This essay will first attempt to define the concept of advocacy and how this may empower service users. It will then move on to explore the historical context of advocacy and how it has influenced current mental health service provision. To understand the concept of advocacy in more depth, this essay will attempt to dissect its different models. The essay will also emphasise the importance of independent advocacy and its effectiveness on service-user provision. Finally it will reflect on practical implications of the mental health policies as they affect the experiences one of a marginalised and vulnerable user groups, black service-users.
Service user empowerment has recently been at the heart of the UK government’s vision for Health and Social Care, thus shying away from the traditionally paternalistic model in mental health care provision. Leadbetter (2002, p.201) highlighted the complexity in defining the concepts of advocacy and empowerment by stating that ‘empowerment and advocacy are both concerned with a shift of power or emphasis towards meeting the needs and rights of people who otherwise would be marginalised or oppressed. Beyond this generalisation, the concepts of empowerment and advocacy are not simple and as such are almost impossible to define’. Where the term ‘empowerment’ is used, it often covers a whole range of activities from consulting with service users to involvement in service planning. Using the term ‘service user’ was however perceived to stigmatise and label individuals, thus eradicating the notion of empowerment (Rai-Aitkins, Jama and Wright 2002). Due to the complexity in defining the concept of advocacy, this essay will however be best served by Dunning’s understanding of what advocacy entails. Dunn...
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...ives, in case of their mental health deteriorates (Thomas and Bracken 1999). However another school of thought suggests that self-advocacy is markedly limited due to the power imbalance between service-user and professionals (Harrison and David 2009). The principle of beneficence may encourage paternalism as the professional may be acting in what they deem to be in the best interest of the service-user (Thomas and Bracken 1999). Thus potentially making an assumption that the service-user is incapable of making their own decisions. It has been identified that professionals tend to take a paternalistic approach in psychiatry which can overpower the views and needs of a service user who may be self advocating (Thomas and Bracken 1999). It is therefore due to these reasons that an independent advocate may best serve the needs of a mental health service-user.
(The Open University, 2015b). Looking at the language used in mental health and how this can change and shape people’s perspectives, for instance, the term ‘patient’ indicates that a person is ill. Once again this is taking on a biomedical approach, and the biomedical perspective are a result of physical or chemical malfunction in the brain (The Open University, 2015c) There are debates over the language used within mental health on how to refer to people, moving towards the terms ‘service user’ or ‘client’ which takes the focus away from an illness and more of a service being given and
This paper will discuss four potential persons I might become. I see myself most strongly becoming a Peer Specialist. The role of a Peer Specialist is very important in helping people suffering from mental illnesses to accept, educate, cope and advocate for themselves to bring down the barriers that have been a stereotypical thorn in their sides’ mainly through a social disease called discrimination. This discrimination is basically society’s lack of understanding the world of the mentally disturbed.
In this essay, I would like to explore a limited number of key concepts within Adult Social Work, pertaining to Mental Health Services and their users. Unfortunately, due to the certain word count restrictions imposed, and the complexity of the subject, I have decided to critically analyse a complex and divisive policy within mental health social work. I am predominantly concerned with the impact the personalised care approach has on those involved with the social work. I am going to discuss the theory surrounding it, the circumstances in which it was received and comprehended by the professionals and lay people alike in order to facilitate a better understanding of the subject at hand. Having an understanding of the process of application, the carers and service users’ perception as well as the challenges this concept has brought within the Social care system opens the mind to questioning the base value supporting Personalisation.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 states that in order to protect the rights of individuals who don’t have the capacity to make their own decisions they an independent Mental capacity Advocate is put in place to learn as much as possible about the individuals and act in their best interests.
Smale, G. and Tuson, G. (1993) Empowerment Assessment: Care management and the skilled worker, London, NISW.
As time goes on, the law has put more emphasis on facility just like Bridgewater State Hospital in which many of the actions of the facility workers can face legal consequences such as facing prison time, fines, lawsuits, and etc. Society has a better understanding of why certain people act the way that they do and being more knowledgeable about psychology and mental diseases allows us to have a different approach when dealing with these topics or these individuals. In today’s era, there are many normal individuals who are willing to stand up for those who do not have a voice of their own. I believe that this change in one’s ability to stand up for another individual or group of individuals is what brought about change to the medical environment of those who are mentally
Service user involvement and participation has become a standard principle in guiding social care planning in order to improve in the developing and delivery of service to meet diverse and complex needs in a more effective way. Key pieces of legislation states plainly that service users through a partnership approach should be enabled to have voice on how the services they are using should be delivered (Letchfield, 2009). The Scottish Executive (2006a:32) helpfully state ‘Increasing personalisation of services is both an unavoidable and desirable direction of travel for social work services. Unavoidable in the sense that both the population and policy expect it; desirable in the extent to which it builds upon the capacity of individuals to find their own solutions and to self-care, rather than creating dependence on services’
Health care for mental illness is an issue in the African American community for Men, Women and Adolescents due to the underserving and lack of mental healthcare providers, the cultural stigma of having mental illness and the socioeconomic status of African Americans.
... G. (2007). Overview of psychiatric ethics V: Utilitarianism and the ethics of duty. Australasian Psychiatry, 15950, 402-410. Doi:10.1080/10398560701439640. Retrieved from the EBSCOhost database.
Unlike cultural competence, Anti- racism and the Anti-oppression framework has a clear focus, to directly address oppressive practices, and privilege in large institutions. In the “ More than being against it: Anti– racism and Anti –oppression in mental health services “ the authors Simon Corneau and Vicky Stergiopouls, identify seven strategies of the anti-racism and anti-oppression that should be employed when practicing direct service with clients. These seven strategies are "empowerment, education, alliance building, language, alternative, healing strategies, advocacy, social justice/activism, and fostering reflexivity” (Corneau & Stergiopoulos, 2012). The goal of using these seven strategies with clients is to engage the client in the process of care by recognizing the strengths and knowledge that the client brings to the relationship and honoring the idea that there is a racial feature of oppression that is inherent in the dynamics of the client clinician relationships. For example, the use of this practice in my current job with the Family Drug Courts could have a profound effect on the outcomes for both parents and children involved in the program. One example is the case of a 28-year-old mother of three that was separated from her children because of her drug addiction. This parent had an extensive history of trauma,
Individuals must work together in order to break the silence and act as advocates and links in connecting these people with the resources that they need to treat their illness. Mental
Life altering stressors in an individual’s life are frightening. Stressors are varied and, often, unpredictable. Obtaining medical treatment for a physical illness brings hope and perseverance in the fight for health. Losing a job with health insurance and benefits is overwhelming; however, an independent functioning person, with adequate personal and community resources, begins applying for new employment or career change. Enjoyment of life hobbies and interests will be limited, but basic needs are met and health care obtained. However, there are those who have great difficulty obtaining resources for maintaining basic needs. Persons with mental illness, those who are homeless, pregnant teens, or substance abusers are individuals of the vulnerable population. Poverty and discrimination become the way of their life. How does a mentally ill person navigate through the complex process of obtaining health care within their family or community for optimal functioning?
People with serious socio-emotional and emotional disturbances are challenged in many aspects of life. Historically people of color with serious mental health related issues had little assistance and chances to having their needs met equally to Whites. In order to properly or adequately address the emotional and mental wellbeing of everyone on an equal basis, the stigma association must be removed from people of color.
Advocates for people with mental illnesses have urged the government
Defining and measuring quality of life is a notoriously difficult thing to do and is without doubt affected by an individual’s particular experience. Where there has been a belief in the effectiveness of ‘cures’ for mental health problems and conditions, quality of life has not been seen as so important because it has usually been assumed that a good quality of life will replace a poorer quality of life once the cure or treatment successfully addressed but the limitations and unpleasant side effects of many medical treatments for people diagnosed with ‘illnesses’ such as schizophrenia, and the failure to find any entirely effective treatments for dementia, let alone a cure, has brought quality of life issues. Initiatives started mainly by service users, such as the recovery approach and self-management, contain an acknowledgement that, for some people, mental distress, hearing voices, having bizarre beliefs and many other ‘symptoms’ of mental health problems are experiences they may live with on a day-to-day basis for a large part of their life. Having some measure of control over these experiences while also being able to maximize quality of life, by which heavy duty sedative antipsychotics often don’t allow, and therefore crucial, but this is much wider than just a health issue. Sustaining good physical health, having positive significant relationships, being able to participate in the community through work or other programs, having a safe and secure place to live and adequate income, and being free from harassment and judgement can all be as important as managing one’s mental health. “This was recognized perhaps most significantly with the publication of the Labor government’s Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) report on mental health (Social Exclusion Unit, 2004). It was arguably the furthest that government has ever reached in acknowledging the limitations of a more traditional