❓ A question regarding the WA government's approach to mental health care, specifically addressing concerns about an over-reliance on clinical models and seeking a shift towards more individualised and recovery-oriented services. The response indicates agreement with the concerns and outlines plans for reform through the Mental Health Commission.
AnsweredQoN 2968Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Parliamentary Secretary’s comments on the mental health motion moved by the Hon. Linda Savage MLC in the Legislative Council on 14 October 2010, in particular that, ‘We have taken the clinical model in mental health too far in Western Australia. People who had been diagnosed with mental illness were being managed in this sickness paradigm, a sickness model of care which kept them dependent and which institutionalized them. Even if they were not in an institution, the actual method of care was an institutionalized method of care and one which guided their lifestyle choices by clinical decisions’, and I ask -
(1) Do you agree with the statements made by the Parliamentary Secretary, that a too clinical model of care has been taken to caring for and/or treating people with mental illness?
(2) Do you agree that this clinical model of care has kept people with mental illness dependent, and institutionalized?
(3) How do you propose to address this concern?
(4) What is your preferred model of care for people with mental illness?
(5) When will the change from a clinical model of care to your preferred model of care take place?
(1) Do you agree with the statements made by the Parliamentary Secretary, that a too clinical model of care has been taken to caring for and/or treating people with mental illness?
(2) Do you agree that this clinical model of care has kept people with mental illness dependent, and institutionalized?
(3) How do you propose to address this concern?
(4) What is your preferred model of care for people with mental illness?
(5) When will the change from a clinical model of care to your preferred model of care take place?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
23 November 2010
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Mental Health
Response time
34 days
(1) Yes
(2) Yes. In some circumstances, this may have been the case.
(3) This Government is committed to the reform of mental health care. A Mental Health Commission (MHC) is now established and is leading reforms of the mental health system throughout the State. Working in collaboration with all government agencies, community organisations and mental health professionals in the public and private sectors; the MHC will transform the way in which mental health services are delivered. The urgent priority for the MHC is to improve the way in which individualised care is provided and coordinated for people with mental health problems. The long term agenda for the MHC is to rebalance services across the continuum of care to better meet the needs of people with a mental illness, and make sure that mental health resources are allocated where they are most effective and most needed.
(4) It is important to view any person as a whole and recognise that they have needs that are not purely medical or clinical, especially people experiencing problems with mental health. All needs of the individual: psychological, physical, social, cultural and spiritual and those of carers where appropriate should be taken into account when determining appropriate individualised care and supporting recovery.
(5) Over the next few years, the MHC will oversee greater investment in prevention and early intervention services as well ensure a move towards more individualised and recovery oriented mental health services in Western Australia.
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(2) Yes. In some circumstances, this may have been the case.
(3) This Government is committed to the reform of mental health care. A Mental Health Commission (MHC) is now established and is leading reforms of the mental health system throughout the State. Working in collaboration with all government agencies, community organisations and mental health professionals in the public and private sectors; the MHC will transform the way in which mental health services are delivered. The urgent priority for the MHC is to improve the way in which individualised care is provided and coordinated for people with mental health problems. The long term agenda for the MHC is to rebalance services across the continuum of care to better meet the needs of people with a mental illness, and make sure that mental health resources are allocated where they are most effective and most needed.
(4) It is important to view any person as a whole and recognise that they have needs that are not purely medical or clinical, especially people experiencing problems with mental health. All needs of the individual: psychological, physical, social, cultural and spiritual and those of carers where appropriate should be taken into account when determining appropriate individualised care and supporting recovery.
(5) Over the next few years, the MHC will oversee greater investment in prevention and early intervention services as well ensure a move towards more individualised and recovery oriented mental health services in Western Australia.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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