Medical treatments for schizophrenia and other abnormal behaviour include psycho surgery, ECT and drugs. Psychosurgery, which is viewed as unethical, is less commonly used nowadays. It involves removing pieces of the brain to reduce severe symptoms. ECT is another unpopular treatment involving electrical currents being passed through the brain to produce minor convulsions. The more common and accessible treatment still used widely today is drugs, however even though drugs are effective in treating the illness some drugs can have negative effects and impact badly on different areas of the individuals life.
One in 100 people develops schizophrenia at some point of their life. Schizophrenia usually emerges around adolescents although it can emerge later in live. For men, schizophrenia tends to develop in the late teens or early twenties however, for women; it tends not to develop until the late twenties. The onset can strike someone suddenly, for instance a young person who is just starting university or who is just beginning a promising career. It may occur in people from all classes and walks of life, however, it occurs more frequently in the most deprived areas of our larger cities, and many people sleeping rough also suffer from this problem.
In Northern Ireland there a number of key legislations that can protect the rights and interests of individuals with schizophrenia, which include the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986, Disability Discrimination Act 1995, Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, Human Rights Act 1998 and People First 1990. The main legislation is the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986, its main aim is to promote mental health, secure the prevention of mental disorder and to allow compulsory action to be taken, where necessary, to make sure that people with mental disorders get the care and treatment they need for their own health or safety, or for the protection of other people. A main policy document is People First 1990 which sets out practice guidelines for community based services and rehabilitation programmes. This document has opened up opportunities for a better quality of life for the patients concerned (OPSI, 2009)
The service provision in mental health mainly consists of the statutory sector and voluntary sector. Over the years they have been successful in working together to deliver a service; however most of the funding from the boards is allocated to the voluntary sector to enable individuals to remain living within the community. This is seen positively as it promotes the independence of individuals living in the community whilst still in the receipt of support services.
The social work role is based on the knowledge, skills and values important to this service user group. The role includes various tasks from helping to arrange appropriate low stress accommodation to encouraging compliance with medication. Other members of the multi-disciplinary team include psychiatrists, psychologists, community psychiatric nurses, approved social workers and occupational therapists. Services provided by the voluntary sector usually consist of charitable organisations that provide supported housing schemes to enable and support individuals to live or integrate back into the community after a period of hospitalisation. (Ingelby, 2006)
There are many ethical dilemmas for social workers to consider when working with individuals with schizophrenia. One particular dilemma is due to the fact that they can have their human rights violated by other legislation. The Mental Health (NI) Order 1986 is the law under which someone can be admitted, detained and treated in hospital against their wishes. This happens when they become ill and they require assessments or treatment which needs to be given in hospital. This is done in the interests of their own health and safety or to protect other people.
People suffering from schizophrenia are also more likely to be subject to societal discrimination and be stigmatised and shunned in certain areas of everyday life, from finding somewhere to live to getting a job. For centuries people with mental illness were kept away from the rest of society, sometimes locked up, often in poor conditions, with little or no say in running their lives. Today, negative attitudes lock them out of society more subtly but just as effectively (Changing Minds, Royal College Psychiatry). Social workers recognise the social injustice experienced by these individuals so they act as champions for their rights.
In conclusion, the outlook for someone with schizophrenia has improved over the last couple of decades. About one third of people diagnosed will completely recover but for the remainder the outlook is one that will include at least one more episode, and for some schizophrenia will turn into a major challenge for them and their families or carers (Golightley, 2006:29). Although no totally effective therapy has yet been devised, many individuals improve enough to lead independent and satisfying lives. Society can also improve their quality of lives by continuing to educate people and implement legislations which would tackle anti-discriminatory issues surrounding the illness. Social workers will continue to be part of this process promoting equality and inclusion for those who have for many years been affected by society’s ignorance.
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References
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Golightley M, 2006, Social Work and Mental Health, 2nd Edition, Exeter, Learning Matters Ltd
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Gross R, 1996, Psychology: The Science of the Mind and Behaviour, 3rd Edition, Kent, Greengate Publishing
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Ingelby E, 2006, Applied Psychology for Social Work, Glasgow, Bell & Bain Ltd
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OPSI, 2009, Acts (1801 to date), [online] available on the internet (accessed on 5/5/2010)
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Royal College of Psychiatry, 2008, Changing Minds, [online] available on the internet (accessed on 24/4/2010)
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Tartakovsky M, 2009, PsychCentral Schizophrenia Factsheet, [online] available on the internet (accessed on 1/5/2010)
Power Point References
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DHSSPSNI, 2003, Promoting Mental Health Strategy & Action Plan 2003-2008, [online] available on the internet (accessed on 1/5/2010)
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NISCC, 2009, Codes of Practice, [online] available on the internet (accessed on 24/4/2010)
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OPSI, 2009, Mental Health (NI) Order 1976, [online] available on the internet (accessed on 24/4/2010)
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Tilbury D, 2002, Working with Mental Illness, 2nd Edition, Hampshire, Palgrave
