Mental Health
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Discussion #1
The main components of mental health disorders include clinically significant negative changes in the behavior, cognition, and emotional regulation of the individual and functioning impairment. The symptoms must persist for a significant amount of time, usually at least six months. As per Abendstern et al. (2021), social workers play a critical role in helping people with mental illnesses manage their conditions. They conduct comprehensive assessments to fully understand their clients’ conditions. Additionally, they provide treatment in form of psychotherapy or counseling for individuals, families, and groups. Social workers also work with other professionals in multi-disciplinary teams to ensure that patients receive comprehensive treatment. During treatment, social workers also evaluate and monitor clients for improvement. Social workers also refer clients to other resources they need to improve their mental health.
References
Abendstern, M., Wilberforce, M., Hughes, J., Arandelovic, A., Batool, S., & Boland, J. et al. (2021). The social worker in community mental health teams: Findings from a national survey. Journal of Social Work, 22(1), 4-25. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017320979932
Discussion #2
In field placement, I worked with patients with major depressive disorder and substance abuse disorders. As per Tolentino and Schmidt (2018), the DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing major depressive disorders include having an extremely depressed mood that is persistent for at least two weeks, disturbances in physical functioning, cognitive symptoms such as feeling worthless, and loss of interest in engaging in activities that were once pleasurable. According to Pasha et al. (2020), the criteria for diagnosing substance use disorders include taking large amounts of a substance for long time periods, inability to stop taking the substance, spending significant amounts of time acquiring and using the substance, craving for the substance, and inability to function effectively at work, school, or home due to the substance. When working with patients with depression and substance use, my main role was to assess them and determine what triggers depressive disorders or factors that led to abuse. I would then write down my findings and use them to determine the best course of treatment for the patient.
References
Pasha, A., Chowdhury, A., Sadiq, S., Fairbanks, J., & Sinha, S. (2020). Substance use disorders: diagnosis and management for hospitalists. Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives, 10(2), 117-126. https://doi.org/10.1080/20009666.2020.1742495
Tolentino, J., & Schmidt, S. (2018). DSM-5 Criteria and Depression Severity: Implications for Clinical Practice. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00450