Understanding Social Work Practice in Mental Health
- Vicki Coppock - Edge Hill University, UK
- Bob Dunn - Edge Hill University, UK
Social Work & Social Policy (General)
"This book is a timely restatement of the central role of social work in mental health. In this important work, Coppock and Dunn have developed a well written and closely argued case for retaining social work skills as a key part of a truly integrated mental health system." - Terry Bamford, Director, Social Perspectives Network
This book provides an authoritative overview of mental health theory, policy and practice. Exploring the complex moral and ethical dimensions underpinning the field, the book engages with the key issues encountered by practitioners working in the modern mental health system. Using real world scenarios, case studies, and reflective exercises, it asks students to critically examine the world of mental health practice from the perspective of users of mental health services and their carers.
Reflecting the core values, skills and knowledge frameworks required for professional social work qualification in the mental health context, this book will enable students to:
- Understand mental health theory and practice as a contested arena.
- Recognise professional differences and inter-professional strengths.
- Tolerate uncertainty and complexity in practice.
- Develop critically as reflexive mental health practitioners.
Included in the text are practice dilemmas, chapter summaries, and resources to aid further study.
This is an excellent text that supports the development of practitioners in the field of mental health.
Of particular value are the explorations of the recovery model and rights vs risks. These encourage the reader to not only think of own duties and responsibilities but also how the service user can be placed at the heart of assessment and planning.
I have put this book on the reading list and asked the library to order copies. The book is good at outlining some of the general principles which social workers should adopt within mental health work. However, I would have liked to see more practical examples. The majority of the social work texts focus a lot of values, which is a key area but tend to exclude how you might work with individuals in practice e.g. how might students work with an individual who is suffering from psychosis for instance?
I found this to be an excellent all round text that covers all the issues around current mental health practice. I like that the focus remained on the role of social work in this field and it is realistic about how things are in the real world. It is clear about what is distinct about social work in mental health, something we struggle to explain in practice.
The historical content helped refresh my memory as to why things are as they are and I will be incorporating a lot of it's material into my lectures, hence me using it as a key text.
Very easy to read and it helps to make sense of the core issues in mental health.
It's actually for the mental health module and not observation.
Excellent text, which covers exactly the issues and areas of knowledge required by our programme. Well written and well researched, this is already popular with students
The chapter themes around which the book is organised facilitate greater depth of thinking and reflection on the part of the reader whilst also presenting the information in an accessible way.
Good isuses and themes arise in this book. It will act as a good introduction to mental health social work and practice.
Very useful monography with up-to-date comments (economic crisis) and informations. Readable also to the bachelor students as well as master students. Very needed in Czech republic to compare existing approaches to the work with psychotics.
A valuable introduction to mental health social work that addresses key issues for practice and recognises the important contribution of social work to interprofessional working in mental health.
An excellent overview of this topic.
