Improving Access to Mental Health Work Mental illness is a big issue which can touch every family, as well as society. In fact, one of five people experiences a mental health problem. However, since the 1960s, when the last Community Mental Health Act was passed by Congress, there were any further changes done in this sector. That is the reason why US Senators and social workers Debbie Stabenow and Barbara Makulski introduced a program with possible improvements to the Mental Health Act. The main idea is to make the high quality mental health support and services more accessible, especially for senior people, as well as set some benefits for Clinical Social Workers (CSW) with the help of the reform bill (The Improving Access to Mental Health Act of 2015, S. 2173/H.R. 3712, 2015). Basically, there are several challenges in mental health care facing both the society and social workers: lack of access to CSW services, low Medicare reimbursement for CSW services and limited …show more content…
It also asks to remove the restrictions on the delivery of Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) services in hospitals and medical centers, as well as include psychotherapy services into LCSW services. Overall it would benefit in licensed and more professional clinical social workers who are actually Medicare providers and also more intervention programs for people with serious mental issues. In other words, there will always be a social worker ready to help to those who are in need. Moreover, a person can choose a provider he or she wants to get help from. In fact, clinical social workers are considered to be the main source of mental health providers with more than 200,000 currently available (The Improving Access to Mental Health Act of 2015, S. 2173/H.R. 3712,
Clinical social workers represent the largest group of behavioral health practitioners in the nation. They are often the first to diagnose and treat people with mental disorders and various emotional and behavioral disturbances (NASW, 2005). Clinical social workers are essential to a variety of client centered settings, including community mental health centers, hospitals, substance use treatment and recovery programs, schools, primary health care centers, child welfare agencies, aging
Mental healthcare has a long and murky past in the United States. In the early 1900s, patients could live in institutions for many years. The treatments and conditions were, at times, inhumane. Legislation in the 1980s and 1990s created programs to protect this vulnerable population from abuse and discrimination. In the last 20 years, mental health advocacy groups and legislators have made gains in bringing attention to the disparity between physical and mental health programs. However, diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses continues to be less than optimal. Mental health disparities continue to exist in all areas of the world.
This plan is to validate that individuals in needs will continue to receive services from a social worker on a regular basis. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for social workers is expected to grow twice as fast as any other occupation, especially in gerontology, home healthcare, substance abuse, private social service agencies, and school social work. Based off the given information about the need for social workers, it is imperative that this reinvestment act become an official law to help promote social advocacy in today’s society. The high expectations of social workers needed in this career field is directed towards those experiencing aging and with aging comes physical and mental changes in health which would require a need for more professional social
Mental health disparities, “the power imbalances that impact practices influencing access, quality, and outcomes of behavioral health care, or a significant disparity in the overall rate of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality, or survival rate in a specific group of people defined along racial and ethnic lines, as compared with the general population” (Safran, 2011). Although there are many mental health care dipartites, I’m going to focus on the impact of poverty and lack of attention given to mental health. By advocating for a prevention, promotion, and intervention related to mental health, will aid in minimizing mental health disparities. Not only is it important to advocate on a macro level, but it is important to educate
Mental Health Funding Mental health is a subject a lot of people prefer not to talk about, which is a main reason that it is so underfunded. The severe underfunding affects not only the people suffering from mental illness, but also the government, the economy, and society as a whole. It is in the government's best interest to put more funding into mental health due to the health consequences on patients, including weight issues, drastic effects on bodily functions, and difficulties in pregnancy. As well as this
First off, clinical social workers work one-on-one with individuals by utilizing psychosocial casework to improve their client’s lives. Social workers at the micro level typically provide case management by coordinating and monitoring services, developing a treatment plan, advocating for new services, providing psychoeducation, and by helping clients learn more about their specific disorder (Marx). They also provide psychotherapy through three major therapeutic approaches- psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and humanistic (Marx). When it comes to the mezzo level social worker work with groups and families. They may initiate therapy groups, support groups, psychoeducational groups, and socialization groups all in order to uplift their clients about their mental disorder (Marx). On top of that, social workers also offer family therapy with the goal of helping families learn and function effectively by meeting the needs of a family member with a mental illness (Marx). Finally, social workers also work on a macro level through advocacy and policy changes, and in an administrative setting. Through advocacy, social workers may lobby for policy changes on a local, state, or national level in order to promote positive
Nevertheless, there remains much opportunity for the future of the mental health care system. The advances in neuroscience and clinical sciences point an even more opportunity to intervene in the treatment of mental illness. Community support programs are especially important for people with mental illness. The support may include information, accommodation; help with finding employment, training, education, psychosocial rehabilitation and support groups. Understanding and acceptance by the community is also
Mental illness is a lot like having a psychical illness, and more than sixty million Americans suffer from some type of mental disorder every year. Most people who suffer from a mental disorder are unaware that they even have a mental problem until they seek some type of medical attention. The evolution of Social Work in Mental Health, has been influenced by development of different types of psychiatric care. Mental illness causes a lot of emotional pain and that pain causes us to push for a solution. Social workers do many things some of the important work that social workers so is help people who have a range of issues that includes eating disorders, mental illness, financial problems, substance and mental abuse, along with marriage and
...e, and increase the effectiveness of care. These goals came about because standards of care for people with mental illness varied greatly depending on the area in which they lived. A person with a mental illness should then be expect to be able to access services and be treated in the same ways as anyone else. Even the community can help theses people to recover without knowing. The policy says that the community can help buy simply “Improving the general understanding of mental illness and emotional disturbances, make clear that recovery is possible, and encourage help-seeking behaviors across the lifespan” (The Federal Action Agenda: First Steps. Web. 24 Mar. 2014).
The mental health assessment is a crucial part in everyday nursing care as it evaluates an individual’s mental condition to assess for risk factors of mental illnesses and provide optimal care and treatment. Mental health is described as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” (CDC) If the patient not mentally healthy, they can develop mentally illnesses, which can affect treatment and the disease process of physical ailments because without mental health a person cannot be completely healthy. “Suicide Risk Assessment in High Risk Adolescents” is a nursing article that outlines suicide risk factors and prevention strategies for assist nurses in performing mental health assessments. Suicide, the act of
A mental health counselor develops a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families and groups to accomplish mental health and career goals. Helping others to accomplish their goals and listening to various stories of hardship have always played a part in my life. Stories of others have helped me get through rough times, and so did my own personal stories do the same for others. My story may help save a life tomorrow. It is a rewarding career path that one may enjoy which requires excellent communication skills and a commit between each other.
“In 2014, an average of 20 veterans died from suicide each day” (Thompson 1). Mental health care for veterans has been a long debated topic. For years people have debated whether or not veterans need more assistance, privatized health care, or a complete reform of the current veterans affairs programs. It should come as no surprise that with roughly 20 veterans committing suicide each day, this program needs help. Without help the mental health status of United States veterans will only continue to deteriorate, suicides will increase, and more people will go untreated.
Furthermore, with the ACA’s increased emphasis on preventive care and community-based treatment, social workers have an opportunity link the gap between physical and mental health, especially with the geriatric population. I have read so many articles that accentuate the need for geriatric social workers and working as a part-time social worker has solidified this perspective. Seniors can benefit from reductions in cost sharing for prescription drugs and for preventive services, however, many seniors do not understand ACA, insurance or the health care system. The ACA, in many ways, provides possibilities for social workers to be advocates or care managers for our senior population. Social workers must accept such avenues that ACA have created and work to help older adults and their families maintain well-being, overcome problems and achieve maximum
should be empowering, by so it provides resources, a relationship and sets the tone which people can enhance their own lives. It’s important for clinical social workers to emphasize on the clients strengths, positive reframing, and the use of language of solutions to guide clients in the direction to point out strengths and resources that are necessary for solving their problems and reaching their goals (Greene, Lee, & Hoffpauir, 2005).
As our society becomes more challenging, social workers help bridge the gaps for people who face extraordinary challenges in their lives. The social worker’s scope of practice may include helping at-risk or overwhelmed individuals find resources, develop new coping strategies, resolve problems and conflicts, and secure opportunities to improve their quality of life. (Flynn, 2013) Although the scope of practice is basically the same, there are various types of social workers with various levels of education. It doesn’t matter if you are a medical, clinical, school, military, psychiatric, or community social worker, the goal is basically the same.