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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:// href=”http:// target=”_blank” title=”Social workers and their integral role in interdisciplinary team care”>

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://
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:// href=”http:// target=”_blank” title=”The history of psychiatry social work”>

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.