Social Work in Health Care, 51(1), January 2012, pp.53-65.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
The Recovery Approach promotes the view that people with mental health difficulties can recover. Recovery does not always mean that people will return to full health, but it does mean that they can live well in spite of their losses. Peer support constitutes one of the main elements of recovery-based services. This article discusses the relevancy of recovery and peer support to mental health social work practice through an exploration of social work ethics and values. It then provides an exploration of how peer support can be maximised in groupwork, presenting ideas about how different approaches can assist the social work clinician to enhance peer support in groupwork with the aim of promoting recovery. Specifically, the article discusses how the narrative therapy concepts of ‘retelling’ and ‘witnessing’ can be used in the context of peer support to promote recovery, and also how social constructionist, dialogical, and systemic therapy approaches can assist the social work practitioner to enhance peer support in recovery oriented groupwork.
The Recovery Approach promotes the view that people with mental health difficulties can recover. Recovery does not always mean that people will return to full health, but it does mean that they can live well in spite of their losses. Peer support constitutes one of the main elements of recovery-based services. This article discusses the relevancy of recovery and peer support to mental health social work practice through an exploration of social work ethics and values. It then provides an exploration of how peer support can be maximised in groupwork, presenting ideas about how different approaches can assist the social work clinician to enhance peer support in groupwork with the aim of promoting recovery. Specifically, the article discusses how the narrative therapy concepts of ‘retelling’ and ‘witnessing’ can be used in the context of peer support to promote recovery, and also how social constructionist, dialogical, and systemic therapy approaches can assist the social work practitioner to enhance peer support in recovery oriented groupwork.
Subject terms:
life story work, mental health problems, peer groups, recovery approach, groupwork, peer support;
Child: Care, Health and Development, 37(3), May 2011, pp.446-455.
Publisher:
Wiley
Research has shown that children's beliefs about the causes of psychological problems are related to their attitudes and reactions towards affected peers. While sympathy and compassion will result in prosocial responses, anger will give rise to exclusion, social distance and rejection. This study describes the development of the Children's Attributions about Psychological Problems in their Peers (CAPPP) Scale, an instrument which assesses children's beliefs about the causes of psychological disorders among their peers. The 16 items comprising the CAPPP were derived from previous qualitative research findings. A total of 595 young people, with ages spanning early childhood to late adolescence, completed a CAPPP Scale for each of 2 vignettes describing the behaviour of hypothetical peers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), an externalising condition, and depression, an internalising condition. Modifications following consideration of psychometric properties and conceptual fit resulted in a 12-item scale. For both ADHD and depression, the components that emerged were ‘Volition’, ‘Recent Life Stress’, ‘Family Factors’ and ‘School Factors’. The results suggest that children's and adolescents' beliefs about the causes of psychological problems are multidimensional and incorporate both individual and environmental factors. Using the CAPPP, researchers can assess which aspect of these beliefs facilitates or hinders positive responses to affected peers.
Research has shown that children's beliefs about the causes of psychological problems are related to their attitudes and reactions towards affected peers. While sympathy and compassion will result in prosocial responses, anger will give rise to exclusion, social distance and rejection. This study describes the development of the Children's Attributions about Psychological Problems in their Peers (CAPPP) Scale, an instrument which assesses children's beliefs about the causes of psychological disorders among their peers. The 16 items comprising the CAPPP were derived from previous qualitative research findings. A total of 595 young people, with ages spanning early childhood to late adolescence, completed a CAPPP Scale for each of 2 vignettes describing the behaviour of hypothetical peers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), an externalising condition, and depression, an internalising condition. Modifications following consideration of psychometric properties and conceptual fit resulted in a 12-item scale. For both ADHD and depression, the components that emerged were ‘Volition’, ‘Recent Life Stress’, ‘Family Factors’ and ‘School Factors’. The results suggest that children's and adolescents' beliefs about the causes of psychological problems are multidimensional and incorporate both individual and environmental factors. Using the CAPPP, researchers can assess which aspect of these beliefs facilitates or hinders positive responses to affected peers.
Subject terms:
instruments, interpersonal relationships, mental health problems, peer groups, young people, ADHD, attitudes, children, depression;
This book brings together contributions from the UK, Ireland and the rest of Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand, that cover existing practices for interventions with young people at risk, that are positive in nature, such as the collaboration between multi-disciplinary teams and young people, joint-working practices and building on some young peoples’ strengths during adolescence, of inherent resilience, peer group support and mentoring, and ability to self care. In addition, Parts III to VIII detail the darker topics of suicide and self-harm, confrontational behaviour (including gangs, bullying and fire-starting), substance misuse, sexual behaviour (including health and sexuality issues), mental health problems (including eating disorders, depression, cult group membership) and marginalised young people and looked after children, with the various, expert contributors giving their ideas on the best methods for risk assessment and practical interventions with vulnerable young people experiencing these difficulties. Themes of anti-oppressive practice, and the importance of culture, values and ethics run throughout the 17 chapters of text as well as the editor’s introduction and summary.
This book brings together contributions from the UK, Ireland and the rest of Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand, that cover existing practices for interventions with young people at risk, that are positive in nature, such as the collaboration between multi-disciplinary teams and young people, joint-working practices and building on some young peoples’ strengths during adolescence, of inherent resilience, peer group support and mentoring, and ability to self care. In addition, Parts III to VIII detail the darker topics of suicide and self-harm, confrontational behaviour (including gangs, bullying and fire-starting), substance misuse, sexual behaviour (including health and sexuality issues), mental health problems (including eating disorders, depression, cult group membership) and marginalised young people and looked after children, with the various, expert contributors giving their ideas on the best methods for risk assessment and practical interventions with vulnerable young people experiencing these difficulties. Themes of anti-oppressive practice, and the importance of culture, values and ethics run throughout the 17 chapters of text as well as the editor’s introduction and summary.
Subject terms:
joint working, intervention, looked after children, mental health problems, mentoring, multidisciplinary services, peer groups, resilience, risk assessment, self care, self-harm, sexuality, sexually transmitted infections, substance misuse, suicide, vulnerable children, young adults, young offenders, young people, adolescence, bullying, collaboration, depression, eating disorders, gangs;
Location(s):
Australia, Europe, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States