Like So Many Areas Of Practice In Social Work And Mental Hea

Like So Many Areas Of Practice In Social Work Mental Health Is Dynami

Like so many areas of practice in social work, mental health is dynamic and ever-evolving. Research continues to provide new information about how the brain functions, the role of genetics in mental health, and evidence to support new possibilities for treatment. Keeping up with these developments might seem impossible. However, being aware of and responsive to these developments and incorporating them into both your practice and social policy is essential to changing the lives of individuals and families who live with a mental health diagnosis and the impact it brings to their daily lives. For this Discussion, review this week’s resources.

Search the Walden Library and other reputable online sources for emerging issues in the mental health care arena. Think about the issues that are being addressed by social policy and those that are in need of policy advocacy and why that might be the case. Then, consider what social workers can do to ensure that clients/populations receive necessary mental health services. Also, think about the ethical responsibility related to mental health care social workers must uphold in host settings when they encounter conflicts in administration and home values. Finally, search your state government sites for the mental health commitment standards in your state and reflect on the mental health services covered under your state’s Medicaid program.

Post an explanation of those emerging issues in the mental health care arena that the policymakers address and those that are in need of policy advocacy and why. Then, explain what strategies social workers might use to ensure that clients/populations receive necessary mental health services. Finally, explain the mental health commitment standards and mental health services in your state. In your explanation, refer to the services covered under your state’s Medicaid program. Support your post with specific references to the resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

Paper For Above instruction

In recent years, the mental health care arena has witnessed numerous emerging issues that necessitate policy attention and advocacy. Policymakers are increasingly concerned with issues such as mental health access inequities, the integration of mental health services into primary care, and the impact of social determinants on mental health outcomes. One prominent issue is the persistent stigma surrounding mental illness, which hampers individuals' willingness to seek help and influences policy focus away from needed services. Another emerging concern involves the disparities in mental health access among marginalized populations, including racial and ethnic minorities, rural communities, and low-income groups, which calls for more equitable policies and targeted resource allocation (Alegría et al., 2010).

Despite these policy developments, several issues still require robust policy advocacy. For example, mental health funding remains inconsistent, and mental health parity laws are often inadequately enforced, perpetuating gaps in coverage between mental health and physical health services. Additionally, crisis intervention and peer support services need expansion and formal policy frameworks to improve early intervention and reduce hospitalizations (Purtle et al., 2019). Advocates argue that policy reforms should prioritize increasing funding, enforcing parity laws, and expanding community-based services to address these unmet needs.

Social workers play a critical role in bridging these gaps by utilizing various strategies. Advocacy is a core approach, where social workers can influence policymakers through lobbying and participation in legislative processes, emphasizing the importance of equitable access to mental health services (Reisch & Peng, 2020). They can also engage in community organizing to raise awareness and influence local policies. Clinical advocacy involves supporting clients to navigate mental health systems effectively, ensuring their rights are upheld, and promoting culturally competent care. Additionally, social workers develop interprofessional collaborations to improve service delivery, ensuring clients receive comprehensive support.

Ethically, social workers must uphold the NASW Code of Ethics, which emphasizes social justice, cultural competence, and client advocacy (National Association of Social Workers, 2021). When encountering conflicts between administrative policies and client or home values, social workers are ethically bound to advocate for clients’ best interests while respecting their rights and dignity. This may involve negotiating accommodations or seeking alternative solutions that align with clients’ values within the constraints of organizational policies.

In my state, the mental health commitment standards specify criteria for involuntary hospitalization, emphasizing the safety of individuals and the public. These standards generally require a person to pose danger to themselves or others or be unable to care for themselves due to a mental disorder. The process involves mental health evaluations by licensed professionals and adherence to due process protections, including judicial review (State of California Department of Mental Health, 2022). Under the state’s Medicaid program, a broad spectrum of mental health services is covered, including outpatient therapy, psychiatric prescriptions, crisis intervention, inpatient hospitalization, and case management. Medicaid expansion has improved access to these services for low-income populations, although ongoing advocacy is needed to ensure comprehensive coverage and reduce disparities (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2023).

In conclusion, addressing emerging issues in mental health policy requires ongoing advocacy, collaboration, and adherence to ethical standards. Social workers are uniquely positioned to champion policy reforms, advocate for vulnerable populations, and ensure equitable access to mental health services through systemic and community efforts. Understanding state-specific commitment standards and Medicaid-covered services helps social workers better serve their clients and advocate for necessary policy changes to improve mental health outcomes nationwide.

References

- Alegría, M., Chatterji, P., Wells, K., Cao, Z., Chen, C., Chen, C. N., & Meng, X. L. (2010). Disparity in depression treatment among racial and ethnic minority populations in the United States. Psychiatric Services, 60(2), 222–229.

- Kaiser Family Foundation. (2023). Medicaid and mental health services. https://www.kff.org/medicaid/

- National Association of Social Workers. (2021). Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English

- Purtle, J., Brownson, R. C., & Vernick, J. S. (2019). The role of public health and social policy in suicide prevention. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 57(6), 854–862.

- Reisch, M., & Peng, S. (2020). The social work macro practice reader: Contexts and strategies. Oxford University Press.

- State of California Department of Mental Health. (2022). Mental health treatment and commitment standards. https://www.dhcs.ca.gov