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As the Troubles continued over the next twenty-five years, a legacy of mental health problems was created which is only now being addressed (Fay et al 1999; Bolton 1998). Troubles-related violent bereavement, chronic stress, unresolved grief and addictive behaviours have caused high levels of long-term mental ill health in the local population (Manktelow 2002; Murphy 2001).
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Today, it can be seen that mental health social work has become an important professional activity which occurs at the three levels of prevention: in primary care settings, such as health centres and community resource centres; at the secondary level of prevention, in crisis intervention services, day hospitals, psychiatric units in general hospitals, psychiatric hospitals and specialist settings such as child, adolescent and family psychiatric services; and at the tertiary level, in rehabilitation and community support services (Manktelow 2002). …show more content…
This social model emphasizes social factors and interpersonal relationships as explanations for behaviour and offers a distinct and holistic alternative to the medical model of mental disorder, which has a tendency to isolate the individual from family and environment (Tausig et al 1999).
Mental health social workers are involved in the wider social environment – for example in working at the interface of health, housing, benefits and employment. In a study of social workers’ contact with other organizations and occupations, a sample of newly qualified social workers cited eighty organisations and nearly fifty occupations or professions with which they were in contact (Whittington & Bell 2001)
The role of the mental health social worker has three important aspects: the organisational, the professional and the therapeutic. These activities include: social biographer – the compilation of social circumstances and assessment reports; link professional – social brokerage, advocacy and mediation; therapist – individual, family and group work; co-ordinator – co-ordination and implementation of community care packages; educator – advising fellow professionals and carers; and planner – the evaluation of complex needs on a more general level to assist planning and development (BASW 2002; Tilbury
Settings
Today, it can be seen that mental health social work has become an important professional activity which occurs at the three levels of prevention: in primary care settings, such as health centres and community resource centres; at the secondary level of prevention, in crisis intervention services, day hospitals, psychiatric units in general hospitals, psychiatric hospitals and specialist settings such as child, adolescent and family psychiatric services; and at the tertiary level, in rehabilitation and community support services (Manktelow 2002). …show more content…
This social model emphasizes social factors and interpersonal relationships as explanations for behaviour and offers a distinct and holistic alternative to the medical model of mental disorder, which has a tendency to isolate the individual from family and environment (Tausig et al 1999).
Mental health social workers are involved in the wider social environment – for example in working at the interface of health, housing, benefits and employment. In a study of social workers’ contact with other organizations and occupations, a sample of newly qualified social workers cited eighty organisations and nearly fifty occupations or professions with which they were in contact (Whittington & Bell 2001)
The role of the mental health social worker has three important aspects: the organisational, the professional and the therapeutic. These activities include: social biographer – the compilation of social circumstances and assessment reports; link professional – social brokerage, advocacy and mediation; therapist – individual, family and group work; co-ordinator – co-ordination and implementation of community care packages; educator – advising fellow professionals and carers; and planner – the evaluation of complex needs on a more general level to assist planning and development (BASW 2002; Tilbury