are varying but have one similarity, the achievement of mental health and well being. The most fundamental way that a nation or a government can achieve mental strength and wellness among its population is through the formation of a policy that is comprehensive and that is achievable. There are various elements of a good mental health and wellbeing policy, which act like the propelling power to the achievements that are desired in relation to the realization of a population that has good mental health and wellbeing.
The aim of a good mental health and wellbeing policy is supposed to be based on the positioning of the mental health as a new direction and strategy, with the main focus being the reduction of the levels of mental illness among the people (McMurray & Clendon,2011,90). This goes further to seeking the combating of the effects that are caused by mental illnesses such as suicide and crime. The policy is supposed to have an effective and definite framework of its implementation and should be followed by a plan of national awareness in order to enfranchise the society about the importance of mental health and wellbeing. A good mental health and wellbeing policy is supposed to be characterized with a variety of elements in order to succeed in the purpose that it is set for.
The policy should have specific themes that it aims to achieve. This should include the promotion of the mental health and the prevention of the mental problems and the mental disorders there should be an aspect of increasing the responsiveness in terms of the services, strengthening the quality of the services offered that are leaning towards the achievement of mental strength and wellbeing and the fostering for sustainability, innovation and research pertaining to ways of dealing with the challenges posed on the achievement of the mental strength and wellbeing among the populations n the nation(Galea,2005,230).
An important element in a good mental health and wellbeing policy is the action plan. There should be a comprehensive, attainable and efficient action plan that is to be rolled out through the implementation of the policy. The action plan is essential in ensuring the target is achieved by the policy and that there are other support aspects that are amalgamated into the whole mental health and wellbeing policy. The action plan can take various forms as long as the end result is a desirable achievement of mental strength and wellbeing. For instance, the improvement on the environments and the services can be a vital aspect in the realization of a strengthened support in the communities and the society in general. The policy statements should form the basis of theme formation for the entire policy and the policy should be as a result of extensive research and at times borrowing from some of the earlier done research with respect to the mental health and wellbeing of the populations(Boardman,2010,59).
The role of good mental health, and wellbeing policy
The mental health and wellbeing policy plays a vital role in building of a society that is a better place for populations to live in, and a society that is founded upon the benefits of good mental health and wellbeing. This forms the foundation of development of any given society. The policy bases on the recovery concept especially for the people who have mental illness and in the promotion of mental health among the populations in the nation. Wellbeing is viewed as having control over ones health and leading a life that is of quality. Both the public mental health and the organizations that are societal based play a vital role in the creation of an environment which is supportive for those individuals who suffer from mental illnesses and in attaining their careers. The policy must be in harmony and work hand in hand with the other health related sectors in ensuring that a good mental health is realized and that the people’s well being is achieved. The good mental health and the wellbeing policy play various roles in the society in its quest for attaining a good mental health state for the populations (Barry.2007, 124)
The private sector
The main role of the good health and wellbeing policy in the private sector is to promote mental health in order to ensure that there is an enhancement of good mental health and wellbeing among the populations and those who experience mental problems and illnesses. This is to supplement the role that is often played by the public sector. The policy should intend to work towards the reorientation of the services with a focus to recovering good mental status and wellbeing of the populations. The policy should acknowledge the fact that in order to achieve this recovery; there is need for a partnership between the providers of health service, careers and the populations. The people are to be encouraged on the need to take full control of their lives in order to achieve good mental health. For those people who suffer from mental illness, the promotion of mental health by the policy is to ensure that they gain or develop the power and choice that is needed in order for them to be able to control their own mental health and lives this is aimed at eventually building a community that has the capacity and strength to support the recovery and empowerment of the individuals who live in it(McMurray & Clendon,2011,90).
Support building for mental health
In the promotion of the mental health and wellbeing in the community, the policy aims at building support and fundamentally setting mental health and wellness as a priority in the society. The public sector may not be all that effective as it is characterized by over flocking and strains on the resources (Keyes, 2013, 91). The private sector prioritizes mental health. This is further actualized through the building of a conceptual framework where the policy works under a partnership that is intersect oral. In the same capacity, the policy must invest in research to ensure that the framework that it presents is effective. The policy solicits and strengthens the support for mental health through the promotion of good mental health, prevention of mental illnesses and providing for options that can be explored in the intervention of problems and challenges that are presented by mental problems in the environment. This role requires that there be incorporation and an all inclusive coordination between the various departments of government and the community at large.
Public sector
In the public sector, there are usually a lot of burden on the government to promote mental health and to prevent mental illnesses. There is always a very high expectation from the public as they do depend fully on the government. Those in the vulnerable conditions do not usually have enough cash to access mental health services in private sector and hence do look up to the public sector. This means that the public sector ought to rise above the expectations and challenges and provide effective mental health and wellness services. This is possible only through a good policy.
Capacity building
The policy in the public sector should be a bridge through which capacity is built across the various sectors. The policy should be a catalyst towards the implementation of the initiatives and the programs in the community in achieving mental health and wellbeing among the populations. The main priority for the policy is to build a foundation that creates support for mental health through enfranchising the community through trainings and other integrated programs. (Keyes, 2013, 91).
Capacity building in public health sectors should be enhanced. There are initiatives that have been led by various government agencies through the provision of funding and grants. The initiatives do purpose to establish various projects that are essential in the provision of support and staffing that is required in dealing with mental health problems I the society. Such capacity building is dove in various levels ranging from the promotion of community mental health that is school based, intervention programs by the government and prevention mechanisms. Such projects are planned locally and their implementation and coordination done through the partnerships with a number of government agencies, regional health service providers, community agencies and the parents.
In the private sector, mental health capacity building is largely funded by nongovernmental organizations and organized by individual private agencies. The importance of the private sector in dealing with issues related to mental health cannot be overlooked. The various capacity building projects are usually meant to enhance and to develop practices that are collaborative among the cross and inter sectoral service providers and prevention of much harm caused by mental health problems. Reducing barriers and the overcoming of the stigma of mental health are among the main components in the private sector mental health capacity building programs. This is usually done through the engagement of the members of the community, partners, parents and the whole public in an effort of actualizing the policy.
Strengthening family relations
The policy comes handy in building and strengthening the family relations that are there in the society. This is one of the ways through which a strong support can be built for mental health and wellness in the society. The policy, in its roll out framework will work towards the enhancement of the parental skills through trying to strengthen early child to parent attachment. This eventually leads to the building of strong foundations for achieving mental health and wellness. The policy should also contain provisions and guidelines towards early investments in the cycle of development which will ultimately lead to the positive impacting on the mental health and wellbeing (Keyes, 2013, 91)..
Strengthening mental health services
A good mental health and wellbeing policy is supposed to be one that enhances the consolidation and strengthening the orientations in support of mental health services in the nation. In this aspect, the policy is supposed to lay its foundation of building the support for mental health and wellbeing on the enhancement of medical services that uphold mental health and wellbeing. It is through these services that good mental health can be obtained well as those individuals suffering from mental disorders can get to be attended to (Great Britain,2007,130). The risk of getting mental illnesses is reduced as the community sectors and governmental organizations will be coordinated in a manner that better life is achieved through the promotion of mental health and wellbeing. In as far as the effort to promote, prevent and offer intervention early on mental health and wellness support is concerned, the mental health services are crucial as they offer remedies that are scientifically and biologically based.
The private sector is vital in the strengthening of mental health services. The implementation of the mental health policy can best be achieved through a collaborative approach by bringing together both the private and the public sectors to work together. The private sector is known for quality in the provision of the health services. This can be replicated in the mental health service provision. The facilities in the private sector are supposed to be complementary to those in the public sector.
Reducing inequalities in mental health
The main purpose of a mental health and wellbeing policy is to address the issues that surround mental health and wellness, seeking to prevent mental illnesses and promote mental health and wellness by the virtue of empowering the communities and coordinating the relevant sectors. It goes without saying that for a policy to be termed as being a good mental health and wellbeing policy, it must achieve equality in the way mental health is dealt with. The policy will be able to reduce the inequalities that exist. This can be done only if the policy identifies the environmental and social determinants that have an impact on the wellbeing and mental health of the populations. The policy should also be able to explore the various ways that can be used in ameliorating the impact of these factors. Such a policy should prioritize the enhancement of a reduction in the discrimination and social inclusion for those suffering from mental illness. A good mental health and wellness policy should also be able to reduce the stigma that exists with regard to mental illnesses. Through the programs and the framework of the policy, there is supposed to be an increase in the economic activities in the society and an all inclusive system where mental health and wellness is guaranteed (Boardman,2010,59).
Conclusion
Both the private and the public sectors have a vital role in the policy formation of mental health and wellness. In as much as the public sector has a lot of constraints and challenges in attaining the good mental health and wellness, implementation of policies that are well structured and that are comprehensive can help achieve the desired mental health in the society. The private sector also has a role to play in the mental health achievement as the burden cannot be left to the public sector only. However, the private sector needs to review its costs of providing the services to enable effective access of the mental health and wellness services. Consequently, both the public and the private sector need to have good mental health and wellness policies in order to promote mental health and wellness and to combat mental disorders and illnesses. Mental strength is ultimately the base for economic growth in a population.
Notes
2 Barry, 124
3 Boardman, 59.
4 Cattan and Tilford, 132
7 Goldman, Buck and Thompson, 130
9 Keyes. 371
Bibliography
Andres, L., Wyn, J. Oct 30, 2010.The Making of a Generation: The Children of the 1970s in Adulthood. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, .pg 156
Boardman, J. 2010.Social inclusion and mental health. London: RCPsych Publications, – pg 59.
Cattan, M, Tilford, S. 2006.Mental Health Promotion: A Lifespan Approach. NY: McGraw-Hill International, Dec 1,.pg 132
Cooper, C., Goswami, U., Sahakian, B. 2009. Mental Capital and Wellbeing. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Aug 18, .pg 483
Galea, S. 2005.Handbook of Urban Health: Populations, Methods, and Practice. NY: Springer, Jun 21,.pg 230
Goldman, H., Buck, J., Thompson, K. 2009.Transforming Mental Health Services: Implementing the Federal Agenda for Change American Psychiatric Pub,. Pg 113
Great Britain: 2007.Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee. Improving the Mental Health of the Population: Can the European Union Help?, 14th Report of Session 2006-07, Vol. 2: Evidence The Stationery Office, Apr 24, –pg 130
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