Deinstitutionalisation in Australia

Deinstitutionalisation in Australia

Deinstitutionalisation process in Great Britain , United States of American and some European countries spread on the territories of Australian continent . The move of deinstitutionalisation from institutions to community is the result of Human Rights concerns of many countries which are ager to reduce the harmful effects of institutionalisation , such as fostering dependence and passivity (Lamb 1993 Thornicroft Bebbington , 1989 . Other concepts of deinstitutionalisation include reducing stigma and discrimination while allowing people to "be cared for in the community and continue to participate in the life of the

community (Commonwealth of Australia 1992 ,

.7

Deinstitutionalisation in Australia developed in three ways : firstly , a reduction in 'stand alone ' psychiatric hospitals secondly , the expanded provision of community based care integrated with inpatient care , and thirdly , the 'mainstreaming ' of mental health services with other components of health care (Commonwealth of Australia , 1998 . A dramatic effect of deinstitutionalistion is that the number of psychiatric hospital beds in Australia started to decline in the early 1960s and have continued to do so into the 1990s (National Health Strategy , 1993 cited in Mulvany , 1998 ,

.264 . Additionally , the change from institutional care to community oriented care impacted significantly across the spectrum of health care provision , community welfare agencies , and housing agencies and on families and carers of people with mental illness (Commonwealth of Australia , 1992 . Demands upon community welfare and housing agencies increased , as people newly discharged from institutions needed these services to help them survive in the community . In addition , pressure upon families and carers rose as people with mental illness called upon them for assistance in community living . To help manage these changes , the National Mental Health Strategy was adopted in 1992 (Commonwealth of Australia , 1998 . This collection of documents outlined strategies for implementing reform to the delivery of mental health services in Australia and continues to influence funding and service provision (Commonwealth of Australia 1998

Life after Deinstitutionalisation

The research presented in this paper focuses on people living in the rural city of Wodonga (population of approximately 40 000 , in which the process of deinstitutionalisation has been implemented . The "Mayday Hills " hospital (a stand-alone psychiatric facility ) had been the focus of institutional care for Wodonga and the surrounding region until 1999 when the last remaining ward of this institution was relocated to mainstream hospital services

Some community psychosocial rehabilitation services in this geographical area are provided by an organisation called "Get Together House auspiced by The Upper Hume Community Health Service . The Get Together House program began in 1997 to help meet the social , recreational , and occupational needs of people with mental illness living in the community . Many clients who attend Get Together House are in receipt of the Disability Support Pension , and are not in full time employment Their daily routines include self-care and domestic activities and passive leisure activities such as watching television or listening to music . Get Together House provides regular leisure and social activities such as discussion and cooking groups , outings , and picnics Furthermore , in 1998...