Transcript Community Psychology - Psychology for you and me

Community Psychology
Chapter 16
Perspectives & History
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What is Community Psychology?
This is an approach to mental health that deals
with how environmental forces create & alleviate
problems.
Focus on prevention of problems rather than cure
Table 16-1 Principles of Community Psychology
(refer to for common questions about this field).
Community Psychology Model
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Direct attention to the fit
between environment &
person (good or not good).
Emphasize the creation of
alternatives through
identifying and developing
the resources & strengths
of community and people
(focus on actions directed
toward the competencies
of the person).
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Community Psychologists
believe that differences
between the community
are desirable-promote
diversity.
3 Concerns defining
Community Psychologists:
1)Human resource
development
2)Political activity
3)Science
Chronology & Catalyzing Events
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1955-Joint Commission on Mental Health
& Illness formed.
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- encouraged development of community mental health
concepts & reduction of mental hospitals.
- based on belief that psychological distress &
development of mental d/o’s were influenced by adverse
environmental conditions.
President Kennedy “Bold new approach”
1963-Kennedy Bill funded construction of mental health
centers.
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- Aim: promote the early detection of mental health
problems, treat acute disorders, & establish a
comprehensive delivery system of services that would
prevent “warehousing” of the severe mentally ill.
-APA endorsed the desirability of community residents &
helped focus attention on community approaches &
participation.
- Conference 1965 regarded as “official” birth of
community psychology.
Shortly after conference, Division of Community
Psychology organized within APA.
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The Community Mental Health Journal & American
Journal of Community Psychology began publication.
3 Factors reduced population of mental hospitals: the
advent of psychotropic medications, more liberal
discharge philosophy, better treatment in mental hospital.
Therapy was pushed beyond the reach of the poor and
disadvantaged.
Key Concepts- Concept of
Community Mental Health
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Ecological levels of analysis
1955 Joint Commission of Mental Health & Illness:
1) better research into mental health phenomenon
2) broadened who can provide services
3) Mental health services provided in community
4) awareness that mental illness can stem from social
problems
5) Federal Government should support
recommendations financially
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1963 Federal funds provided to help construction &
staffing of mental health centers
To qualify for these funds CMHC has to provide:
1) inpatient care
2) outpatient care
3) partial hospitalization
4) round the clock emergency service
5) consultation services
Others hoped that diagnostic services, rehab services,
research, training & evaluation would be included
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Early detection &
work with community
agencies
Must remedy
individual deficits
Reach those who
need services & those
who are excluded
from services
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Advocacy of social
action programs to
improve housing,
employment, crisis
intervention and
group therapy.
Concept of prevention
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Preventative activities will be more
efficient & effective than individual tx
administered at time of onset of disease or
problem.
Table 16-2- overview of JOBS program
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Primary Prevention
Correcting negative
conditions before
significant problems
emerge as a consequence
of these conditions. The
application of this model
necessitates a degree of
social change.
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Secondary Prevention
Detecting and correcting
problems early. This
involves screening large
numbers of people,
including people who are
not seeking help &that do
not appear to be at risk.
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Tertiary Prevention:
Reducing the duration & negative effects of problems
after they have occurred. This prevention model often
involves rehabilitation.
Universal Preventative Interventions:
Target’s entire population, interventions may be costly.
Selective Preventative Interventions
Target subgroups or individuals that have a higher-thanaverage risk of developing a d/o
Indicated Preventative Interventions:
Targets high risk individuals for developing the d/o
Empowerment
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Providing individuals with the sense that they are
in control of their own destiny, or enhancing
existing feelings of control.
Examples include reducing child and spouse
abuse, eradicating exploitation of women,
migrant workers & elderly, decreasing bias
against disabled & mentally ill.
Prevention interventions must be collaborative &
delivered in a way that avoids paternalistic style
that characterizes some traditional therapist-client
interventions.
Social intervention concepts
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Community psychologists seek to
restructure roles & social organizations.
When the environment is changed it allows
people to exert power to make their own
decisions.
Methods of intervention and
change
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Consultation: The act by which a person who
provides the services to others enlists the help of
an expert for the purpose of improving these
services.
Types of Mental Health Consultation
1) Client-centered case consultation
2) Consultee-centered case consultation
3) Program-centered administrative consultation
4) Consultee-centered administrative consultation
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Techniques & Phases:
1) Entry or preparatory phase
2) Beginning or warm-up phase
3) Alternative action phase
4) Termination
Community alternatives to
hospitalization
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Community Lodge: akin to a halfway
house where formerly chronic, hospitalized
patients can learn independent living skills.
Mendota Program: attempt to help
“undischargable” patients find jobs, learn
trades and shopping skills
Day Hospitals
Intervention in early childhood
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Head Start Program: mid-1960’s President
Johnson created Office of Economic
Opportunity. This program targets
disadvantaged children. Prepares
preschool children for elementary school
Self-help
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8 Primary functions of self-help groups:
1. Provide emotional support to members
2. Provide role models
3. Provide ways of understanding members
4. Provide important & relevant information
5. Provide new ideas about how to cope with existing
problems
6.give members opportunity to help other members
7. Provide social companionship
8. Give members increased sense of mastery &
control over their problems.
Paraprofessionals
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Person with no formal clinical training who
have been trained to assist professional
mental health workers. The use of these
people has been growing in the community
and the results of meta-analysis show that
paraprofessionals can be as effective as
professionals.
Questions of effectiveness
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Many prevention programs have been
shown to be effective and cost efficient,
and the consultation appears to be effective
as well.
Values, power, and civil rights
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It is hoped that the individual practitioner
& the community-oriented advocate will
each carefully examine the potential for
both harm and good that is inherent in their
positions.
The training of community
psychologists
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Multidisciplinary orientation, community
psychology has not identified theoretical
framework.
Should have solid background in sociology,
nursing, social work, public health, epidemiology,
medicine, or clinical/community psychology.
Training in the design of interventions
Practicum or internship training in prevention.
The age of managed care
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Emphasis on prevention of mental health
problems & initial reports indicating the
cost-effectiveness of prevention,
community psychology is likely to play a
primary role in designing and
implementing interventions that will be
recommended and financially supported by
managed care companies.
The future of prevention
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Future looks bright!
Need for more community psychologists and
prevention field specialists to be trained in the
future.
Likely that more interventions & programs
designed and implemented by community
psychologists will be recommended & financially
supported by managed care companies in the
future.