Psychiatric nurses enhancing consumer and caregiver participation in the state of Victoria: the impact of history and policy.
Australian mental health policy now clearly articulates that consumer and carer (informal caregiver) participation in all aspects of service delivery is an expectation. As the largest professional group, nurses clearly play a key role in translating policy into practice. The aim of this article is to briefly overview the history of mental health service development in Victoria, with specific emphasis on the development of psychiatric nursing. Changing perspectives of consumers of mental health services and their informal carers is discussed. Policy development is described in the context of the development of mental health services. It is argued that an appreciation of the history of punishment and confinement is necessary for providing a climate conducive to consumer and carer participation.
Goodwin
Val
V
School of Nursing, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Happell
Brenda
B
D003256:Community Participation / Q000266:history*; D003688:Deinstitutionalization / Q000266:history; D006285:Health Planning / Q000266:history; D006291:Health Policy / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000266:history; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000266:history*; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000266:history; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000266:history; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing / Q000266:history; D011050:Policy Making; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000266:history*; D013240:Stereotyping; D014739:Victoria