Emergency Law, Social Work, and Mental Illness - Case Study Example

Social Work and Mental illness Introduction Social work is a discipline, which is dedicated to the pursuit of social change and social welfare. The field is geared toward improving the quality of life (Barusch, 2009). In addition, the discipline is concerned with the development of the potential of a community, group, and individual of a society (Fullerton, et al. 2009; Raghavan and McMillen, 2008). The interventions of social workers are performed through teaching, direct practice, community organizing, research and policy (Phillips, et al. 2007). Social work is an interdisciplinary field composed of theories from education, economics, philosophy, sociology, politics, medicine, and psychology. Mental illness is a pattern that is behavioral or psychological which is associated with disability or distress that occurs in a person (Bent-Goodley, 2003). This pattern is not a part of culture or normal development. The current definition of mental illnesses conceptualizes them as disorders of the brain circuits resulting from developmental processes, which are shaped by interaction of genetics and experience (Phillips, et al. 2007). People with mental illnesses are faced with discrimination and great stigma. Social workers are involved in promotion of mental health, which is under recognized in many countries. The nature, purpose, and mission of social work The profession of social work has a mission to promote social change, solve problems in the relationships of human beings and to empower and liberate people so as to enhance their well-being (Fenster, et al. 2010). The practice of social workers is found across the full spectrum human service (programs and agencies). They function at the front line of these services and are involved in the assessment, diagnosis, and determination of access in addition to provision of long-term interventions (Phillips, et al. 2007). These interventions are carried out through casework, social policy development and community development (Barusch, 2009). Thus, the social work profession responds to issues affecting the community and society (Fullerton, et al, 2009). Without social work profession misunderstandings, client disadvantage and suffering and human service resources wastages can result (Koenen, et al. 2009). In spite the importance of social work, their relationship with indigenous communities has been problematic and complex (Joe and Niedermeier, 2006). The main contributing factor has been the social work development history as a profession and its relation with indigenous communities (Panter-Brick, et al. 2009). The role of social work in addressing mental illness The general roles of social work are varied provision of services. One of these services includes case management such as linking clients with programs or agencies, which can meet their psychosocial needs (Brekke, et al. 2007). Thus in the case of mental illness social work will involve management of the condition and linking the mentally ill persons to programs or agencies which can provide them with treatment and management of their conditions. The social workers are also involved in counseling (Phillips, et al. 2007). Thus, social workers can counsel the persons living with mentally ill on how to cope with such persons and they can also help the mentally ill to manage their conditions through counseling. Social work is also involved in human services management (Barusch, 2009). Thus, social workers can be involved in the management of services provided to the mentally ill such as treatment, counseling, and other services that may help to improve the well-being of the mentally ill. Another function played by social work is the analysis of social welfare policy (Panter-Brick, et al. 2009). Social workers are involved in analyzing either policies that affect directly or indirectly the lives of mentally ill and propose any improvements that need to be undertaken by the government agencies involved. Furthermore, the social work involves policy and practice development (Fenster, et al. 2010). The profession is thus involved in devising and practicing policies, which are geared toward improving the lives of the mentally ill. Such policies may concern how such individuals should be treated in case they are implicated in court of law in such a way that their human rights are respected (Brekke, et al. 2007). The profession is also involved in advocating for the rights of the minority in the society. Given the fact that mentally ill is a minority in the society, social workers are involved in advocating for their human rights since they are usually voiceless in the society and not all people understand their needs. Another role played by social work profession is provision of education through teaching (Bent-Goodley, 2003). Thus, they are involved in teaching the relatives of mentally ill concerning the causes and how to manage the individuals affected (Fullerton, et al. 2009). This helps alleviate stigma that in most cases is associated with mental illness in the society (Panter-Brick, et al. 2009). This fosters acceptance and love to the affected individuals once their conditions are understood by their caretakers. The social work also involves creation of awareness concerning different social and biological problems affecting human beings (Austrian, 2005). In the mental health field, social workers are involved in creating awareness about mental health and mental illness and help in stimulating actions geared toward addressing these issues. Social workers are involved in the empowerment of their clients (Greene & Greene, 2008). For a long time many people with mental illness have lacked empowerment (Fenster, et al. 2010). Thus, social workers are involved in the empowerment of mental ill persons through encouraging participation in treatment planning. Historical and contemporary debates, philosophies, and contradictions on social work status The roots of social work are found in the struggle to alleviate poverty and the problems resulting from this (Barusch, 2009). The informing theories and practice models of social work have been derived historically from the western disciplines of anthropology, sociology, and psychology (Brekke, et al. 2007). This presents some problems since culturally bound concepts are imposed and questions arise as to what is legitimate, possible, or normal in terms of behavioral, psychological, social structural, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of human conditions (Kolb, 2010). Thus in cases where the local people’s understandings differed from the western worldview they were held to be spurious, fantasy or inferior (Joe and Niedermeier, 2006). Thus, it is argued that social workers were used on the ground level to impose western reality upon the local people during western expansion driven by economic and political forces (Koenen, et al. 2009). The methodology of social work today is based on a systematic body of knowledge that is derived from research and practice evaluation (Brekke, et al., 2007). It takes note of the complexity involved in the interaction between humans and the environment in which they live and the capacity of people (Bent-Goodley, 2003). The social work profession is drawn from social theory, human development theories and social systems used to analyze situation that are complex in addition to facilitating individual, social, organizational and cultural changes (Fenster, et al. 2010). The ability to overcome suspicion of technology in addition to taking advantage of information technology is another important contemporary development in the social work profession (Joe and Niedermeier, 2006). There have been concerns with regard to the ability of social workers to practice effectively in the mental health (Koenen, et al. 2009). This is because it has been argued that many social work practitioners lack the necessary knowledge and skills to work in the mental health settings (Fenster, et al. 2010). Thus, many authors have argued that much education needs to be provided during training of these professionals to enable them to be competent and acquire the needed skills and knowledge in the mental health institutions (Greene & Greene, 2008). In spite the debate, no specific agreement has been established concerning the nature and depth of the required mental health content in the training of the social workers (Panter-Brick, et al. 2009). No country has a detailed set out curriculum for mental health content for training the social workers. Most of regulatory bodies in many countries just generalize that social work students have to undertake courses related to human growth, development, mental health and disability (Lindsey, et al., 2010). This generalization does not seem to address the required content for social workers to meet the needs of mentally ill persons. Another debate that has been witnessed in relation to social work and mental illness is competency. The meaning of being competent is not well defined (Fenster, et al. 2010). It is argued that the intention is the definition of mental health practice in relation to human encounter instead of the technical application of the knowledge and skills (Greene & Greene, 2008). In spite this contention, some social work professional bodies like the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) have developed competencies, which constitute a technical approach to mental health. This is guided by assumptions and values which reflect different theoretical positions (Joe and Niedermeier, 2006). Therefore, theoretical frameworks underpinning assumptions, which inform the practice need to be scrutinized continuously through interrogation of values that, infuse them (Panter-Brick, et al. 2009). In addition, the simplicity of focusing on content driven approaches in learning about the mental health by social workers has incurred many problems (Barusch, 2009). This includes separation of theory and context from practice (Kolb, 2010). The method is also inappropriate in progressive and critical approaches to practice which link theory with practice, political with personal and ethical with moral dimension of practice aimed at commissioning action. The fact that mental health is defined by the biomedical model, many questions have risen concerning the danger of social work becoming complicit with uncritical power relations and structures, which disenfranchise, disempowered and pathologies the responses of an individual to social problems. Most curriculums have opted to colonize social work to medical part of mental illness instead of responding to structural and social determinants of mental health. Emphasis given to clinical approaches to address mental illness seems to replicate other clinical support roles of for psychiatry (Brekke, et al. 2007). This has tended to fail in offering distinctive and alternative social work alternative. This approach compromises the integrity of social work professional. In addition, the approach results in reduced holistic service response received from the social work profession by the mentally ill (Joe and Niedermeier, 2006). Furthermore, this approach leaves the social status quo of the mentally ill-unchallenged (Austrian, 2005). Given that social workers have limited neurological and biological health training, it is argued that clinical approach is likely to reduce social workers to third-rate health workers (Barusch, 2009). Thus, the responsibility and opportunity of provision of alternative views by social workers concerning medical paradigm of mental health will be lost (Koenen, et al. 2009). It is argued that it is dangerous and consequential if social work profession is induced by medical model of mental health in such a way that its roles and purposes becomes defined by medical model of mental health (Fenster, et al. 2010). Thus, social work ought to be informed by community need and a need that is independently researched instead of industry (medical) defined need (Lindsey, et al. 2010). The influence of these debates, philosophies, and contradictions on mental health From these debates, many authors have argued that it is essential that a critical framework for the development of a mental health curriculum is required for social work education (Fullerton, et al. 2009). It is argued that this will result in knowledge that is more desirable, skills and values that are associated with social work approach to curriculum development in mental health. It is suggested that affirmation and celebration of social work distinctiveness must be undertaken instead of striving ton attain professional legitimacy via uncritical alignment with medical model. This is aimed at helping social work to reposition itself responsibly and critically as a professional discipline in the mental health. The debates also influence the responsibility of social workers. For instance, instead of aligning themselves with medical dominance, social workers are urged to voice alternative perspective of mental illness even if their perspectives differ from the valued medical notions (Fullerton, et al. 2009). Thus, social workers are expected to be agents of transformation of mental health via creation of contexts, which question dominant practices instead of perpetuating the status quo. In doing so, the social workers are expected to be involved in the construction of critical discourses, which are a representation of alternative models to medical model of mental health (Greene & Greene, 2008). The critical approaches adopted by social workers because of the debates are essential in linking the social realm with personal experience. They also highlight how psychiatric diagnosis may mask social injustices and sources of oppression. This approach helps to challenge and reverse the personal effects of oppression in addition to eliminating self-blame. This in turn promotes self-esteem, power and personal autonomy (Barusch, 2009). Hence, critical approaches avoid cases where social workers are involved the enhancement of social inequality via translation of impact of social injustices into a medical label. Contemporary Australian social work and mental health Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is a professional body concerned with social work in Australia (Lindsey, et al. 2010). The inclusion of social work curriculum in the qualifying social work programs to address issues related to mental health was proposed by the body recently (Austrian, 2005). This was informed by the contemporary globalized society that is characterized with disenfranchisement of groups and individuals, social and economic hardships and their accompanying effects on individuals and their mental health (Fenster, et al. 2010). The social work in relation to mental health in Australia is influenced by the following: a) Social Influence Of the articles published for fifty years prior to 2002 in the Australian social work journal, only 1.71% addressed indigenous issues (Joe and Niedermeier, 2006). Thus, it seems that little attention is given to indigenous issues by social workers in Australia (Bent-Goodley, 2003). This is an indication that indigenous practice is not positioned as core social work knowledge (Joe and Niedermeier, 2006). Thus, the social influence of social work in relation to mental health is shaped more by foreign framework rather than indigenous practice in Australia. b) Political influence Australia has National Mental Health strategy, which is concerned with addressing mental problems and mental disorders. This strategy tends to dictate the standards through which all practice related to mental health are to be undertaken ranging from education and management of the mentally ill (Austrian, 2005). The social workers in Australia are not well prepared to meet specific standards within the National Mental Health strategy and many of them seem to be less involved in mental health related issues (Koenen, et al. 2009). However, those involved tend critically to analyze mental problems and mental disorders, which are essential in providing theoretical and practical insights for mental health (Raghavan and McMillen, 2008). c) Global influence In the international arena, social work is involved in the promotion of social change, provision and facilitation of problem solution in human relationships and the empowering and liberation of persons in order to enhance their well-being (Barusch, 2009; Zastrow, 2009). The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) supports social work practice that is based on the human rights framework. This is the same framework that is supported by AASW (Raghavan and McMillen, 2008). In spite the support, many schools in Australia do not incorporate indigenous content or acknowledge indigenous frameworks. This is mainly because much of social work issues are defined by western cultures, which in most cases allow little if any incorporation of indigenous frameworks in addressing local problems (Fenster, et al. 2010). Thus, the influence of global framework on social work in Australia is prevalent. This has seen Australia adopt competency-based approach in social work to address mental illness (Lindsey, et al. 2010). This model privileges clinical model and its individual pathology understandings and response to mental health. This model shifts away from analytic framework model, which is essential in criticizing and challenging the structural inequality. This has reduced the social workers freedom to engage in structural analysis of personally experienced problems and defiantly take up positions relating to equity, social justice, and human rights issues. Conclusion Social workers have numerous roles that are supposed to be fulfilled effectively. This means that the span of their operations is large such as in the mental health care. Social work brings together numerous disciplines that try to explain and assist society on overcoming challenges and shortcomings. Social workers fulfill their tasks through interventions, for example in mental health; they are able to link clients with appropriate programs. This means social work involves promoting and assisting in implementation of policies. Social work has extensive history and has been faced by numerous debates that tend to ensure optimal benefits of social work are achieved has shown by numerous countries such as Australia. Australia understands importance of social work, and has ensured that mental health is encouraged and promoted. References Austrian, S. (2005). Mental Disorders, Medications, and Clinical Social Work, 3rd Ed. Columbia: Columbia University Press. Barusch, A. (2009). Foundations of Social Policy: Social Justice in Human Perspective, 3rd Ed. London: Cengage Learning. Bent-Goodley, T. (2003). African-American Social Workers and Social Policy. London: Routledge. Brekke, J., Hoe, M., Long, J. and Green, M. (2007). How Neurocognition and Social Cognition Influence Functional Change During Community-Based Psychosocial Rehabilitation for Individuals with Schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull, 33(5): 1247–1256. Fenster J, Zodikoff BD, Rozario PA, Joyce P. (2010). Implementing a Gero-Infused Curriculum in Advanced-Level MSW Courses in Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse: An Evaluation. J Gerontol Soc Work, 53(7):641-53. Fullerton, C., McGuire, T., Feng, Z., Mor, V. and Grabowski, D. (2009). Trends in Mental Health Admissions to Nursing Homes: 1999–2005. Psychiatr Serv. 60(7): 965–971. Greene, R. & Greene, R. (2008). Human Behavior Theory & Social Work Practice, 3rd Ed. London: Transaction Publishers. Joe, S. and Niedermeier, D. (2006). Preventing Suicide: A Neglected Social Work Research Agenda. Br J Soc Work, 38(3): 507–530. Koenen, K., Moffitt, T., Roberts, A., Martin, L., Kubzansky, L., Harrington, H., Poulton, R. and Caspi, A. (2009). Childhood IQ and Adult Mental Disorders: A Test of the Cognitive Reserve Hypothesis. Am J Psychiatry, 166(1): 50–57. Kolb PJ. (2010). Becoming a Social Worker: Real Students, Real Clients, Real Growth, by Judy Smith; and becoming a Social Worker with Older Adults: Real Students, Real Clients, Real Growth, by Judy Smith. J Gerontol Soc Work, 53(7):659-62. Lindsey MA, Barksdale CL, Lambert SF, Ialongo NS. (2010). Social network influences on service use among urban, african american youth with mental health problems. J Adolesc Health, 47(4):367-73. Panter-Brick, C., Eggerman, M., Gonzalez, V. and Safdar, S. (2009). Violence, suffering, and mental health in Afghanistan: a school-based survey. Lancet, 374(9692): 807–816. Phillips, K., Pinto, A., Menard, W., Eisen, J., Mancebo, M. and Rasmussen, S. (2007). Obsessive–compulsive Disorder versus Body Dysmorphic Disorder: a Comparison Study of two Possibly Related Disorders. Depress Anxiety, 24(6): 399–409 Raghavan, R. and McMillen, J. (2008). Use of Multiple Psychotropic Medications Among Adolescents Aging Out of Foster Care. Psychiatr Service, 59(9): 1052–1055. Zastrow, C. (2009). Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare: Empowering People, 10th Ed. London: Cengage Learning. Read More

The role of social work in addressing mental illness The general roles of social work are varied provision of services. One of these services includes case management such as linking clients with programs or agencies, which can meet their psychosocial needs (Brekke, et al. 2007). Thus in the case of mental illness social work will involve management of the condition and linking the mentally ill persons to programs or agencies which can provide them with treatment and management of their conditions.

The social workers are also involved in counseling (Phillips, et al. 2007). Thus, social workers can counsel the persons living with mentally ill on how to cope with such persons and they can also help the mentally ill to manage their conditions through counseling. Social work is also involved in human services management (Barusch, 2009). Thus, social workers can be involved in the management of services provided to the mentally ill such as treatment, counseling, and other services that may help to improve the well-being of the mentally ill.

Another function played by social work is the analysis of social welfare policy (Panter-Brick, et al. 2009). Social workers are involved in analyzing either policies that affect directly or indirectly the lives of mentally ill and propose any improvements that need to be undertaken by the government agencies involved. Furthermore, the social work involves policy and practice development (Fenster, et al. 2010). The profession is thus involved in devising and practicing policies, which are geared toward improving the lives of the mentally ill.

Such policies may concern how such individuals should be treated in case they are implicated in court of law in such a way that their human rights are respected (Brekke, et al. 2007). The profession is also involved in advocating for the rights of the minority in the society. Given the fact that mentally ill is a minority in the society, social workers are involved in advocating for their human rights since they are usually voiceless in the society and not all people understand their needs. Another role played by social work profession is provision of education through teaching (Bent-Goodley, 2003).

Thus, they are involved in teaching the relatives of mentally ill concerning the causes and how to manage the individuals affected (Fullerton, et al. 2009). This helps alleviate stigma that in most cases is associated with mental illness in the society (Panter-Brick, et al. 2009). This fosters acceptance and love to the affected individuals once their conditions are understood by their caretakers. The social work also involves creation of awareness concerning different social and biological problems affecting human beings (Austrian, 2005).

In the mental health field, social workers are involved in creating awareness about mental health and mental illness and help in stimulating actions geared toward addressing these issues. Social workers are involved in the empowerment of their clients (Greene & Greene, 2008). For a long time many people with mental illness have lacked empowerment (Fenster, et al. 2010). Thus, social workers are involved in the empowerment of mental ill persons through encouraging participation in treatment planning.

Historical and contemporary debates, philosophies, and contradictions on social work status The roots of social work are found in the struggle to alleviate poverty and the problems resulting from this (Barusch, 2009). The informing theories and practice models of social work have been derived historically from the western disciplines of anthropology, sociology, and psychology (Brekke, et al. 2007). This presents some problems since culturally bound concepts are imposed and questions arise as to what is legitimate, possible, or normal in terms of behavioral, psychological, social structural, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of human conditions (Kolb, 2010).

Thus in cases where the local people’s understandings differed from the western worldview they were held to be spurious, fantasy or inferior (Joe and Niedermeier, 2006).

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