Service standards for mental health

The 2010 National standards for mental health services (the standards) provide a framework for quality mental health care that is recovery focused, consumer and carer centric, integrated and evidenced based.

The standards apply to Victorian mental health services – public, private and non-government – and services that deliver mental health care in community and primary care settings.

Principles of the national standards

The standards use the following principles of care:

• Mental health services should promote optimal quality of life.
• Services are delivered with the aim of facilitating sustained recovery.
• Consumers should be involved, as far as possible, in all decisions of treatment and care, and their treatment and setting.
• Consumers have the right to have a nominated carer involved in all aspects of care.
• Role, needs, capacity and requirement of carers are recognised.
• Participation of consumers and carers in development, planning, delivery and evaluation of mental health services is encouraged.
• Mental health treatment, care and support should be tailored to meet the specific needs of the consumer.
• Mental health treatment, care and support should impose the least personal restrictions on rights and choices of the consumer.

The standards emphasise desired outcomes for people with a mental illness, their carers and the wider community. They reflect the rights, dignity and empowerment of individuals.

They also provide guidance on how to involve people with a mental illness, their families and carers in service planning, delivery, evaluation and improvement.

Accreditation

The standards are integrated with existing accreditation frameworks and processes for Victoria’s specialist mental health services – both clinical and the community support sectors.

Implementing the standards

Three national implementation guidelines provide clear directions for how to implement the standards in different services.