Improving access to psychological therapies: an account of recent policy aspirations in the UK and Australia

Abstract

Recent programmes to improve access to psychological therapies are described for two countries, the UK and Australia. This policy comparison is broken down for analytical purposes into macro, meso and micro features. The first refers to global and historical influences, the second to recent national circumstances and the third to local conditions creating the prospect of policy ‘roll-out’ or ‘spread’. Having made the comparison between the two countries, the discussion goes on to provide a critical analysis of individualised approaches to the amelioration of mental health problems in their wider social context.