SOCW-6090 & 6361-W2-Discussions

Discussion 1: Mental Health Diagnosis and Culture

Cultures vary in their approach to addressing individuals living with a mental illness. As a clinical social worker, it can sometimes be difficult to differentiate an unhealthy behavior from a cultural belief. A certain behavior by an individual that is acceptable in his or her culture may seem abnormal or unhealthy by an individual from another culture.

Another important aspect in understanding the culture of an individual living with a mental illness is stigmatization. In some cultures, the individual is no longer accepted and thus becomes isolated. Most times this is due to a lack of understanding of mental illness and underlying cultural beliefs within the population. This is when cultural competence skills become critical when working with individuals living with a mental illness.

As a clinical social worker, you need to be cognizant of the fact that people from different cultures have different viewpoints about mental illness. This will help you form effective relationships with the clients and their family members from various cultures and produce effective interventions.

For this Discussion, search the library for an article on cultural factors relevant to addressing mental illness and analyze the approach provided in the article. Then consider how you as a social worker might apply cultural competence when working with clients with a mental illness. Refer to the “Cultural Formulation Interview” in the DSM-5 while considering applying cultural competence when working with clients with a mental illness. Finally, consider the types of barriers you might encounter when working with a client from a different culture when addressing a mental health diagnosis.

·      Post a brief summary of the article you selected and explain the approach the article suggests for addressing cultural influences of individuals with mental illness.

·      Then explain how you, as a social worker, might utilize the “Cultural Formulation Interview” in the DSM-5 to apply cultural competence skills when working with clients who need help managing a mental illness.

·      Finally, explain how acculturation affects an individual psychologically and socioculturally and describe a strategy you would implement as a social worker to help with the process.

Support your post with specific references to the resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

References (use 3 or more)

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

• “Cultural Formulation” (pp. 749–759)

Berry, J. W. (2005). Acculturation: Living successfully in two cultures. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 29, 697–712.

Corrigan, P. (2004). How stigma interferes with mental health care. American Psychologist, 59(7), 614–625.

Group Wiki Part 1: DSM-5

In this program, you have been introduced to wikis and have experienced the value of collaborating with other students in constructing a space of information. Wikis allow students to engage in the subject matter more freely and provides a designated open area where important resources are collected. With multiple students researching and exploring a topic, the learning experience is broadened.

During the course, you will collaborate with your classmates to create a wiki on your assigned mental disorder. Four weeks within this course include an assignment that instructs you on an area of focus for each part of the wiki. To complete the wiki assignments, you are to collaborate with your group members and create a comprehensive, informative submission. The information you post may include the following:

·       A quotation from a course reading or video that addresses the weekly topic

·       A URL that links to a website containing relevant information

For this assignment, you have been randomly assigned to groups and designated one of the following specific mental disorders listed in the DSM-5:

·       Group B: F40.00 Agoraphobia

To prepare for your Group Wiki, review the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for your assigned mental disorder on the Group Wiki. Search the literature and mainstream media on the stigma related to your assigned mental disorder. Use Corrigan's (2004) frame of the four social cognitive processes of stigma in researching your topic. Conduct research to identify the impact of this diagnosis on an individual's life and its effect on the individual's decision to seek treatment.

For this Assignment, collaborate with your group to write a 500- to 750-word wiki, being sure to use proper APA format for any citations.

In addition to a minimum of three scholarly references, which may include electronic government documents and reputable websites, your group wiki should include the following:

·       The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for your assigned mental health condition

·       Information that will give a better understanding of how an individual living with this disorder perceives this diagnosis and how it affects seeking treatment

References (use 3 or more)

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

• “Cultural Formulation” (pp. 749–759)

Corrigan, P. (2004). How stigma interferes with mental health care. American Psychologist, 59(7), 614–625.

Discussion 2:  Policies and Social Problems

Why is it important for social workers to understand policy? When you think of policies, you may tend to think of the federal policies that support services such as Medicare and state policies that support education and welfare services. However, sometimes the policies that have the greatest impact on clients are the policies of agencies and organizations.

Note: An "agency or organizational policy" is a policy. For example, it might be part of a county welfare agency that requires an administrator at a juvenile correction facility to report any individual that is an illegal immigrant that comes to that facility.

In this Discussion, you will identify a policy at an agency or organization with which you are familiar. It can be a public agency, a for-profit human service provider, or a not-for-profit community agency. Describe the organization, the policy, and the social problem it addresses.

Postthe policy at an agency or organization with which you are familiar. Describe the organization, the policy, and the social problem it addresses.

References (use 3 or more)

Jansson, B. S. (2018). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice. (8th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Series.

Martin, M. E. (2012). Philosophical and religious influences on social welfare policy in the United States: The ongoing effect of Reformed theology and social Darwinism on attitudes toward the poor and social welfare policy and practice. Journal of Social Work, 12(1), 51–64. doi:10.1177/1468017310380088.

Moyes, J., & Quadagno, J. (2002). Political theories of the welfare state. Social Service Review, 76(1), 34–57.