Reflective Report: Mental Healthcare Principles
Introduction
Mental health of the people is increasingly acknowledged as the most essential component of health & wellbeing (Saeidnia et al, 2024). Healthcare professionals who work in the mental health setting often deal with the complex condition and incidents (Maddock, 2024). Many individuals who are suffering from mental health conditions still face obstacles in assessing the required care and support (Saeidnia et al, 2024). In order to reduce this challenge, World Health Organization created Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030 which acknowledges the crucial role of mental health in obtaining health for all people in the society (World Health Organization, 2025). The action plan is grounded on universal health coverage, human rights, empowerment of lived experience, life-course approach, evidence-based practice and multisectoral action. This report is going to reflect on how two principles such as; human rights and evidence-based method could help in improving the outcome of mental healthcare for individuals with whom I work.
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Discussion
On Principle 1: Human Rights
I am mental health care nurse and currently working in a local healthcare organisation in Australia. I deal with the different people who are suffering from the different types of mental health related issues and face many problems in their life because of their condition. During my work, I learned about the Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030 which was established by WHO to enhance people’s mental health. It is based on life-course approach that aims to accomplish equity by universal health coverage and emphasizes the significance of prevention (Jolivet et al, 2021).
I read the different articles and information regarding action plan and its benefits for healthcare field. Action plan which based on human rights principle could be helpful for me in my nursing practice. I believe that people who are suffering from the mental health illness or disorders need more care and support in daily life. They also do not have knowledge about how to use human rights because of their mental health conditions. I personally focus on human rights and follow all rights so that not a single person faces the issues in her/his life.
Mental health patients often face discrimination due to their condition and feel isolated (Hempeler et al, 2024). Align with the human rights, I will emphasize on developing a health care environment in a way in which each patient with mental health treated with respect, fairly and dignity. Understanding these principles is an important part of mental health nursing practice, particularly when supporting patient dignity, autonomy and person-centred care. Students exploring these topics can refer to Mental Health Nursing Assignment Help for further academic guidance. By increasing my knowledge on human rights, I will encourage patients more efficiently to speak about themselves (Stanton and Gogoi, 2022). Being a nurse, I have responsibility to report about as well as speak up when there is irrelevant activities or breaches of human rights, especially those related to torture, inhumane, shameful treatment, patient safety and lack of access to necessary health and medical services.
However, it is not easy for me to integrate human rights principle in my practice because I do not have much knowledge about areas that are covered in human rights and how to utilise rights in the healthcare organisation. I could gain knowledge about various human rights by authentic books, articles and websites. As a professional, I would respect the diverse needs and preferences of the patient and involve in their care planning process. It is a right of patients whether they are suffering from any mental health conditions to involve in decision making process (Glass et al, 2023).
I could encourage the patients to share their requirements & preferences regarding the care and if they feel uncomfortable then I can personally talk with them. I can encourage open communication with patients as well as co-workers because they can also face the mental health problems due to complex job and heavy workload. I will talk about different types of mental health issues and impact of stigma on recovery. Further, I will support people in assessing care services and community resources, especially if they are facing some barriers. These actions promote the sense of empowerment and decrease disconnection with essential care facilities as well as support people to live healthy life.
On Principle 2: Evidence-Based Practice
I have chosen the evidence-based practice (EBP) as a second principle because in my opinion for nurse EBP is most valuable to enhance patient outcome. Evidence-based practice is necessary to improve safety of patients, reduces healthcare related costs and contributes towards the growth of nursing field (Greenhalgh and Dijkstra, 2024). It allows me to incorporate research evidence, healthcare expertise, values and beliefs of the patients to make decisions regarding service user care and treatment (Oraby, Emam and Said, 2022). Being a nurse, I could use the latest research data, case studies as well as clinical trials that would further help me in improving my practical skills and knowledge and enhance my capacity to provide optimal care.
I could use the online platform where I can read the latest research studies related to the mental healthcare field. I read about evidence-based infection-control policies that I can use in my practice to reduce inflections among the mental health patients. Further, another example associated with the evidence care practices is the fall prevents strategies for elderly patient. The knowledge helps me to keep the healthcare environment hygienic and clean so that patients feel good during their treatment process.
I can integrate therapies, approaches, care practices and other interventions which are supported by research. This helps in offering quality care to individuals with mental health illnesses and makes their life better (Samara, Hanton and Khalil, 2024). I could regular evaluate whether the selected therapy, treatment or intervention is effective for the service users or not by observation, discussion and communication. In addition to this, it is important for the nurse to always stay updated with the changes take place in the existing guidelines, laws, acts and protocols or learn about new policies related to mental healthcare (Lawrence et al, 2024).
However, I tend to make focus on gaining the latest knowledge regarding acts and laws due to the busy schedule. It might impact my efforts to use the evidence-based practice in the mental health care field. However, I would manage my time and give time to my learning. I could learn about WHO’s mental health guidelines in-depth manner and take part in training and workshops so that my nursing practice become more productive and effective. I could work with co-workers and other care professionals as a partner in order to develop a care plan and interventions for the patient. This will make sure that the treatment and medications which I give to patients are safe and effective as well as developed according to the needs of patients (Aidoo, 2024).
It would further contribute to enhance patient outcomes through managing signs and symptoms in better way and reduce the mental health cases (Adeniran et al, 2024). By implementing evidence-based practice, I could offer reliable care services to patients and contribute to their well-being. I believe that EBP provides a kind of protection against ineffective and old mental health practices. It allows nurses to make a care and treatment related decisions by using genuine data and information.
Conclusion
From above report, it is concluded that principles such as; human rights and evidence-based approach both are most valuable in enhancing outcomes of mental health for the vulnerable people. Human rights provide autonomy to the people to make their own decisions related to care, whereas; EBP allows care professionals to offer best and reliable care to service users. By incorporating human rights within nursing practice, I become capable to develop a respectful and person-centred environment which offer independence to people and face their mental health illness efficiently.
EBP is useful principle that helps nurses to build strong relationship with the service users by offering genuine treatment and medications. As a nurse, I would apply both principles while carrying out my duties and responsibilities of healthcare and become proficient in my field. I could contribute to efforts of WHO to enhance mental health for individuals by implementing actions in proper manner.
References
Books and Journals
- Adeniran, I. A., Efunniyi, C. P., Osundare, O. S., & Abhulimen, A. O. (2024). Data-driven decision-making in healthcare: Improving patient outcomes through predictive modeling. Engineering Science & Technology Journal, 5(8).
- Aidoo, E. M. (2024). Community based healthcare interventions and their role in reducing maternal and infant mortality among minorities. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 5(8), 4620-36.
- Glass, N., Jalalzai, R., Spiegel, P., & Rubenstein, L. (2023). The crisis of maternal and child health in Afghanistan. Conflict and Health, 17(1), 28.
- Greenhalgh, T. M., & Dijkstra, P. (2024). How to Read a Paper: The Basics of Evidence-based Healthcare. John Wiley & Sons.
- Hempeler, C., Schneider-Reuter, L., Windel, A. S., Carlet, J., Philipsen, L., Juckel, G., ... & Faissner, M. (2024). Intersectional discrimination in mental health care: A systematic review with qualitative evidence synthesis. Psychiatric Services, 75(11), 1125-1143.
- Jolivet, R. R., Gausman, J., Kapoor, N., Langer, A., Sharma, J., & Semrau, K. E. (2021). Operationalizing respectful maternity care at the healthcare provider level: a systematic scoping review. Reproductive Health, 18(1), 194.
- Lawrence, D., Bagshaw, R., Stubbings, D., & Watt, A. (2024). The Maintenance Model of Restrictive Practices: A trauma-informed, integrated model to explain repeated use of restrictive practices in mental health care settings. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 45(10), 1006-1021.
- Maddock, A. (2024). The relationships between stress, burnout, mental health and well-being in social workers. The British Journal of Social Work, 54(2), 668-686.
- Oraby, F. A., Emam, A. M., & Said, N. E. (2022). Effect of Implementing Evidence-Based Nursing Practices Guidelines Related to Post-Partum Care on Maternity Nurses' Performance. Evidence-Based Nursing Research, 4(2), 64-75.
- Saeidnia, H. R., Hashemi Fotami, S. G., Lund, B., & Ghiasi, N. (2024). Ethical considerations in artificial intelligence interventions for mental health and well-being: Ensuring responsible implementation and impact. Social Sciences, 13(7), 381.
- Samara, A., Hanton, T., & Khalil, A. (2024). Evidence‐based interventions to address persistent maternal mortality rates. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 64(5).
- Stanton, M. E., & Gogoi, A. (2022). Dignity and respect in maternity care. BMJ Global Health, 5(Suppl 2), e009023.
- World Health Organization. (2025). Comprehensive mental health action plan 2013-2030. Online. Available through <https://www.who.int/publications/b/58680>
