How could mental health services be improved?

When I was undergoing counselling, it was awful. I changed doctors so many times. The first had a mother superior attitude, and pushed me so far it made things worse. There was one that I got on with, and then she left, then I had a succession of others, all of whom were patronising because they kept repeating the same thing to me over and over again as if I were stupid. Each time I had a counsellor, it wouldn't be long until they'd leave, and another would take their place, meaning I had to explain everything right from the beginning all over again.

To improve, they need consistency - patients should keep with the same doctor/nurse. The doctors also need to lose their superior and patronising attitude.

by Bryony Harrison

The admin was also awful. Test results would get lost or delayed or they wouldn't phone back (after saying they would) to let you know what was going on. All the letters I got were bog standard letters, written once and sent out to everyone, with just a name change at the top. Often they'd send things that were completely irrelevant, or I'd already done, etc. They need to be more personalised, and treat each patient individually. Mental health is different from physical health, there isn't one drug/method that cures whoever you give it too.

How long is a piece of string.

That's the truth, it needs so much money put into it, and would take a week to list it all.

Seriously!

by jonaja

I don't know the answer to this, but I think if we spent more time removing the stigma and listening to both the support workers and the mentally unwell people, we'd get a far clearer picture of what needs doing. I doubt very much it could ever be 100% perfect but I have no doubt it could be a lot better.

by meggf

I think we should start with the retraining our givers within the field.

by dwatk

As a counsellor, mental health service can be improved by focusing less on mental health and more on physical and brain development via nutrition and avoiding excitotoxins, alcohol and recreational drugs.

by kirk3

I think that mental health services need so much work. There is so much stigma surrounding mental health - particularly maternal mental health. People also need to recognise that mental health problems aren't a "choice" - you don't choose to get depression or PTSD and you can't just "snap out of it". So much education needed for the general public and then care givers.

by lizzi

I don't know but in my experiences I find that places and websites such as BeyondBlue are doing a great job in changing how things are dealt with and people's opinions on mental health.

by Valadhiel

Make caregivers more accountable. More examination of outcomes for patients and much, much, much more follow up.
Care provided needs investigation....it is a silly as people accepting general patients having bed sores or pressure sores in 2015. It is unacceptable and can be attributed to only one thing.......laziness on the part of the caregivers.

by fran.

Pipe dream would be to have Gina & Clive donate some of their squillions $$$$, but that ain't agona happen as they way TOO selfish!

Get some of the 'bludgers' off the dole & direct those monies' to mental health!

by donjo

Much more scrutiny of staff. In the case of nursing staff, BACKGROUND checks need to be FOLLOWED UP. Far too many people who have been sacked from other medical institutions, being placed in charge of people with mental illnesses. Same as these people, nursing staff, end up being "secreted" in Aged Care. If you are removed from a Hospital or another care facility, no job anywhere else. Period.

by fran.