The inquiry project

Bailey Miller - 2152725

The Inquiry project has advanced my understanding of how holistic mental
health has and is continuing to be a burden for society. I have gained
experience from the project itself, and I believe I am now better informed on
the matter of mental health. My knowledge growth is due to being able to
access current valid information while researching the topic. I feel I have
gained experience in factual learning undertaking this inquiry. The goals I set
myself were achieved and well shown and this was demonstrated by myself
individually and our group presentation. My understanding and knowledge of
the idea of social health and a sociological imagination has broadened in the
area mentally, physically and emotionally. I believe I have given mental health
consideration and demonstrated this to a high standard in both the group oral
presentation and throughout this written inquiry.

I have developed a social view of mental health, gaining a broader

understanding of this topic by researching on my own and coming together as
a group and working as a team. In each year, approximately one in every five
Australians will experience a mental illness (Mind Frame, 2014). Examining
the statistics shown from Mind Frame (2014) and statics shown in our oral
presentation it is made clear that the illness mental health is constantly
growing. In class studies we looked at the burden of illness surrounding
mental health in our society from various peoples points of view, which helped
us come to the realisation of the seriousness of this issue. With the
information found, I personally became very aware of the seriousness of this
illness and became conscious that something needs to be done help people
with this illness. I have realised how mental health is such a serious issue and
it doesnt just occur. Depending on the individual and their circumstances
mental health can occur widely and the affects can be life threatening. My
ability to connect and use my knowledge was heightened and this has
assisted me in linking to this topic personally, socially and mentally.

Evident feedback was given from my peers and the teacher about the inquiry
project I have been undertaking. Constructive conversation suggested how
we could improve our assignment, which assisted in providing advice on
expanding our definition of the holism aspect. This would have strengthened
our argument for the oral presentation. Our presentation provided the class
with clear and straightforward figures and statistics to show the realism of the
illness. This made it easier for the class to understand our intended aim. The
picture was painted very well, to be easily understood (Class Conversation
31-5-16, Inquiry Project Presentation). Health promotion campaigns were
collectively placed in our inquiry project to get the class thinking about the
social aspect that helped them gain a better understanding. Extended learning
was carried out, throughout this topic we were encouraged to think about what
happens beyond the four walls of the classroom. From this experience I have
taken away and extended my knowledge in the aspect of; mental health, what
mental health is, how it affects someone, how many people, the range of
people affected, and where to go for help.
I believe by incorporating a mental health topic into the schooling curriculum
will help with reducing the significant issue and burden of this disease in
children. Not only the children are educated on the topic but also the teachers
and this will have a flow on effect to parents. Educating teachers on how to
help their students will promote discussion about emotional resilience and aid
assistance when students need it. However teaching mental health to
students shouldnt be undertaken as something scary and frightening. It
should be around removing the social stigmas and education for all. Which
would include; the places and people they can go to for help, how to reach out
for help, implementing action plans relevant to the individual circumstances
and being proactive and preventing situations from occurring.
The students need to be prompted and taught how to build and maintain a
good mentality, empowering them and giving them to tools to become
physically and emotionally strong. Nehah Shah from the Independent
newspaper (2016) states that for every classroom in the world there is three
students in every one of those classrooms that have a mental health

condition. The students may be unaware and the condition may not be
diagnosed as such or the children might not be able to comprehend what a
mental illness is. Shocking statistics like this really do prove the importance of
incorporating mental health into the curriculum in schools to support mental
illnesses. Prevention methods need to be put in place to diminish the burden
of this illness.
I believe this should be conducted in a way that is easily understandable to
tackle the stigma of mental illness. The ideal scenario would be teaching
mental health to students at regular intervals. Providing case studies and
scenarios to the children will demonstrate what it is like living with a mental
illness and how to recognise the triggers and put strategies into place to help
cope. By talking openly about this illness it will assist to promote awareness
and to create a prevention program including methods to assist. Taking
reference from Health in All Policies (HiAP) Framework for Country Action
(2014) the collaboration across sectors needs to be in support of creating a
health prevention method for mental health to construct a sustained
developmental program. Health promotion in schools wouldnt just be about
instruction; I believe you need to address the whole school social
environment, encompassing the students mental wellbeing. By taking a
holistic approach and provide better support for school age children and their
families.

Development and implementation of a holistic approach both at schools and

within the community require change and support from policy makers. Mental
health awareness activities need to be incorporated into the community area
just like in schools to inform an educate all. Creating a supportive wellbeing
for a community is the utter most important thing to ensure all people feel
welcome and know that help is available and where to access it. A wide range
of programs and support systems need to be easily accessible and promoted
so community know where to go. We need to create an atmosphere that is
supportive and open with a range of early intervention initiatives. Better
support is needed to identify individuals and groups who are severely at risk

and are in a vulnerable state. Just like in schools mental health shouldnt be
taught as something scary, community need information about all aspects;
where to go for help and assistance, and how to help themself.
Creating a community early intervention program will promote healthy
relationships, form friendship and promote communication with people of
different cultures, views and backgrounds as stated in our oral presetation.
People are affected in positive ways by promoting a happy and healthy
wellbeing. Promoting mental health should be conducted in a way that people
feel safe, to give assistance to people that are vulnerable and help them
maintain their everyday life. I believe the perfect scenario in this case is have
a community program run once a week, ensuring people are not alone. All of
this should be incorporated into each community to reduce the amount of
mental health cases. The mental health community setting is related back to
our groups cultural diverse presentation, talking about Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people, people with diseases, the younger population, people
who are bullied and have a mental illness and athletes.
In conclusion, I believe the mental health statistics show an increase of the
burden of this disease. By conducting research about mental health illness for
the group oral presentation and inquiry project my level of understating and
awareness has increased. This demonstrates, by giving people knowledge
you can create a level of understanding around mental health. The feedback
given in class helped me to construct my written assignment and to think
about a holistic approach to the mental health issues. From this experience I
have gained a greater understanding and empathy towards mental health and
the issues that transpire because of this insidious illness. The entire
assignment both oral and written has helped me to enhance my overall
understanding of the mental health issue in education, the community and the
need for a shared holistic approach.

Weebly Link http://baileymiller32.weebly.com/hlpe1540.html

Reference ListHealth in All Policies (HiAP) Framework for Country Action. (2014). WHO. Retrieved 4 June
2016, from http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/140120HPRHiAPFramework.pdf

Shah, N. (2016). Why mental health first aid should be taught in every school. The
Independent. Retrieved 2 June 2016, from http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/why-mentalhealth-first-aid-should-be-taught-in-every-school-to-the-pupils-and-the-teachersa6863301.html

Government, A. (2014). Mindframe. Mindframe-media.info. Retrieved 3 June 2016, from

http://www.mindframe-media.info/for-media/reporting-mental-illness/facts-and-stats#Myth
(Class Conversation 31-5-16, Inquiry Project Presentation)

Germov. J, (2014). Second Opinion - An Introduction to Health Sociology (5th ed., p.

147). Melbourne, Victoria: John Germov.