actcoss text final.indd - ACT Council of Social Service

A population health approach
This paper’s emphasis on population health is
consistent with the most recent National Mental
Health Plan 2003-8 and the ACT Mental Health
Strategy and Action Plan 2003-2008. The latter
defines the vision for mental health in the ACT
as follows:
..to utilise a population health framework to
develop an environment which supports and
enhances the capacity of people in the ACT to
achieve and maintain good mental health. 20
The Strategy defines a population health approach
as one in which ‘consideration is given to the mental
health needs of the whole population, from mental
health promotion through to long term care and
recovery, with attention paid to the specific needs of
groups within the population.’ 21 Further, it:
… takes into account the complex influences on
mental health, encourages a holistic approach
to improving mental health and wellbeing and
develops evidence based interventions that meet
the identified needs of population groups. 22
A commitment to equitable access
to health care
ACTCOSS is committed to the principle of equal
access to quality health care, regardless of income,
socio-economic status, physical ability or disability and
geographic location. Indeed, access to primary health
care is a determinant of positive health outcomes.
This approach is consistent with the ACT Mental
Health Strategy and Action Plan 2003-2008, which
includes as one of its four broad principles, ‘timely,
equitable access to appropriate services of an
assured quality’.
A commitment to the human
right to health
This is expressed in article 25(1) of the Universal
Declaration on Human Rights as follows:
Everyone has the right to a standard of living
adequate for the health and well-being of himself
and of his family, including food, clothing,
housing and medical care and necessary social
services, and the right to security in the event of
unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood,
old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances
beyond his control.
In addition, Article 12(1) of the International Covenant
on Economic Social and Cultural Rights states:
The States Parties to the present Covenant
recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment
of the highest attainable standard of physical and
mental health.
Finally, the United Nations (UN) Principles for the
Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and for the
Improvement of Mental Health Care are generally
regarded as a benchmark for mental health standards
of care. 23
A belief in community responsibility for
mental health
We share the perspective expressed in the ACT
Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan 2003-2008
that ‘mental health is the responsibility of the whole
community’. 24 Government, the community sector
and the general community all have a role to play
in mental health promotion, prevention and early
intervention, in addition to continuing care and
support of people with a mental illness. Extending
this approach, an acute mental health episode may in
some cases be seen to reflect a community failure of
early intervention, promotion and prevention.
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20 At 5.
21 At 38.
22 National Mental Health Plan 2003-8, Australian Health Ministers, Commonwealth of Australia, 2003, at 4.
23 Other relevant United Nations human rights instruments include, the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons; the Standard Minimum Rules on the Equalisation
of Opportunities for People with Disabilities and the Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and the Improvement of Mental Health Care.
24 Similarly, the ACT Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan 2003-2008 states that ‘mental health promotion and prevention are roles for the whole community and all
sectors of government.’ At 3.
NO WRONG DOORS Towards an integrated mental health service system in the ACT•June 2007
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