terminology 2

Question 1

Mental health professional

Answer 1

A person who offers services for the purpose of improving an individual’s mental health or to treat mental illness. These professionals include (but are not limited to) psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, occupational therapists and psychiatric nurses. See also Practitioner(s).

Question 2

Mental health promotion

Answer 2

action to maximise mental health and wellbeing among populations and individuals. Mental health promotion is concerned with promoting wellbeing across entire population groups for people who are currently well, for those at risk, and for those experiencing illness.

Question 3

Mental health services

Answer 3

Refers to services in which the primary function is specifically to provide clinical treatment, rehabilitation or community support targeted towards people affected by mental illness or psychiatric disability, and/or their families and carers. Mental health services are provided by organisations operating in both the government and non-government sectors, where such organisations may exclusively focus their efforts on mental health service provision or provide such activities as part of a broader range of health or human services.

Question 4

Monitor

Answer 4

To check, observe critically, measure or record the progress of an activity, action or system on a regular basis to identify change.

Question 5

Non-government mental health sector

Answer 5

Private, not-for-profit, community-managed organisations that provide community support services for people affected by mental illness and their families and carers. Non-government organisations may promote self-help and provide support and advocacy services for people who have a mental health problem or a mental illness, and their carers, or have a psychosocial rehabilitation role. Psychosocial rehabilitation and support services provided by non-government community agencies include housing support, day programs, pre-vocational training, residential services and respite care.

Question 6

Outcome

Answer 6

A measurable change in the health of an individual, or group of people or population, that is attributable to interventions or services.

Question 7

People

Answer 7

the term ‘People’ refers to anyone who is currently using, or has previously used, a mental health service and includes people who have accessed general health services for a mental health problem. For the purposes of this statement, this term includes those with emerging or established mental illness for which they have not yet sought treatment, or for whom treatment has not yet been provided.

Question 8

Personal and health-related information

Answer 8

ny information or an opinion about a person whose identity is apparent or can reasonably be ascertained from the information or opinion. Personal information can include a person’s name, date of birth, address, telephone number, family members or any other information that could allow the person to be identified.

Question 9

Practice

Answer 9

Any role, whether remunerated or not, in which the individual uses their skills and knowledge as a practitioner in their regulated health profession. Practice is not restricted to providing direct clinical care

Question 10

Practitioner(s)

Answer 10

A practitioner is someone who engages in an occupation, profession, religion, or way of life. In the context of this document practitioner(s) include (but are not limited to) psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, occupational therapists and psychiatric nurses. See also Mental health professional.

Question 11

Prevention

Answer 11

interventions that occur before the initial onset of a disorder.

Question 12

Professional boundaries -

Answer 12

Professional boundaries in nursing and midwifery are defined as ‘limits which protect the space between the professional’s power and the client’s vulnerability’

Question 13

Quality improvement

Answer 13

Ongoing response to quality assessment data about a service in ways that improve the process by which services are provided to people.

Question 14

Recovery -

Answer 14

Recovery involves the development of new meaning and purpose in one’s life as one grows beyond the catastrophic effects of psychiatric disability.

Question 15

Recovery-oriented mental health practice

Answer 15

refers to the application of sets of capabilities that support people to recognise and take responsibility for their own recovery and wellbeing and to define their goals, wishes and aspirations

Question 16

Rights

Answer 16

something that can be claimed as justly, fairly, legally or morally one’s own. The term can also refer to a formal description of the services that people can expect and demand from an organisation.

Question 17

Risk

Answer 17

• The chance of something happening that will have a (negative) impact. It is measured in terms of consequence and likelihood.

Question 18

Risk assessment

Answer 18

The process of identifying, analysing and evaluating a risk.

Question 19

Safety -

Answer 19

Freedom from hazard.

Question 20

Self-determination

Answer 20

the right of all people to ‘freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development’

Question 21

Service provider

Answer 21

A person, usually with professional qualifications, who receives remuneration for providing services to people who have a mental health problem and/or mental illness.

Question 22

Services

Answer 22

Products of the organisation delivered to people or units of the organisation that deliver products to people.

Question 23

Social inclusion

Answer 23

. Social inclusion refers to policies that result in the reversal of circumstances or habits that lead to social exclusion. Indicators of social inclusion are that all Australians are able to: secure a job; access services; connect with family, friends, work, personal interests and local community; deal with personal crisis; and have their voices heard.

Question 24

Social and emotional wellbeing

Answer 24

n holistic Aboriginal definition of health that includes: mental health; emotional, psychological and spiritual wellbeing; and issues impacting specifically on wellbeing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities such as grief, suicide/self-harm, loss and trauma.

Question 25

Stakeholder

Answer 25

Individuals, organisations or groups that have an interest or share in services.

Question 26

Standard

Answer 26

• Degree of excellence etc. required for a particular purpose; measure to which others conform or by which the accuracy or quality of others is judged

Question 27

Support services

Answer 27

Direct services and interventions provided for a person with a mental health problem and/or mental illness and associated disability aimed at reducing handicap and promoting community tenure, for example, assistance with cooking and cleaning. Support services do not necessarily have a treatment or rehabilitation focus.

Question 28

Transition of care

Answer 28

A set of actions designed to ensure coordination and continuity of care as patients transfer between services. Transitions of care occur in real time, during weekends and overnight, and are usually short lived and often involve clinicians that do not have an ongoing relationship with the patient

Question 29

Treatment

Answer 29

Specific physical, psychological and social interventions provided by health professionals aimed at reducing impairment and disability and/or the maintenance of current level of functioning.

Question 30

Values

Answer 30

rinciples and beliefs that guide an organisation and may involve social or ethical issues

Question 31

Wellbeing

Answer 31

The state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief or economic and social condition.