Mental health statement of rights and responsibilities

Part III: The promotion of mental health and the prevention of mental illnesses

Page last updated: 2012

  1. Mental health problems and mental illnesses may occur at any age and affect all social and cultural groups.

(i) The promotion of mental health

  1. Australian governments have the responsibility to support the development, implementation and evaluation of programs that promote mental health according to best practice standards within a population health framework across the public, private and non-government sectors.

  2. Programs that promote mental health should:
    1. be an integral component of all health promotion programs
    2. include a sustained and comprehensive strategy to reduce stigma and discrimination.

(ii) The prevention of mental health problems and illnesses

  1. Australian governments and communities have the responsibility to support the development, implementation and evaluation of programs for preventing mental health problems and mental illnesses across the public, private and non-government sectors.

  2. Australian governments have the responsibility to work with early childhood and education settings, workplaces and communities to:
    1. develop programs for preventing mental health problems and mental illnesses, including the prevention of suicide
    2. develop programs that facilitate early access to mental health services
    3. support strategies that help coordinate social support, health and mental health services
    4. identify factors that may contribute to mental health problems/illnesses or indicate relapse. Such factors may include
      • homelessness
      • substance use
      • unemployment
      • poverty
      • lack of family or social support
      • problematic gambling
      • age (in particular with respect to children, young people and older people)
      • poor physical health
      • physical, financial, emotional or sexual abuse
      • sexual orientation, gender or gender identity
      • intellectual, physical or psychosocial disability including acquired brain injury
      • poor communication skills, including poor language proficiency
      • exposure to trauma
      • being a refugee
      • exposure to violence or bullying in the workplace (including cyber bullying)
      • coming into contact with or exiting the criminal justice system
      • being a veteran of military service
      • experience of major life crises (including bereavement, relationship breakdown, accidents, natural disasters or life-threatening illness)
      • being a migrant
      • belonging to a community of another culture or speaking a language other than English at home
      • other social, economic, cultural and geographical barriers (in particular with respect to indigenous populations).

(iii) Access to services and opportunities

  1. Australian governments have the responsibility to support the ongoing development of comprehensive, flexible, integrated community and hospital-based social support, health and mental health services.
    This support must be accessible across the care spectrum, taking into account the differences in or the effect of:
    1. geographic location
    2. social, economic and cultural factors
    3. changing demographic patterns of need, age and stage of life
    4. communication abilities and skills, including language skills
    5. consequences of the mental health problem or the mental illness itself
    6. sexual orientation, gender and gender identity
    7. substance use
    8. interactions with the criminal justice system
    9. physical illness
    10. disabilities arising from other sources such as acquired brain injury.

(iv) Recognition and referral

  1. Australian governments have the responsibility to support individuals, groups and workplaces that may be the first point of contact for people with mental health problems or mental illnesses, such as teachers, police/correctional officers, emergency service workers, welfare workers and clergy, to respond appropriately to people with mental health problems or mental illnesses and, where appropriate, provide referrals to social support, health and mental health services on a non-discriminatory basis.

  2. Australian governments have the responsibility to assist primary health care services to further develop their ability to:
    1. recognise mental health problems and mental illnesses
    2. respond appropriately to people with mental health problems or mental illnesses
    3. facilitate access and referral where appropriate to social, health and mental health services on a non-discriminatory basis
    4. respect the rights and responsibilities contained in this statement.