As an advocate, you give support to others to make sure their rights, needs and goals are heard and met. This could be individuals or groups of people who are at risk, vulnerable or have diminished capacity. And perhaps cannot communicate their needs or desires effectively alone.
You would help them to understand their rights and the services available to them. Making sure service providers recognise their goals and put plans in place to help achieve them. You would also act as a source of support when individuals have to make important decisions about their lives.
This type of support has been available for at risk individuals for some time. Which includes the elderly, young people and individuals with physical or learning disabilities. However, it’s only recently that it’s been offered to individuals experiencing mental health issues.
A big reason for this was the associated stigma and lack of understanding surrounding mental health. But mental health advocacy is just as important to safeguard individuals with mental health issues as any other disability.
Regardless of their challenges, person-centred approach dictates an individual’s needs and goals must be taken into account. Third parties can give advice and put forward what they believe is best, but the individual has the final say on what they want from their support.
As such mental health advocates are essential to ensure these needs are met within the framework. Find out more about the different reasons why mental health advocacy is important below.
For breaking down barriers
As it stands, far less emphasis is placed on maintaining our mental health in comparison to our physical health. Currently, only 1 in 8 adults with mental health issues are receiving treatment.
This is just one reason why mental health advocacy is needed. It helps break down the many barriers facing individuals with mental health issues or enduring disorders.
Currently, some of the most significant barriers are:
Too few mental health services
Not enough treatments are provided in the UK and those which are available aren’t always adequate. Also, available services tend to be offered to individuals with immediate, life-threatening cases. Because capacity is so low, early intervene to prevent challenges from escalating is rare.
Physical health considered more important
Governments and health insurance companies invest more heavily in regular health services.
Inadequate quality of care in current facilities
Such as psychiatric facilities and mental health hospitals, with little else to choose from.
Paternalistic services
Those considering the views of the service provider over the individual.
Human rights violations
Lack of housing and employment provided to individuals with mental health disorders. Reluctance from private landlords to rent to them and too few organisations supporting through a residential setting.
Stigma
The negative connotations people have of mental health disorders that often result in exclusion.
Not enough positive programmes
Absence of programmes promoting the reality of mental health disorders and preventive methods in schools, workplaces and society.
Minimal or inadequate policies, programmes and legislation
No mental health policies or programmes in existence in many countries worldwide.
Giving people a voice
Being an advocate for mental health allows you to voice the thoughts and feelings of individuals or groups. You’re placed to make sure their opinions and preferences for their support and welfare are documented and provided.
This is a key principle of person-centred approach, which states that the individual’s personal objectives must be prioritised. Even if they are different from those identified by the service provider.
The reason for this is anyone who doesn’t require support can make their own decisions freely. That same level of freedom should be extended to those with diminished capacity and anyone requiring support.
As such, mental health advocacy follows certain characteristics:
Confidentiality
Sharing information given about the client with them but keeping information clients share confidential unless there is a risk to themselves or others.
Empowerment
Enabling clients to speak for themselves and, if not possible, ensuring their points of view are acknowledged and understood. Allowing them to make informed decisions.
Free of charge
Advocates do not charge for their services.
Inclusivity
Making sure everyone has access to an advocate.
Independence
Expressing the client’s views without prejudice.
Impartiality
Presenting the client’s point of view as valid and truthfully as possible, without judgement.
As a genuine mental health advocate, you must listen to the individual to discover what they want from their life. As opposed to having anyone decide this for them on their behalf. That way, those with mental ill-health can express their interpretation of the services they need. Which enables them to make informed decisions about the treatment they receive and many other aspects of their lives.
Changing perceptions of Mental Health
The increased provision of mental health advocacy has helped the public realise the realities of mental health issues and disorders.
Before, people made assumptions about the behaviours associated with mental ill-health. Which fed the stigma surrounding them and made individuals experiencing them more reluctant to seek help and treatment.
Now, more people are being educated about the true nature of these challenges. Helping the public to see that people experiencing mental health issues are no different to those with physical health problems. Lessening the disparity and encouraging more equal treatment of all types of health challenges.
Advocacy helps us better understand the needs of those with mental disorders. Which helps the system better protect their rights and enhance the quality of the services available to them.
Learn more about Mental Health online
The best way to become an advocate for mental health is to gain a detailed understanding of mental health conditions. That way, you will recognise what can lead to these issues and disorders and what can trigger an episode.
Understanding this will help you appreciate the needs of the people you will work with. And you can gain this knowledge through a number of online courses.
By studying mental health, you’ll learn how to identify problem areas, how issues can manifest and how to help people overcome their struggles. You’ll also learn about the support systems available, so you can put people on the path to improved mental wellbeing.
Online courses are studied at a time that suits you. So you can get this knowledge outside of your current job or family commitments.
After studying, you could become an advocate for mental health or pursue a paid career in the mental health sector.
Either way, you can get the knowledge you need with Stonebridge Associated Colleges. As the UK’s leading distance learning provider, we have many courses dedicated to mental health education.
Find out more about what you can learn and where your knowledge can take you below.
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