1. Social Work in Mental Health
WEEK 13

2. Overview Self-assessment of depression Definitions of mental disorders
Theoretical understanding of mental disorders
SW’s distinctive contribution and skills
SW’s roles
SW services

3. Stigma of Mental Disorder
What do you think about the persons with schizophrenia?
Do you think that you are healthy mentally?
Let’s try to test your depression

4. Self-assessment of Depression
See the handout in English: CES-D (20 items)
Pls click this link for your test in Korean

5. Definitions
A mental disorder (also called a mental illness or psychiatric disorder) is a diagnosis of a behavioral or mental pattern that can cause suffering or a poor ability to function in ordinary life.
The causes of mental disorders are often unclear. Theories may incorporate findings from a range of fields. Mental disorders are usually defined by a combination of how a person behaves, feels, perceives or thinks.
Psychotherapy and psychiatric medication are two major treatment options.
Other treatments include social interventions, peer support and self-help.
Common mental disorders include depression, which affects about 400 million, dementia which affects about 35 million, and schizophrenia, which affects about 21 million people globally.

6. Medical (disease) model of mental disorders
The medical model emerged from mid-19th century –shifting earlier moral or religious frameworks
Psychiatry consolidated itself in 20th century through assimilation
with medicine: identification of pathological symptoms; diagnosis
of ‘illness’ and prescription of treatment.
Mental health diagnosis basically involves accurate naming of an
objective disease by DSM-IV
Medication plays an important role but it is a myth that formal diagnostic and classification provide clear answers and certainties to practitioners.
Diagnosis of mental illness is also influenced by the social cultural and political contexts
Critique of the medical model: the emotions and behaviors that psychiatrists call ‘symptom’ should not be considered pathological but meaningful ‘problems of living’.

7. Social Model Privileges explanations of mental ill- health as:
Life event breakdown (e.g. isolation,
violence, bereavement, loss)
Social forces that link to class (poverty and unemployment)
Race and gender
Powerlessness and inequality

8. Social Workers’ Stand Social worker in mental health work
alongside members of other professions they
need to appreciate various frameworks that
inform their decision making.
Social Workers will not be extreme – do not reject the medical model.
Adopt a pragmatic perspective

9. From the asylum to community care
Institutionalization’ – how the process socializes people into the role of a good patient, someone dull, harmless and inconspicuous.
In the west, especially in UK there is a movement to
close down asylums and transfer of care to services to
community
Q: What are the pros and cons of this trend?

10. Team work and multidisciplinary
Typically consist of psychiatrist (or led by psychiatrists),
psychologists, community psychiatric nurse,
occupational therapists etc
Tensions – role ambiguity and conflict
Communication difficulties – team members have been
educated and socialized within particular frameworks of
their profession
The difficulty that MSWs manage their roles in a secondary setting, especially in a multidisciplinary team

11. SW’s distinctive contribution and skills
Social work is about change – SW improve
the circumstances of people who are vulnerable or
face social exclusion by building on their strengths and by changing the social circumstances which contribute to their mental distress
SW’s understanding of law, social policy and
the arrays of community resources available

12. SW’s distinctive skills
Assessing complex situation – taking account of
strengths, aspiration, vulnerability, family relationships, environmental stressors etc.
Working alongside clients to promote their social
inclusion
Working with family and informal carers to support
An individual’s journey to recovery
Identifying and working with discrimination stigma
and abuse
Seeking changes in the social environment to promote
recovery

13. Roles of Social Workers in (Mental) Health Areas
Values-based practice – strongly grounded in anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive approaches to practice
Empowering service users and promoting autonomy
Psychosocial problem-solving: assessment, service planning, education for the patient and his/her family, information referrals
Economic support- connect with donors or exterior resources
Utilize community resources
Social rehabilitation and integration- discharge planning & home visits
Case management and evaluation
Reporting & administrative duties
Continue to professional development

14. Areas of Medical/Mental Health Social Workers
Medical Institutions-
Health agency: acute hospitals and clinics, dental clinics, oriental hospitals/ clinics, nursing clinics etc.- medical social workers(1 year experienced) are hired.
Mental health agency: psychiatric hospitals and clinics-mental health social workers who has a license (1000 hours practice for 2nd class & 5 years experience for 1t class) are hired.
Public Health Institutions
Many social workers are hired due to the implementation due to the implementation of national long-term care insurance.
Public clinics (보건소) should be more hired for health promotion.
Community Mental Health Institutions
This area should be more focused within community based systems

15. Community-Based Agencies for Mental Health
Community mental health centers (지역사회 정신보건센터): case management for social integration
Community mental health centers for children and youths (아동/청소년 정 신보건센터): (1) focusing on children and youths, (2) Beyond treatment, prevention services are necessary.
Social rehabilitation agencies (사회복귀시설): social rehabilitation services for independence and self-reliance of persons with mental disorders
Alcohol counselling centers (알코올상담센터): rehabilitation and prevention services for alcohol
Psychiatric nursing homes (정신요양센터): nursing and rehabilitation services for persons with chronic mental disorders
Addition rehabilitation centers (중독관련센터): rehabilitation services for internet addiction, gambling, horse racing, smoking, etc.
Dementia management centers (치매센터): prevention services in public clinics