Government Policies to Promote Inclusion in the UK - Essay Example

Mental health is a contested and complex field where various people define it differently using terms such as mental illness, mental health problems, mental health issues, mental disorders, or distress. Terminology is very important when defining mental health as it may carry various implications. For example, MIND (2003) prefers to use the term mental distress and the Survivor Movement rejects the term mental illness because they are critical of psychiatry. In most of the literature that I have encountered the term mental health problem is widely used to indicate mental illness. Whereas the term was also criticized to reinforce the false stereotype that individuals who have such conditions are always problematic in the workplace (Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and Department of Health (DOH), 2009). All these terms carry negative connotations and that is why I have preferred to use the term mental health issues in this project as I find it less oppressive, and note that there may be significant changes or improvements; the term “illness” implies a constant state.

Due to the complexity of mental health, various authors have defined the term in several ways; The Mental Health Foundation (2002) defines mental health as, a state of well being in which the individual realizes his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can make a contribution to his or her community. According to S (1) Mental Health Act (2007), the term is defined as “any disorder or disability of the mind”. In contrast, Moore (2002, p.434) defines it as “a general non-specific term used to describe a combination of physical, social and emotional factors that may affect individuals or the general population.” The term is complicated to define because there are many forms of mental health issues; neurosis; (depression, anxiety), psychosis; (schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder) and post-traumatic stress.

This project will consider individuals with a range of mental health issues; from common health problems such as everyday stresses, anxiety disorders to the more acute forms of depression, and severe issues such as schizophrenia. The number of people affected by common mental health problems is estimated to be between one in six and one in four of the general population (Seymour and Grove, 2005; Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health (SCMH) 2007a). Whereas more severe problems such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are experienced by around one in 100 people (Mental Health Foundation, 2003).

According to (Davis & Rinaldi, 2004; Leff & Warner, 2006) mental health was seen from the medical model which carried with it professional power and prescription. The medical model, as Hahn (1988, P. 2) described, “Imposes a presumption of biological or physiological inferiority upon disabled persons”. However, with the social model of recovery, many individuals with mental health issues have been integrated into work and have the desire to work. This model seeks to overcome disadvantages by adapting society to ensure that everyone’s abilities are accommodated (Priestly, 2000). Similarly, Repper and Perkins (2003, p.27) stated that the “social disability model entails a change in thinking i.e. a change in focus from symptoms and cures to people’s lives out with their illness”. In evidence of this, (Ridgeway, 2001; Secker et al, 2002; Seebohm and Secker, 2003) in Davis and Rinaldi (2004) are reported working within the social model of recovery as a method of removing the boundaries of clients in obtaining employment.

Similar to the social model is the recovery model. Repper, (2003) argued that the recovery model is seen in terms of the social model of disability rather than the medical model. The Recovery model was developed by Mary Ellan Copeland in (1989), whose work focuses on the study of day-to-day coping and wellness strategies of people who have experienced mental health challenges. There is no single agreed definition of recovery, however, the main message is that hope and restoration of a meaningful life are possible despite serious mental illness (Deegan, 1998; Anthony, 1993). According to MIND, the recovery model aims to see service users holistically and as complete people, who can cope with their distress in such a way that, they can participate in full life developing their self-esteem and self-determination (www.mind.gov.uk).

For generations, individuals who experience mental health issues have been ‘out of sight, out of mind’ (Perkins, 2009, P.6). Therefore, many people were ill-treated, neglected, and discriminated against due to a lack of understanding of mental health issues (Leff and Warner, 2006). According to Jodelet (1991), exclusion of individuals with mental health issues dates back to the 19th Century and part of the 20th Century, when they were discriminated against and referred to as lunatic, imbecile, mad or insane.