Social Work Practice in Mental Health: An Introduction

Mental health problems are ubiquitous in contemporary society. All social workers, whether in specialist or generalist settings, need specific knowledge, skills and values to work effectively with people with mental health problems.Social Work Practice in Mental Health emphasizes the importance of appreciating the lived experience of mental illness, and of establishing partnerships based on incorporating a consumer perspective into all mental health work. It also emphasizes the healing potential in relationships between consumers, careers and service providers. This is a thorough introduction to social work practice in specialist mental health settings as well as in other fields of practice in the community. It provides a knowledge base for practice with people with the most commonly-encountered mental health problems. It offers a practical guide to assessment, case management, family work, community work, and the application of the principles of partnership to work with individuals and their families, as well as multidisciplinary teams and agencies.