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Introduction

Assessment 2. Using the directed reading and other appropriate literature and research, compare and contrast the medical and social model of mental health and mental disorder. Critically evaluate how the identified reading and other literature can inform a social work practitioner's understanding and practice. This assignment will focus on the characteristics of the social and medical model of mental illness. This assignment will demonstrate an understanding of how adults and cares experience mental health and social problems. The assignment will demonstrate professional judgement, accountability of a social worker and statutory requirements of protection and intervention for a social worker working with people who are suffering from a mental illness. According to Golightley (2004) there are several theories about mental disorder but the two main theories are the medical and non-medical models. The medical model or disease model has been the dominant model of mental disorder from around 150 years ago when the state employed the medical profession to manage and treat mental disorder (Golightley 2004). The medical model views mental disorder as a physical illness, which can be medically treated in a medical institution (Beech 1991). Beresford (2002) pointed out that 'this approach is based on a deficit model that presumes health problems primarily arise from within the patient'. The medical model explains mental abnormalities in people by taking a mechanistic approach, which links mental illness to genetic and biomedical causes, which can be treated using a biological method of intervention. ...read more.

Middle

to make decisions for both service users and families (Ball and McDonald 2002). Pritchard (2006) argues (ASWs) must have knowledge of mental health services to be able to assess what services may be required for a service user. Their role is to prevent compulsory admission to hospital as well to make an application for admission of a service user when they deem it necessary. A social worker would only recommend a person suffering from mental disorder for assessment if their behaviour affects their own health and safety or for the safety of the general public (Golightley 2004). Under section 117 of The Mental Health act 1983 imposes a duty to provide aftercare services for those persons discharged from hospital after treatment. Parker and Bradley (2003) suggest a social worker may work as part of a community mental health team to support people with mental illness and their carers. A social worker would be involved in the assessment of a service users needs and be involved in making a care plan in light of resources and facilities available. Involving service users and their carers in their care plan is one of the ten guiding values of the (National Service Frameworks for mental health 1999). A social workers role may be as a key worker to the service user to moniter the service users progress. The care programme approach enables people who experience mental disorder to live in the community with support from a key worker and be able to access support services, which promotes their independence, which is in the best interest of the service user (GSCC 2002). ...read more.

Conclusion

Outsiders, Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. New York Free Press. Beech, D. (1991) Social Work and Mental Disorder, 2nd edition Pepar publications. Beresford, P. (2002) 'Editorial: thinking about mental health: towards a social model' Journal of Mental health Vol. 11 (6) pp581-584. Cockerham, C William (2000) Sociology Of Mental Disorder 5th edition. Department of Health (1999) National Service Framework for Mental Health- Modern Standards and Service Models. London DOH. Golightley, M. (2004) Social Work and mental health, Learning matters. Green, G., Hayes, C., Dickenson, D., Whittaker, A & Gilheany, B. (2003). A mental health users perspective to stigmatisation. Journal of Mental Health . 12, 3, 223-234. GSCC (2002) Codes of Practice For Social Care workers and employers. London: General Social Care council. A handbook for the Study of Mental Health: Social Contexts, Theories and Systems. Cambridge University Press. Lester. H. & Tritter, J. (2005) 'Listen to my madness: understanding the experiences of people with serious mental illness' Sociology of Health & Illness Vol. 27 No 2 pp 649-669. Mental Health Foundation. Bright Futures-promoting children and young people's mental health (Mental Health Foundation, London, 1999.) Parker, J. and Bradley, G. (2003) Social work practice: assessment, planning, intervention and review. Glasgow Learning matters. Prichard, C. (2006) Mental Health Social work: Evidence-Based Practice, Routledge. Shardlow, S. (2002) Values, Ethics & Social Work in Adams et al. (eds). Thompson, N. (2002) People Skills, 2nd edition, Palgrave. Trevithick, P. (2000) Social Work Skills, a practice handbook. University press. Newton, J. (1998) Preventing Mental Illness. London: Routledge. ...read more.

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