WHO+-+AUSTRALIA

Anna Twigg Australia World Health Organization Arundel High School Date:

__** Addressing Mental Health Issues **__

The World needs to change their views and plans of actions when it concerns addressing the mental health of the public. Those ailing have too often been failed by their countries in providing substantial aid in the treatment and recovery of illnesses. With the estimated 450 milllion individuals suffering from mental disorders, it falls to the WHO to insure that certain standards are upheld worldwide, and that generations are prepared and capable to have the mental well-being of being a productive member of society. By supporting the implementation of trained staff, modernized treatments, and increased funding in concern to mental health issues with a special focus on less developed, lower income countries, the WHO could revolutionize how the world sees and deals with mental health issues.

The WHO has been criticized for their lack of action concerning mental health issues. Endless research has been conducted to gather data and statistics on the issue, and we are currently working on the QualityRights project, a movement that focuses on the Improvement of the quality and human rights conditions within mental health and social care facilities, and encourages advocating for the rights of those ailing from mental and physiological disabilities. This is not enough. We need to push the world towards recognizing the legitimacy of mental disorders, as opposed to the way the world had previously been dealing with them; which were the inhumane practices of incarceration or execution.The United States will serve as a model in our organizations' immersion into a modified methodology of treatment, seeing how the country has made considerable progress when confronted with the issue of mental health. America has revolutionized practices in mental health through deinstitutionalizing, or providing out-patient treatment for those with mental illnesses. This method thrusts those that previously would have been institutionalized, into the "real world", forcing them to adapt to, and hopefully learn to contribute to their society with the aid of drugs such as anti-psychotics, along with the help of therapy. However, in less developed countries, mental institutions are still popular, and governments and organizations lack the funding to provide for their patients, leaving them in appallingly filthy, dangerous clinics that have failed to give patients the individual care and medical attention necessary in order to be able to, if possible, rejoin society. The question whether or not to support the spread of america's deinstituionalization method is still disputed today. For one, patients often become addicted to the expensive antipsychotic drug treatment, drugs that are difficult for institutions or individuals to afford, especially in less developed countries where money is scarce and institutions are only beginning to attempt out-patient treatment. With some countries not even having a mental health policy, the call for the globalization of standards and treatment is getting louder, a cry that has grown into The movement for Global Mental health. The WHO needs to support the modification of mental health treatment by implementing trained staff and providing other resources, with a special focus on low-income country.

The country of Australia uses tax-based funding to provide care for those suffering from mental illnesses. As a member of the WHO branch known as the Pacific Islands Mental Health Network, Australia pools resources and knowledge with fellow Pacific region countries. By consulting each country, the network has identified a number of priority areas of work, including human resources and training, mental health policy, planning, legislation, service development, access to psychotropic drugs; and research and information. Network countries meet on an annual basis to develop plans of work outlining major areas for action to address these priorities, which would later be officially endorsed by their ministers of health. However, a mere 9% of the country's GDP is spent on public health.On a global scale, for the estimated 350 million people suffering from depression, less than half receive treatment. The 2008 National mental health policy works towards ensuring that Australia has a mental health system that detects and intervenes early in illness, promotes recovery, and ensures that all Australians with a mental illness have access to effective and appropriate treatment and community supports to enable them to participate in the community fully. The national policy also recognizes that certain groups in the community, including Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander peoples, the homeless, disadvantaged people, those exposed to traumatic events, and those with serious or chronic health problems are at heightened risk of mental health problems and mental illness.

Less developed countries simply cannot afford to adopt a policy as liberal as that of Australia. Limited funding, lack of resources, and inferior methodolody of treatments have hindered any efforts for LDCs to develop a more modern perspective on mental health issues. It is the duty of the World health Organization to aid the struggling countries in promoting reform and re-modification of their inhumane, or sometimes even non existent mental health care strategies. The WHO often partners with independent organizations, and with their help can give sufficient funds to revolutionize the way the globe sees mental illness.

Australia's approach toward mental health issues should be used as a template in countries worldwide. Their national policy encourages mental patients to get back on their feet and rejoin society, and also recognizes mental disorders as legitimate, treatable health problems. This reflects the overall goals of the World Health Organization, of creating as many healthy individuals and preparing them with the capability and mental stability to contribute to society.

__** Global Water Crisis **__

//[Intro: Write up a well written introductory paragraph that lays out where you are going in this position paper the things packed into the thesis should general references to the three paragraphs below. All of this should be about the specific topic that you are doing]//

It is known that water is necessary to sustain life. However, access to clean water sources has failed to become a globalized reality. Particularly in the arid desert of Saharan Africa, clean water is rare and difficult to come by. The widening wealth gap only further hinders the likelihood of the impoverished masses accessing clean water. It is has been proven that with the use of new technology paired with collaboration between developed and undeveloped countries, access to water can be achieved.

Although water shortages have not been a major problem until the relatively recent scarcity of fresh water, factors such as growing populations and changing climates have made it more difficult to effectively extract clean water from the diminishing supply. Increasingly limited access to water has lead to serious health problems and death in children and adults alike within Saharan Africa. The frustratingly preventable health implications that stem from a lack of clean drinking water include the untimely deaths of over 30,000 children under the age of five,due to severe malnutrition, while the rest of the suffering population starves. The rising mortality rates along with the socioeconomic decline have root causes that trace back to the lack of water. The disastrous lack of water not only causes direct health implications, but also makes agriculture nearly impossible in the harsh desert climate. The scarcity of water causes poverty, death, malnutrition, and aids in the spread of communicable diseases due to weakened immune systems. The goal of the World Health Organization is to utilize modern technology to extend water sources across Saharan Africa, and eventually equip the ailing countries with the knowledge and training to maintain and support their new water system.

Australia is at the forefront of the global water crisis. Decades of drought have left our landscape parched. Our adaptations and maladaptations to dwindling supplies of freshwater offer useful lessons to many parts of the world—from the Middle East [|to Africa] to the [|U.S. Southwest]—where dire water trends seem to be following close behind. Austrailia's Murray-Darling basin, home to 3 million and producer of 40% of our nations' agriculture is drying up, with the Murray river, the main water supply, not even reaching it's ocean outlet. Rain levels have decreased drastically, and the climate is rising. We have been confronted with the issue of providing water to our citizens. Utilizing technologies within our water systems have proven helpful. Desalination along with the recycling of waste and storm water have been technologies the Murray-Darling basin has utilized. Australia is working towards passing legislation concerning keeping agriculture from exceeding their necessary water usage.

The world has a lot to learn from Australia, failures and successes alike. Australia is facing legitimate water shortages, and has failed in cutting down their usage to a point where it could become beneficial to the economy, or the environment. However, we have proven that the use of technology is effective in sustaining the populations needs. Technology used for this purpose needs to be accessible to all and any countries that are in need, and the World health Organization must work to provide it.

Outside source used:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/australia-water-management/