Mental Health Group Placements

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 mental illness. Besides the intellectual approach to the development of skills to assist the patients to cope with their challenges, group interventions establish a suitable environment for a corrective emotional experience (Yalom & Leszcz, 2008). In a group setting, the true persona of an individual is revealed, unlike a self-report in the case of one-on-one interaction with a therapist. While a therapist is actively objective, they are human in their own regard, which leads to alteration of some information by the patient. As a result, group therapy is effective since people establish interpersonal links that eventually lead to personal relationships. Cohen et al. (2009), observe such relations often lead to suitable interpersonal relationships making it possible to address the differences associated with the development of interpersonal relationships.
Modern psychotherapists discern such relationships as a foundation of therapy efficacy. Personal and interpersonal relationships result in a change in behavioral and self-image. The past relationships are internalized at a deeper and more meaningful immediate understanding that results in disambiguation of pathogenic convictions of oneself (Brandler & Roman, 2016). When such experiences occur, the patient is more appreciative of formative experiences and expresses a more bold character with confidence. Such settings allow the group members to express emotions they might have withheld. Additionally, such interactions allow the participants to use their personal styles establishes maladaptive patterns where people who may have severe depression to an equal level of depression exploit the people who have better social skills (Yalom & Leszcz, 2008). Alternatively, they may exploit the quiet by leading them to assume a subordinate or complainant role.
Group approach with depressed patient’s results in a heightened sense of self. People in the group develop a sense of personal responsibility that directly translates to a leading role in the design of their personal lives. Further, they are able to control the impact their relationships interfere with their satisfaction, dissatisfaction, and motivation (Yalom & Leszcz, 2008). Further, conflicts that may arise due to differences in the manner the employees express themselves helps parties to develop rigid character. The therapist may also get insight into possible areas of the patient that are problematic and help them to develop more effective skills.
The group develops cohesiveness as the members identify with the same challenge. As the group works collectively towards the realization of similar goals, they develop a mutual respect that leads to more cohesiveness (Brandler & Roman, 2016). As he group develops mastery towards the realization of the team's objectives, these components such as ego are integrated into each individual making it easy for them to deal with their past traumas and the day to day challenges. A group approach helps the participants overcome personal challenges that often result in health disorder as well as acquire critical skills to overcome communal challenges.
Models and Theories of Group Practice
Contractual Model
The contractual model posits that the social worker in a group does not work as a leader but as a mediator. Consequently, the decisions in the group are made on a mutual basis. As established earlier, the group is effective since they provide a suitable environment for recovery. However, interpersonal conflicts may interfere with this dynamic making it difficult for some of the members to recover effectively (Brandler & Roman, 2016). As a result, the role of the social worker is to mediate and oversee the environment of the group in not compromised rather than lay the role of a leader. The development of the group’s structure and goals. However, these constructs are limited to the agency that the social worker effectively offers guidance as an informant rather than directive. This is critical to the process of development of the group since it contributes to the building momentum. As the group evolves, these parameters help the team and the individuals build power as well as improve their resilience.
Conversely, the psychosocial model relies on deep reflection and insights founded on the intrapsychic model. The social worker holds a superior position to the group members who need to develop social skills. As established, people who are affected by depression are often stigmatized. This may arise from external entities such as the denial or embarrassment by members of the society (Brandler & Roman, 2016). Further, they may suffer stigmatization internally when their families are embarrassed 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.

















References
Brandler, S., & Roman, C. (2016). Group work: skills and strategies for effective interventions (3rd ed.), by S. Brandler & C. Roman. Social Work with Groups, 40(4), 381-383. doi: 10.1080/01609513.2015.1137448
Cohen, C., Doel, M., Wilson, M., Quirke, D., Ring, K., & Abbas, S. (2009). Global group work: Honoring processes and outcomes. Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups, 31.
Parekh, R. (2017). What Is Depression? Psychiatry.org. Retrieved 17 November 2017, from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
Yalom, I., & Leszcz, M. (2008). The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy (5th ed.). Basic Books.