Mental illness is the single largest cause of disability in Australia, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of the burden of non-fatal disease; while one in five Australians will experience symptoms of mental illness at some stage in their lives. These quite alarming statistics have given rise to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) listing mental health as one of the top eight national health priority areas in Australia; and the Commonwealth Government identifying increasing proportions of the health budget to progress mental health reform.
This presentation discusses ‘What works?’ for people affected by mental illness. The discussion includes consideration of the evidence-based culture and economic rationalism that infuses the delivery of mental health services in Australia today. It is acknowledged in the presentation that counsellors and psychotherapists who prefer to use more person-centred approaches in their work can often feel frustrated and marginalised by the current healthcare system and its empirical mould. The presentation concludes by considering a number of solutions to the challenges faced by counsellors and psychotherapists who seek to make a difference in the lives of people who experience mental health issues – that is, what ‘could work’ for therapists with the capacity to join forces and develop innovative and cost-effective approaches to support national mental health reform.
