Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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A traumatic life brought to book
- Author:
- SALE Anabel Unity
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 25.9.08, 2008, pp.28-29.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Social worker Philip Hill's life story was so extraordinary that his psychiatrist urged him to complete his autobiography. The book details his story from being taken into care, being misdiagnosed as having learning disabilities as a child and experiencing two breakdowns and paranoid schizophrenia, to becoming a social worker. In this article Philip talks to the author about his experiences.
The role of social work in mental health services
- Author:
- SOCIAL CARE INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 17.7.08, 2008, pp.32-33.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
This article discusses the role of social workers in co-ordinating and delivering services for people with mental health problems.
Living out of the book: the journey from a diagnosis of learning difficulties through periods of mental illness to a career as a professional social worker
- Author:
- HILL Philip
- Publisher:
- Chipmunkapublishing
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 205p.
- Place of publication:
- Brentwood
Overcoming the label of learning disability may be an achievement but also triumphing over the obstacles caused by prejudice at being labelled with schizophrenia is highly unusual. Philip Hill uses his auto-biographical account to describe the ways in which he overcame the rejection of his peer group at school neighbourhood and how he used his experiences of mental illness to help others like himself before going on to train as a social worker. This amazing account of triumph over adversity should be an inspiration to other people who find themselves labelled with severe mental illness. The honest and thought provoking way Philip describes his symptoms should enable the layperson to gain an ‘insiders’ insight on what it like to suffer from the active symptoms of Schizophrenia. This book will hopefully challenge the stereotypes surrounding Schizophrenia.
Practice with children and their families: a specialty of clinical social work
- Authors:
- CUNNIGHAM Joyce M., BOOTH Robert A.
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 25(5), October 2008, pp.347-365.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This article, describing an important practice speciality of the profession of clinical social work, is drawn from a position statement, 'Practice with Children and their Families: a Speciality of Clinical Social Work', produced by the American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work (ABE). It is an exposition of the nature of practice in this area and the attributes of speciality practice; and it is the source of ABE's credential, the Board Certified Clinical Social Worker Specialist in Practice with Children and their Families.
The “other” effects of psychotropic medication: social workers’ perspectives on the psychosocial effects of medication treatment on adolescent clients
- Author:
- MOSES Tally
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 25(3), June 2008, pp.205-225.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This study explores social workers’ perspectives on the psychosocial effects of psychotropic drug treatment of their adolescent clients. Using a mail survey, a national US sample of experienced clinical social workers were asked to answer questions about their perceptions of the effects of such treatment on the sense of self and social well-being of an adolescent client. The survey questions also explored associations between perceived psychosocial medication effects and characteristics of the client and the treatment. The findings suggested that social workers viewed medication treatment as having greater beneficial than harmful psychosocial effects on their adolescent clients, but that both effects existed simultaneously. The most important factors associated with the perceived effects of medication that emerged from social workers’ reports included the etiology of the disorder, the type of drug treatment and its effectiveness in addressing symptoms, the client’s “competence,” and the quality of the relationship between the client and the treating social worker. This study provides direction for future research on a neglected but important question. It would be helpful to broaden the scope of professional discourse on the advantages and disadvantages of psychopharmacologic treatment for youth beyond the effectiveness or safety of the treatment to include questions concerning clinicians’ perceptions of the effects of drug treatment on youths’ sense of self and social well-being.
Well-being of asylum seeking children
- Author:
- CHASE Elaine
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 31.7.08, 2008, pp.22-23.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Every year some 3,000 children and young people arrive on their own to seek asylum in the UK. The Thomas Coram Research Unit explored their emotional well-being and identified the factors that either helped or created difficulties for them. The study involved discussions with 54 children and young people from a total of 18 countries. Interviews were also conducted with over 30 social care, health, education and voluntary sector professionals. This article summaries the main findings and there implications for professional practice with this group of young people.
Involving mental health service users considered to pose a risk to other people in risk assessment
- Author:
- LANGAN Joan
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 17(5), October 2008, pp.471-481.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Little research or policy guidance about the involvement of mental health service users in risk assessment exists. This study aimed to explore how hospital and community-based mental health professionals assessed risk to others and the extent to which they involved service users. It also aimed to ascertain service users' knowledge of, and involvement in, risk assessment. A qualitative research methodology was used and semi-structured interviews were conducted with mental health services users and professionals. The professionals included psychiatrists, nurses, social workers and occupational therapists. Four key themes arose (i) some professionals lacked confidence or experience in discussing risk openly with service users, (ii) most were not involving service users in risk assessments, (iii) the majority of service users were unaware that professionals were undertaking risk assessments on them, and (iv) there were differing levels of agreement between professionals and service users about risk and its seriousness. There is a research and practice gap about effective means of engaging service users in risk assessment.
Cues and knowledge structures used by mental-health professionals when making risk assessments
- Authors:
- BUCKINGHAM Christopher D., ADAMS Ann, MACE Chris
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 17(3), June 2008, pp.299-314.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Research into mental-health risks has tended to focus on epidemiological approaches and to consider pieces of evidence in isolation. Less is known about the particular factors and their patterns of occurrence that influence clinicians' risk judgements in practice. This research aims to identify the cues used by clinicians to make risk judgements and to explore how these combine within clinicians' psychological representations of suicide, self-harm, self-neglect, and harm to others. Content analysis was applied to semi-structured interviews conducted with 46 practitioners from various mental-health disciplines, using mind maps to represent the hierarchical relationships of data and concepts. Most of the participants were from psychiatric nursing (21)and psychiatry (14), but social workers (3), general practitioners (3), and psychologists (3) were also represented. Strong consensus between experts meant their knowledge could be integrated into a single hierarchical structure for each risk. This revealed contrasting emphases between data and concepts underpinning risks, including: reflection and forethought for suicide; motivation for self-harm; situation and context for harm to others; and current presentation for self-neglect. Analysis of experts' risk-assessment knowledge identified influential cues and their relationships to risks. It can inform development of valid risk-screening decision support systems that combine actuarial evidence with clinical expertise.
Professional regulation and disability equality: challenges for disabled social work students and professionals
- Authors:
- SIN Chih Hoong, FONG Janice, MOMIN Abul
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 26(2), 2008, pp.73-86.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
This article reports on the Disability Rights Commission's Formal Investigation into the impact of regulatory fitness requirements on disabled people studying, qualifying, registering and working in social work. It presents a comprehensive review of legislation, regulation and statutory guidance governing the social work profession, identifying requirements for physical and mental fitness. These fitness descriptors are often vague and their implications in relation to disability unclear. The implementation of these requirements in practical decision-making within the higher education and employment contexts is explored. Findings point to inconsistent practice with ad hoc procedures involving a multitude of different decision-makers. It is argued that generalised fitness requirements are inappropriate and potentially discriminatory. Instead decisions around fitness should be based around the requirements of specific jobs, with consideration of reasonable adjustments where relevant. Public bodies are encouraged to update their policies and procedures. In addition, a more proactive and positive approach towards the promotion of disability equality is required to shift attitudes.
The relationships between user, carer and staff perceptions of need in an assertive outreach team
- Authors:
- MACPHERSON Rob, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 17(5), October 2008, pp.452-461.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
There has been little research into the experience of people caring for the mentally ill. This study, carried out in Gloucester city in mental health services, compared Camberwell Assessment of Need Short Appraisal Schedule (CANSAS) ratings of need made by service users, carers and staff in an ACT team. Staff participating in the study were keyworkers comprising of mental health nurses, social workers, and occupational therapists. Participating service users and care coordinators completed independent CANSAS ratings of need and all carers were asked to rate service users they cared for using CANSAS. Seventy-eight (92%) service users and 32 carers (91%) participated. Similar levels of need were rated by service users with and without a carer. Among those with a carer, staff and carers reported higher levels of need, than service users. Carers rated higher needs in care of the home and self care, than service users or staff. Levels of agreement between service user and staff ratings were at least “good” in 16/22 domains. Agreement between service users and carers was markedly lower. Agreement between staff and carer need ratings was similar to service user/carer levels. Assessing need from the perspectives of service user, carer and staff highlights discrepancies and may reveal important information. “Triangulated” assessment helps to produce more comprehensive care planning and this should support carers in their role, strengthening their alliance with mental health services.