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Assessment Task 3
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Q 1 a.

Sandy's paranoia is evident as she has increased distrust of others, believes she is being

spied on and has inflated beliefs about herself. There are also signs of psychosis in her

behaviour, such as chaotic thought processes, hallucinations, and delusions (Duffy & Kelly,

2017, p.1). Paranoid symptoms like Sandy's include increased suspicion and distrust of others.

The nurses in the hospital are out to help her, and she is convinced that the government is spying

on her and reading her thoughts. She also has delusions of persecution, acting on the idea that the

government is actively trying to have her killed. Sandy also has inflated senses of self-

importance and superiority thanks to her illusions of grandeur. Because of her paranoid and

psychotic symptoms, Sandy is in a lot of pain and disarray right now. She has no idea why she is

there and is wary of the medical workers. She worries about not eating or sleeping, and her

paranoia and psychosis limit her capacity to go about her daily life.

Q 1 b.

Sandy's lack of self-awareness about her condition and medication rejection is a top

nursing concern. Psychoeducation, a nursing intervention used to assist patients in learning about

mental illness and making informed decisions about their care, is one way to improve patients'

understanding of their disease and the alternatives for managing it. Patients with mental health

issues may benefit greatly from psychoeducation, which is provided as part of their care, by

learning more about their disease and its alternatives. As a result, they will be better able to

participate in their care choices and adhere to treatment plans. Evidence suggests that

psychoeducation may increase patients' medication adherence and mental health. The most

effective method of giving psychoeducation may change from patient to patient. However, some

essential components of good psychoeducation include giving accurate and up-to-date

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information on the patient's condition, communicating the information politely and helpfully, and

using simple language.

The dissemination of psychoeducation may be accomplished via various media, such as

pamphlets, books, and online platforms. However, talking to a trained mental health practitioner

face-to-face is the most efficient method of providing psychoeducation. As a result, the patient

may get individualized care and has the chance to ask questions about anything that is not

apparent to them. Patients are better equipped to make choices about their care when they have a

firm grasp of their diagnosis and the range of alternatives accessible to them via

psychoeducation. However, remember that every patient is unique and calls for a tailored

approach.

Q 1 c.

Sandy has to be evaluated by a psychiatrist to see if she poses a risk to herself or others.

Understanding her disease is important to her Treatment Authority under the Mental Health Act

2016 Qld. Due to her schizophrenia diagnosis, Sandy has been hospitalized for treatment. Sandy,

now 42, has been dealing with the effects of her condition for 23 years. Sandy has been out of

work for two years and is presently homeless.

Sandy was supposed to take depot long-acting anti-psychotic medicine, but she has not

been in contact with her case manager for over three months and missed her last depot

appointment. Sandy's parents try to keep in touch, and they are Brisbane residents. But she does

not have a phone, making it difficult to get in touch with them. According to Sandy, her grandpa

had schizophrenia and killed himself at 50. According to the Mental Health Act 2016,

Queensland, Sandy is now subject to a Treatment Authority. This necessitates a psychiatric

evaluation to ascertain whether or not she is a threat to herself or others. The psychiatrist's ability
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to determine whether or not Sandy is aware of her disease and whether or not she poses a threat

to herself or others depends, in part, on Sandy's level of self-awareness about her condition.

Q 2 a.

People with PTSD have vivid, troubling thoughts and sensations about their experience

that remain long after the terrible incident, as Aliah characterizes (Shalev et al., 2019, p.77).

During the assessment session, it was found that she tried to suicide by overdosing some years

ago, which resulted in a brief medical hospitalization and admittance to an intensive psychiatric

ward. Furthermore, she frequently sleeps in, averaging 5-6 hours each night, and her appetite is

poor, as her husband claim. Khalid, her spouse, claims that she no longer talks to him as often as

she did before her parents died. Aliah has a history of scoliosis and persistent pain, which has led

to codeine addiction. As you speak to her, she stares at the floor, indicating that her conviction is

doomed. Aliah feels dejected as she responds to the question she is not asked.

Q 2 b.

The nurse needs to begin therapeutic communication (Darnell et al., 2019, p.482). Any

person going through emotional distress does not want to be judged, left out, or neglected. By

creating an atmosphere where patients feel secure and cared for emotionally, the nurse will earn

their trust and improve their health. As a result, patients may be more receptive to having open

conversations with healthcare providers about their suicidal motives, ideas, and beliefs, which

can improve the efficacy of therapies. In addition, this would make it possible for her to speak

her mind without worrying about the consequences. The nurse should talk about suicidal ideation

and how to suppress it. The more the nurse discusses with Aliah about her mental suffering, the

more hope she will have that therapy can successfully relieve it.
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A nurse's role also includes developing a patient-specific, adaptable care plan for the long

term. A mental health nurse is responsible for developing a treatment plan that includes ongoing

assessment and group problem-solving to reduce the likelihood of suicide ideation and behaviour

among my patients (GWA, 2021, p.67). Realistic therapies that can address immediate, acute and

persistent suicidal behaviours require the patient's family and support network to cooperate with

mental health care experts from many disciplines. The danger of suicide can be mitigated in

several ways, such as by creating a safety plan or planning a rescue operation for suicide victims.

In addition, nurses should ensure that all healthcare professionals have access to the most recent

treatment plans and are well-versed in all information that could improve the quality of care they

deliver (Minister et al., 2017, p.122).

Q 2 c.

Combining cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) with testimonial therapy (TT): the goal is

to encourage clients to adopt new ways of thinking (Mubin et al., 2020, p.88). One such tactic is

to become more self-aware of one's own cognitive biases contributing to one's difficulties and

reconsider these biases in light of reality. Since the person-centred care model values Aliah's

autonomy and seeks to improve her quality of life, they agree.

All healthcare professionals may encounter suicidal patients in everyday clinical practice,

highlighting the need for collaborative suicide risk management across a broad spectrum of

providers and healthcare settings (Kasanova et al., 2020, p.77). This is because the patient and

their family might benefit from a psychological approach to care that is focused on them and

embraces shared decision-making. When suicidal thoughts develop, psychosocial psychotherapy

may teach the patient healthy coping mechanisms for handling stress, reveal destructive thought

patterns, and provide valuable practice in implementing those patterns. It may take weeks or
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months to treat this condition, but using the "6 C's" of care—confidence, empathy, dedication,

communication, expertise, and caring—might help inspire patients and lessen their risk of

suicidal thoughts and behaviours in the meantime (Darnell et al., 2019, p.482). In addition, those

who have attempted suicide or self-harm and been admitted to the hospital must meet with a

mental health professional before being released. Although in-person meetings are always

preferable, telehealth may be used in a pinch. If nothing else, the treating physician should

consult with a seasoned psychiatric specialist.

Q 3 a.

Harm minimization aims to lessen possible negative health, economic, and social effects

of substance abuse on individuals and communities. The approach seeks to lessen drug and

alcohol abuse's negative effects on individuals and communities by ensuring that all efforts

comply with World Health Organisation guidelines (Sullivan, 2019, p.323). It was thought that

all public and private organizations would need to implement harm minimization policies to

lessen the impact of drug abuse. Assessing potential risks and eliminating or minimizing them is

a more efficient approach to harm reduction. Patients' diseases, risks, and choices for improving

their quality of life were discussed as part of the plan (Pickard & Pearce, 2017, p. 325).

Q 3 b.

The National Alcohol Strategy 2019–2028 is a plan to reduce alcohol-related damage

(Department of Health and Aged Care, 2019). The plan's objective is to lessen alcohol's negative

effects. By making the drug less accessible at home and social gatherings, we can assist the

person or community recover from their addiction (Sullivan, 2019, p.325). The demand

reduction approach has progressed to include halting and delaying the initiation of alcohol,

tobacco, and other drug use in local communities; and assisting addicts in overcoming their
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disease and resettling into society (Shalev et al., 2019, p.46). Many individuals in Australia

might benefit from guidance and education on responsible alcohol drinking. This method aids in

raising consciousness about the dangers of drinking.

Q 3 c.

The national Alcohol Strategy aims to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm by

recommending actions that can be taken at the local, state, territory, and national levels. The goal

of the plan is to develop a unified strategy for minimizing the negative effects of alcohol use

throughout the whole of Australia. Improving community safety and aesthetics are two of the

four priority areas that have been recognized for action—managing the availability, pricing, and

marketing of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol promotion through television ads is legal in Australia,

starting from 12 pm to 3 pm on school days and starting from 8:30 pm to 5 am on any day.

Therefore, implementing the strategy can push for the need to control the advertising of alcohol

and ensure that the vulnerable population (adults and adolescents) is not affected (Siegfried et al.,

2014, p.1). The strategy talks about increasing alcohol prices as one way of discouraging people

from consuming it. According to Sharma et al. (2017), increasing alcohol prices can control

alcohol consumption.

References

Department of Health and Aged Care. (2019). National Alcohol Strategy 2019–2028. Australian

Government. https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-alcohol-strategy-

2019-2028
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Duffy, R. M., & Kelly, B. D. (2017). Concordance of the Indian Mental Healthcare Act 2017

with the World Health Organisation’s checklist on mental health legislation.

International journal of mental health systems, 11(1), 1-24.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-017-0155-1

Darnell, D. A., Parker, L. E., Wagner, A. W., Dunn, C. W., Atkins, D. C., Dorsey, S., & Zatzick,

D. F. (2019). Task-shifting to improve the reach of mental health interventions for trauma

patients: findings from a pilot study of trauma nurse training in patient-centred activity

scheduling for PTSD and depression. Cognitive behaviour therapy, 48(6), 482-496.

https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2018.1541928

Sharma, A., Sinha, K., & Vandenberg, B. (2017). Pricing as a means of controlling alcohol

consumption. British medical bulletin, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldx020

Government of Western Australia (GWA) (2021). Principles and Best Practices for the Care of

People Who May Be Suicidal. Principles and Best Practice for the Care of People Who

May Be Suicidal, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.7748/mhp.19.1.6.s5

Kasanova, Z., Hajdúk, M., Thewissen, V., & Myin-Germeys, I. (2020). Temporal

associations between Sleep Quality and Paranoia Across the Paranoia Continuum: An

ExperienceSampling Study. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 129(1), 122–130.

https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000453

Siegfried, N., Pienaar, D. C., Ataguba, J. E., Volmink, J., Kredo, T., Jere, M., & Parry, C. D.

(2014). Restricting or banning alcohol advertising from reducing alcohol consumption in

adults and adolescents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (11).

https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd010704.pub2
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Manister, N. N., Murray, S., Burke, J. M., Finegan, M., & McKiernan, M. E.

(2017).Effectiveness of nursing education to prevent inpatient suicide. The Journal

ofContinuing Education in Nursing, 48(9), 413-419. https://doi.org/10.3928/00220124-

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Mubin, M. F., &Livana, P. H. (2020). Reduction of family stress level through therapy

ofpsychoeducation of schizophrenia paranoid family. EnfermeríaClínica, 30, 155-159.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enfcli.2019.12.048

Peretti, P., & Lévy, A. (2019). Dealing with what is unravelling: Construction of a

paranoidcompensation in a case of vascular dementia. Cliniques Mediterranean’s, 1(1),

189-203. https://doi.org/10.26565/2312-5675-2019-12-03

Queensland Health (2017). A Guide to the Mental Health Act 2016.

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0031/444856/guide-to-mha.pdf

Sullivan, P. J. (2019). Risk and responding to self-injury: are harm minimization a step too far?

The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice.

https://doi.org/10.1108/jmhtep-05-2018-0031

Shalev, A. Y., Gevonden, M., Ratanatharathorn, A., Laska, E., Van Der Mei, W. F., Qi, W., ...&

Matsuoka, Y. J. (2019). Estimating the risk of PTSD in recent trauma survivors:results of

the International Consortium to Predict PTSD (ICPP). World Psychiatry, 18(1), 77-87.

https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20608