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JCPSLP Volume 19, Number 3 2017 169
National Mental Health Commission (2013). Developing
a mentally healthy workplace: A review of the literature.
Retrieved from
au/our-work/mentally-healthy-workplace-alliance.aspx
Speech Pathology Australia. (2010). Code of
ethics. Melbourne: Speech Pathology Association of
Australia. Retrieved 28 April 2017 from https://www.
spaweb/Members/Ethics/Ethics
World Health Organization. (2017). Mental health: A state
of well-being. Retrieved 7 May 2017 from
int/features/factfiles/mental_health/en/
1 The case studies have been created by the authors to stimulate
discussion of mental health issues. If these cases have raised
concerns for you, the following services may offer support:
Beyond Blue
national-help-lines-and-websites
SANE Australia
Black Dog Institute
If you have concerns regarding the ethical implications
of your own or a colleague’s health concerns with
impacts upon competence to practice, you may seek
advice from Trish Johnson, Senior Advisor, Ethics and
Professional Issues, Speech Pathology Australia, tjohnson@
.
Reticence around acknowledging mental health issues
may be a consequence of real or perceived stigma
in workplaces. A safe working environment is a key
to overcoming such stigma regarding mental health.
Workplaces must negotiate that same fine line between
normalising and not trivialising mental health issues and by
having resources in place to support speech pathologists
who are managing mental health issues. For example, the
National Medical Health Commission (2013) and Australian
Human Rights Commission (2010) provide resources for
mental health in the workplace.
Conclusion
We have raised ethical issues related to mental health in
client care and health care practice for the purposes of
reflection and to facilitate conversations around developing
safe cultures in workplaces. Mental health is a complex
topic and may not be addressed in work places until a
significant incident occurs involving a client or health
professional. Can we as speech pathologists, colleagues
and managers develop a more proactive approach to
mental health in our workplaces?
References
Australian Human Rights Commission. (2010). Workers with
mental illness: A practical guide for managers. Retrieved
from
rights/publications/2010-workers-mental-illness-practical-
guide-managers
Ayala, E. E., Ellis, M. V., Grudev, N., & Cole, J. (2017).
Women in health service psychology programs: stress,
self-care and quality of life. Training and Education in
Professional Psychology, 11(1), 18–25.
Branch, W. T. (2000). The ethics of caring and medical
education, Academic Medicine, 75, 2, 127–132.
COAG Health Council. (2015). A national Code of
Conduct for healthcare workers. Retrieved 19 June
2017 from
NationalCodeOfConductForHealthCareWorkers
McLaughlin, E., Lincoln, M., & Adamson, B. (2008).
Speech-language pathologists’ views on attrition from
the profession. International Journal of Speech-Language
Pathology, 10, 3, 156–158.
Murray, A. (2009). Introduction – Mental health, Special
edition. ACQuiring Knowledge in Speech, Language and
Hearing, 11(3), 131.
Dr Belinda Kenny is an elected member of the Board of Ethics.
Belinda is an academic at Work Integrated Learning, University of
Sydney, with learning, teaching and research interests in ethical
reasoning and ethical practice. Trish Bradd is a Senior Board
appointed member of the Ethics Board and a Fellow of Speech
Pathology Australia. With tertiary qualifications in speech pathology
and management, Trish has extensive experience in the public
health care sector. Noel Muller is a consumer from Queensland.
As a consumer, he has a passion for consumer rights and equity,
particularly in the provision of health and community services for
all. Noel strongly believes that the community must be involved in
all aspects of the decision process and the provision of services.
Correspondence to:
Belinda Kenny
The University of Sydney
Work Integrated Learning, Faculty of Health Sciences
email:
phone: