Introduction of Task

In Humanities, towards the end of Term 1 we started working on Civics and Citizenship. During this we started looking at our democracy and what it entitles us to do as citizens of Australia, as for this task we are practicing our rights and freedoms of being active democratic citizens. This Assessment required us to write a letter to our Member of Parliament about an issue that we felt was important. We had to complete a research task before starting the letter so that we knew the most we could about our topic. I chose the topic of Improving Mental Health Care for Childeren as I didn’t feel that it is at its peak at the moment. I believe that if people with mental health issues when they are young get sufficient care at the problem time it could limit the amount of issues they could potentially have at an older age. I hope that by writing this letter to my representative of Fremantle, Josh Wilson the growing issue of mental health and mental health care will be improved.

Letter to Josh Wilson

Dear Mr Wilson,   I live in the Fremantle electorate however am a student at All Saints College. I am deeply concerned about Australia’s Mental Health Care for Children and know it should be prioritized. Therefore, I am writing you to discuss said topic. Mental health by definition is a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. It refers to our feelings, emotions, and moods. As you are aware mental health has become a more prominent topic after and during the pandemic. However, many don’t know how bad it actually is. Around 1 in 5 Australians aged 16-85 suffer from some form of mental illness. Even before the pandemic, in 2019, 461 people committed suicide between the ages of 15 and 24.   Keeping good mental health is essential as the idea of mental illness dates back to Ancient Egyptian times. Knowing how long mental illness has been present for shows you just how good mental health care should be.   Mental health care is not as outstanding as you may think. The Perth Children’s Hospital is the main and largest hospital for children under the age of 16 requiring mental help. Many would assume that with it being the largest hospital for mental illness there would be a lot of space however, it is quite the opposite. For any children needing immediate help there are only 20 beds available. With each child lucky enough to get in the help they require a usual stay spans from 2-3 weeks. In 2017, 1569 kids went through PCH and in 2020 it rose to 2253 kids. Due to the rising rate of people needing mental help we can only assume it will get worse.   I understand that after Covid 19 other issues were prioritized. However, I firmly believe that it is time for mental health care to be improved with more beds at more hospitals. The are many people that help take care and help people with mental illnesses including social workers, mental health nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, general practitioners and more. This means that with an increase in beds and psychiatric wards there would be plenty of people to take care of them.   As mental health issues are becoming more prominent in children, I know that from a young age kids should be taught about common signs, common illnesses or what to do if you or a friend is presented in such a situation. It is essential for children to know that mental illness is not something to be ashamed of and is very common and something many people experience. I also feel passionate that all schools should have 1 day a week where they have half a day off so that the kids can do whatever they want to make themselves feel better. Weather that is study, taking a nap, making a planner, going on their phone or just spending some time playing games with friends. This could result in less stressed out students and some time for them to focus on what they want to do to make themselves feel better.   These are just a few suggestions that could help young people fell better about having mental health issues or seeking help about the issues. I know that mental health care needs to be improved for children and I am positive that these would all help. I appreciate you taking the time to view my concerns and hope that improvements will be made promptly.   Yours Sincerely, Beth Lockwood