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ParaQuad News • Issue 1 Autumn 2016 15
Early intervention programs
target people with mental health
problems and those who are just
developing mental health illness.
They aim to prevent problems from
becoming more serious and reduce
the likelihood of secondary effects
such as loss of employment, school
dropout, relationship breakups and
drug and alcohol problems. Family,
friends and work colleagues can also
provide important support during this
time. There are a number of different
types of treatment and support that
can help a person with a mental
health issue. With no one size fits all
approach for mental health issues,
some approaches include:
• Medication treatment
• Psychological treatment
• Complementary treatment
and lifestyle change
• Support groups
• Family and friends.
Mental health is usually a taboo
subject. The more people talk about
it and help it become part of our
common language, the less stigma
will be associated with anything to
do with mental health. We can all
play a role in this.
ealth
References :
World Health Organisation, 2015.
The Department of Health, 2015, .
Australian Psychological Society (ASP). Seven years of Better Access Consumers show benefits from an effective, affordable and destigmatising mental health reform.
Updated February 2014.
Ms L Littlefield. and
healthspot
Who is using the
Better Access
Scheme?
19,587,267
1/3
adults
1/4
The number of individual treatments
provided by allied health workers
(Medicare, 2013)
The proportion of people
accessing the Scheme
who are male
The largest
population
accessing the
Scheme are adults
The proportion of people
accessing the Scheme who
are children and youth under
25 years old. Young people
can also access Headspace
which is a dedicated service
for 12 to 25 year olds.
(Australian Psychological Society, 2014)
(Australian Psychological Society, 2014)
(Australian Psychological Society, 2014)