Today, depression is a common mental health illness with a prevalence of 6.2%. This means in every 15 adult people, one has the disorder. The disease is characterized by loss of interest in routine activities, extensive sadness, and outrageous conduct. For an individual to be diagnosed with the disorder, these symptoms have to persist for more than 2 weeks. The high prevalence of the disorder has resulted in high rates of patients admission (Parekh, 2017). As a practitioner in the mental health unit, one is tasked with the responsibility to develop a treatment plan for each patient and a group plans for patients with similar challenges towards the realization of health. Group treatment plans establish interpersonal relationships among the patients which are therapeutic, cathartic, and equip the patients with skills to facilitate more effective functioning.
People who are affected by depression suffer humiliation especially due to stereotypes propagated by mainstream media. The lack of awareness or the reliance on mainstream media for information results to misconceptions about the health disorder. consequently, people around affected patients often mistreat such entities through stigmatization or alienation. Notably, some organization’s question job applicants for vacancies at their firm if they have a mental illness history that is covertly used as a perquisite to eliminate entities who confirm to have such challenges. According to Cherry (2004), factors such as “genetics, interactions, external and internal social influences” result is social learning that influences the personality developed by a person in their early stages. Majority of the people are aquatinted to mental illness issues through television, which often presents a skewed reality about mental health. Further, some of the patients affected disorders such as depression lack understanding of the mental health challenges that they face making it difficult for them to seek treatment and cope with daily changes they face following such diagnosis.

The lack of awareness in the society and among depression patient informed my selection of this population for a group-based intervention. As established, such entities are subject to stigma which makes group interventions an effective strategy to offset the history of alienation. The management of these challenges makes it possible to address the differences associated with the management of these services. Yalom & Leszcz (2008) confound that the mind is developed out of interactive configurations of self in relation to those of other people. Therefore, the high prevalence of depression establishes a profound schism in the balance between the selected populations with their social environment. Consequently, group intervention would help them establish an interpersonal relationship. The objective of such a treatment plan would be to help each of them to develop social skills to cope with daily challenges associated with their mental health history as well as adapt to their environment effectively. Besides the benefits associated with the with a heightened awareness of their environment, group based intervention help the depression patients aware of the symptoms to watch to make sure they seek assistance or communicate with other people to avoid escalation of the condition.

Keys Values and Benefits of Using a Group Approach

The use of group interventions in the treatment of depression establishes a favorable to correct the posttraumatic experiences that could have led to...…about their illness. Consequently, helping such entities to develop social skills to cope with uncomfortable social skills. To achieve this goal, the social workers assume an authoritative position to develop the setting of the group to stress disclosure and confidentiality within the group. The core functions of the group include maintenance, support, and prevention for a relapse into depression.

The behavioral theory posits that learning is achieved through conditioning of the mental models. As such, it asserts that mental illnesses such as depression can be treated by examining the patient’s environment. Such insights can be derived from evaluating emotional stability, cognition, and the nature of a person’s mood to determine their mental wellness (Cohen et al., 2009). Therefore, regardless of one’s genetics, they are capable of anything depending on their environment. Consequently, a group approach focuses on developing an environment that is corrective of the challenges ideal to the group. As established, the group dynamic helps build a person’s sense of identity. The behavioral theory seconds Yalom and Leszcz (2008) argument that the mind is a result of one's interaction with their social environment.

Depression’s high prevalence can be remedied through corrective in a group setting. Further, it can be prevented by creating awareness through reliable mediums. However, the use of group approach in treatment results in more honest disclosure and creates a self-driven environment for recovery. Developing a group structure founded on the behavioral theory, the psychosocial and contractual model to create interpersonal bonds resulting in corrective action.