Nursing Assignment: Anxiety In Male Population In Australia

Question

Task:
Prepare a nursing assignment critically analyzing the Australian health services and policies to support men's suffering from anxiety.

Critically analyze the health care services that are available to these groups of individuals detailing how the community health services can improve the health and wellbeing of these individuals. (eg, beyond blue, mindspot, Blackdog institute, etc).

Identify government health policy that was put in place to promote health in the community you have chosen

Answer

Description of the specific health need
Anxiety is one of Australia's most common health issues which is considered herein nursing assignment. Anxiety is much more common for men than depression – 1 out of 5 men often get anxiety (Toledo-Chávarri et al., 2020). Nearly half of the Australians between the ages of 16 and 85 would suffer mental illness somewhere in their lives.

specific health in nursing 1

(Source: Jorm, 2018)

It was seen from the graph that the suffering of men from mental illness has been increasing for all ages. It is a significant issue and must be recognised by the society as a serious issue. In the absence of such recognition, the patient suffers as well as the people surrounding the patient also face difficulties. Anxiety is a serious need and depending on the severity of the disease, it can create a lot of issues.

Healthcare services available
Any mental disorders can be successfully treated or handled. There is a potential to change their health if one has a problem and seek assistance (Lockett et al., 2018). Perhaps it may be time to look for some clinical help if they do what they can, but still feel like they fail. If they want to get some advice on their mental wellbeing, a psychiatrist, counsellor or therapist may be a helpful first move (Özdin & Bayrak Özdin, 2020). One should also contact several outstanding agencies for assistance. If a personal tragedy is ongoing, such services such as Lifeline for someone who suffers a personal crisis or Suicide Call Back Service for someone who thinks about suicide (Marshall, Dunstan & Bartik, 2020). If one wants general support and knowledge for the mental health industry, Head to Health is the guide to digital intellectual health resources by some of Australia's most trusted mental health agencies, MensLine Australia, an online portal for men, Dads In Distress which offers peer help to distinguish fathers and SANE Australia for individuals who have a mental health disorder (Marshall, Dunstan & Bartik, 2020). They are available to provide support to men suffering from anxiety and are available for chat, phonecall or even one to one counselling services. In the case of mental illness, mostly the person is hesitant in openly admitting the same, so this agency ensure privacy as well. They ensure that the Dads, Fathers, brothers or sons, whosoever comes in for counselling gets adequate support.

Two government policies
The 2008 National Mental Health Strategy advocates for a broader view of a mental health environment that encourages rehabilitation, mental disorder intervention and early diagnosis, providing successful and sufficient care and institutional service for all Australians with mental illness to be actively active in the community (Grace et al., 2017). In order to further lead the mental santé change outlined in the National Mental Health Strategy and identified crucial steps that can be taken to make substantive progress in achieving the policy vision, the Fourth National Mental Health Plan approved by Australian Health Ministers on 4 September 2009 has been created (Perera et al., 2020). The whole-of-government approach outlined in this proposal understands that several aspects outside the health system affect healthy mental health and mental disease (Kinner et al., 2017). One of its goals is to encourage mental health and well-being and as far as possible, avoid mental illness (Jorm, 2018). In order to provide an evidence focused approach to mental health prevention and early intervention strategies and to target current services to address the needs of individuals, the Australian Government is committed to national mental health improvements. The expected outcomes of such policies by the Government are

Fewer suicides and fewer chronic mental illness.
Reduction in the addiction related to drugs, alcohol or smoking
Reduction in the domestic violence
Increase in the self confidence
Reduction on dependency of medication and hospitalisation
Better social lives and positive impact on the upcoming generation

The aim of the policy is to reduce the social stigma and discrimination. For the men suffering from mental illness, these support facilities may prove to be a boom. The Government is also taking steps towards increasing the awareness about the challenges of mental illness. They are conducting workshops and seminars to make the communities aware.

Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be understood that anxiety being experienced by men in Australia is a critical issue and needs to be dealt with care and precision. There are support services that are ready to provide support and there for discussions as and when needed by the patients. For mental illness, apart from medicines, the patient also needs care and support. The Australian Government also has many policies that provides guidelines for the care providers as well as the sufferers. Furthermore, two health policies, namely, 2008 National Mental Health Strategy and Fourth National Mental Health Plan have been adopted by the government to address the growing issue of anxiety among men.

References
Drioli-Phillips, P. G., Oxlad, M., Feo, R., Scholz, B., & LeCouteur, A. (2020). “I Feel Abused by My Own Mind”: Themes of Control in Men’s Online Accounts of Living With Anxiety. Qualitative Health Research, 30(13), 2118-2131.

Grace, F. C., Meurk, C. S., Head, B. W., Hall, W. D., Harris, M. G., & Whiteford, H. A. (2017). An analysis of policy success and failure in formal evaluations of Australia’s national mental health strategy (1992–2012). BMC health services research, 17(1), 374.

Jorm, A. F. (2018). Australia’s ‘Better Access’ scheme: Has it had an impact on population mental health?. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 52(11), 1057-1062.

Jorm, A. (2018). More Australians are diagnosed with depression and anxiety but it doesn’t mean mental illness is rising. Available at https://theconversation.com/more-australians-are-diagnosed-with-depression-and-anxiety-but-it-doesnt-mean-mental-illness-is-rising-120824 [Accessed 26th Nov 2020].

Kinner, S. A., Harvey, C., Hamilton, B., Brophy, L., Roper, C., McSherry, B., & Young, J. T. (2017). Attitudes towards seclusion and restraint in mental health settings: findings from a large, community-based survey of consumers, carers and mental health professionals. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 26(5), 535-544.

Lockett, H., Lai, J., Tuason, C., Jury, A., & Fergusson, D. (2018). Primary healthcare utilisation among adults with mood and anxiety disorders: an analysis of the New Zealand health survey. Journal of primary health care, 10(1), 68-75.

Marshall, J. M., Dunstan, D. A., & Bartik, W. (2020). The role of digital mental health resources to treat trauma symptoms in Australia during COVID-19. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.

Özdin, S., & Bayrak Özdin, ?. (2020). Levels and predictors of anxiety, depression and health anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic in Turkish society: The importance of gender. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 0020764020927051.

Perera, S., Hetrick, S., Cotton, S., Parker, A., Rickwood, D., Davenport, T., ... & McGorry, P. (2020). Awareness of headspace youth mental health service centres across Australian communities between 2008 and 2015. Journal of Mental Health, 29(4), 410-417.

Toledo-Chávarri, A., Ramos-García, V., Torres-Castaño, A., Trujillo-Martín, M. M., Castro, W. P., Del Cura-Castro, I., ... & Perestelo-Pérez, L. (2020). Framing the process in the implementation of care for people with generalized anxiety disorder in primary care: a qualitative evidence synthesis. BMC Family Practice, 21(1), 1-12.

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