Discussion: Caring for Patients with Mental Illness

Deinstitutionalization, a multi-stage process, resulted from a shift in policy.  Deinstitutionalization allowed individuals with chronic, severe mental illness to move out of state mental hospitals into community-based settings. Between 1955 and 1980, the resident population of state hospitals dropped from 559,000 to 154,000 in the United States (Koyanagi, 2007). By 1990, state hospitals began closing completely throughout the United States.

Although deinstitutionalization sought to improve care for those with mental illness, progress has been slow. Moving patients out of state institutions has placed greater burdens on family members and increased the demand for funding and resources to care for those with mental illness. A shift toward community-based care has increased the role of social workers in community mental health.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Consider trends in mental health issues and mental health care. Review this week’s resources and focus on the debate about the deinstitutionalization policy in mental health care.

BY DAY 3

Post a brief explanation of how the deinstitutionalization policy has affected inpatient psychiatric care. Then, explain how the policy affects the roles of psychiatric social workers in providing care for patients with mental illness. Considering the policy, explain the challenges and issues caregivers face when caring for individuals with mental illness. Identify three resources (provide name and web address) available in your local area (county or state) to support patients with mental illness and caregivers. Explain whether these resources are adequate to meet the needs of mental illness patients and caregivers. Justify your response.

REQUIRED READINGS

Messinger, S. D. (2011). Cooperation and contention in psychiatric work. Transcultural Psychiatry, 48, 284–298.

Lanier, P., Bollinger, S., & Krueger, R. F. (2013). Advances in the conceptualization of personality disorders: Issues affecting social work practice and research. Clinical Social Work Journal, 41(2), 155–162.

OBrien-Suric, N. (2013). Social workers and their integral role in interdisciplinary team care. Retrieved from http://www.jhartfound.org/blog/social-workers-and-their-integral-role-in-interdisciplinary-team-care/#sthash.zelqOTeO.dpuf

Hudson, C.G. (2016). A model of deinstitutionalization of psychiatric care across 161 nations: 2001-2014. International Journal of Mental Health, 45(2), 135-153.

Tischler, S., Webster, M., Wittmann, D., & Wade, K. (2017). Developing and sustaining a practice-based research infrastructure in a hospital social work department: Why is it important? Social Work in Health Care, 56(1), 1-12.

National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2019). NAMI Programs. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/NAMI-Programs
Note: This website can be used to find local resources and programs for individuals with mental illness and their families. NAMI volunteers often provide these programs as part of inpatient psychiatric treatment or after-care support.

Ponte, K. (2019, March 11). That time in the psych ward [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/March-2019/That-Time-in-the-Psych-Ward

OPTIONAL RESOURCES

Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). The history of psychiatry social work. Retrieved from http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/expert_team/social_work/dept_history.html

Widiger, T. A. (2013). Changes in the conceptualization of personality disorder: The DSM-5 debacle. Clinical Social Work Journal, 41(2), 163–167.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the resources and the current literature using appropriate APA format and style.