Within society, different cultures perceive health and illness differently. Cultural understandings play a vital role in determining what is health and what is illness. Throughout history, society has had its own ways of dealing with mental illness, however one thing has remained constant. The treatment of mental illness has been considered a social problem for many years. This essay will determine if mental illness is a social problem by firstly delving into how mental illness was treated in history, looking at the social conditions asylum seekers are parting from and the conditions they are subjected to in detention centres and the contribution such conditions have on mental illness. Lastly this essay will discuss the medical treatment available
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(Edward, Munro, Robins & Welch, 2011). According to Morrisey and Goldman in 1984, people dealing with mental illness were often shunned from their tribal group in prehistoric society (Edward et al, 2011.) Anthological studies believed that people suffering from a mental illness was a result of becoming possessed by a demon as a punishment for their sins (Edward et al, 2011.) This way continued unit humans began to develop increasing complex social structures in the form of villages. Religion then began to influence the way in which people were …show more content…
Local government, State/territory government and the commonwealth government all control each division of the health care system with the commonwealth government being responsible for the funding for health services. This includes, hospitals, medical and pharmaceutical benefits, subsidisation and research. Otherwise, funding for such services come from tax which subsidises health costs for individuals. State/ Territory receive grants In order for local governments to fund community care programs. This part of the health system supplies medical care for the public which is free. However approximately one third of the population have private health insurance. In 1972 the Whitlam government introduced the Medicare system which is available to all Australian residents. Medicare proves people with access to subsidised treatments. Tax payers who earn above a certain amount are to pay a Medicare levy which funds the benefit. Whereas, Private health holders must pay a levy surcharge in order to access the benefits. This system became popular in the twentieth century; prior to this many people received medical help from chemists, herbalists and midwives. Doctors only serviced the people who could afford the service. This is evidence of the Australian health care system historically being an occupational hierarchy whit Doctors holding the most
(Edward, Munro, Robins & Welch, 2011). According to Morrisey and Goldman in 1984, people dealing with mental illness were often shunned from their tribal group in prehistoric society (Edward et al, 2011.) Anthological studies believed that people suffering from a mental illness was a result of becoming possessed by a demon as a punishment for their sins (Edward et al, 2011.) This way continued unit humans began to develop increasing complex social structures in the form of villages. Religion then began to influence the way in which people were …show more content…
Local government, State/territory government and the commonwealth government all control each division of the health care system with the commonwealth government being responsible for the funding for health services. This includes, hospitals, medical and pharmaceutical benefits, subsidisation and research. Otherwise, funding for such services come from tax which subsidises health costs for individuals. State/ Territory receive grants In order for local governments to fund community care programs. This part of the health system supplies medical care for the public which is free. However approximately one third of the population have private health insurance. In 1972 the Whitlam government introduced the Medicare system which is available to all Australian residents. Medicare proves people with access to subsidised treatments. Tax payers who earn above a certain amount are to pay a Medicare levy which funds the benefit. Whereas, Private health holders must pay a levy surcharge in order to access the benefits. This system became popular in the twentieth century; prior to this many people received medical help from chemists, herbalists and midwives. Doctors only serviced the people who could afford the service. This is evidence of the Australian health care system historically being an occupational hierarchy whit Doctors holding the most