Due date:
Format: Word Document
Word count or equivalent: 2000 words (5 reflections approximately 400 words per entry)
Proportion of total marks: 40%
This Critically Reflective Journal will be developed from your reading, tutorial participation and material gained from lectures. It will cover material from the first five weeks of lectures, between 3 March - 31 March 2020. Write approximately 400 words for each reflection, with a short introducation of 40 words (part of the 400) for each reflection on what you will be reflection.
Choose one theme or key idea from the lecture presentation each week, starting in Week One with a reflection on the issue of the importance of mental health and the social determinants of health. Your final entry will be for Week 5 on 31 March 2020. The Topic Coordinator will explain this in more detail in Week One at the presentation (lecture) as well as in the tutorial discussion groups with Tutors.
This is an academic journal and can be written in a combination of the first and third person. It must also include in-text referencing and a reference list at the completion of your paper (not to be included in the word count) to demonstrate what you are reading to assist your reflection, and the critique, of your learning.
There are resources provided on FLO via the Reading List to assist your learning in writing for reflection and critique. The University Student Learning Centre also provides resources for this learning.
This is critically reflective commentary arising from what you are learning in the presentations, as well as what you are reading, and your contributions and participation in the weekly tutorial discussions.
Each of the five journal entries will contain approximately 400 words – I encourage the use of headings to guide your reflections. You may use a combination of first and third person in your writings. When writing in the first person you will be reflecting on the content that occurs in the presentation each week that guides your thoughts as you both listened to and contributed to the discussions. You may use “I” and “my” for these sections within your journal entry.
Writing in the third person (this is refe
ed to as academic convention) requires you to have read theory (offered in the lectures and the readings) to justify your comments and statements (known as your argument) from the literature. This forms your critique; this is different from criticism. Writing for reflection and critique assists you to explore, examine, inte
ogate, and interpret the content discussed, as well as your own values, attitudes and beliefs; for opening up a holistic understanding of mental health and a beginning awareness of people’s lived experience in the area of mental health social work.
The five weekly topics are:
1. Importance of mental health (why is self-care important, what are the social determinants of mental health)
Readings/materials to be used-
Allen, J., Balfour, R., Bell, R. & Marmot, M XXXXXXXXXXSocial determinants of mental health. International Review of Psychiatry, 26(4), pp XXXXXXXXXX.
Fisher, M. & Baum, F XXXXXXXXXXThe social determinants of mental health: implications for research and health promotion. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 44, pp XXXXXXXXXX.
Germov, J XXXXXXXXXXImagining health problems as social issues. In J. Germov (ed.), Second Opinion: An introduction to health sociology, 5th ed. Australia: Oxford University Press.
2. What are your thoughts about the de-institutionalisation of mental health care in Australia and the provision of community mental health services.
How might this contribute to a recovery approach to the treatment of mental illness?
Reading/materials
Pilgrim, D XXXXXXXXXXThe Biopsychosocial model in health research: Its strengths and limitations for critical realists. Journal of Critical Realism, 14(2): XXXXXXXXXX.
Martin, J XXXXXXXXXXChanging Paradigms in Mental Health: A historical overview. In J. Martin, Mental Health Social Work. Adelaide: Ginninde
a Press.
Willis, E., Kelleher, H. & Reynolds, L XXXXXXXXXXIntroduction to Understanding the Australian Health Care System, 2nd ed. Elsevier.
3. What are the key differences in Cultural competence and cultural humility?
What skills and knowledge can social workers
ing to their mental health practice in relation to cultural competence or cultural humility?
Discuss the language used in describing cultural competence and cultural humility – do either resonate with social work values? Explain.
4. What attitudes and beliefs about social work relationships do you think are important? And why?
What skills will assist developing relationships? And why? Focus here is trauma informed practice.
Reading/material
Trauma-Informed Social Work Practice: Practice Considerations and Challenges
Assessment 1 Marking Ru
ic
Critical Reflective Journal XXXXXXXXXXwords
CONTENT HD
D C P F CONTENT
Excellent identification and discussion of each
of the five weekly reflections
Little or no identification and discussion of
each of the five weekly reflections
Excellent identification of the assumptions or
challenges within each lecture presentation and
discussion
Little or no identification of the
assumptions or challenges within each
lecture presentation and discussion
Excellent identification and description of the
elevant social work theories
Little or no identification and description of
the relevant social work theories
Excellent focus on mental health as a social,
cultural and political phenomenon
Little or no focus on mental health as a
social, cultural and political phenomenon
Excellent coverage, knowledge and use of
topic related ideas and concepts
Little or no coverage, knowledge and use
of topic related ideas and concepts
Outstanding organisation of ideas, discussion
and argument
Little or no organisation of ideas,
discussion and argument
Claims are well supported with reference to
academic literature.
Unsupported claims and/or bias; little or
no reference to academic literature.
Excellent quality and flow of written expression Inadequate quality and flow of written
expression
Free of grammatical e
ors Numerous grammatical e
ors
Comments/Grade
This is what I have written each week in the discussion board post. So this paper should be developed from this for each module.
The assignment would be developed based on this.
Week 1
Why is self-care important?
In our day-to-day lives, we meet different people who are going through different issues in their lives, which can be related to physical or mental health, trauma, emotional and social wellbeing. As a social worker, we faced with so many challenges by engaging with clients from different background experiencing some unique problems. Some of these stories/feelings of these clients can be very confrontational for social workers. As we often times show empathy to the clients. In such situations we give priority to our client’s wellbeing over our wellbeing which directly reduces our capacity to work and handle work or personal life efficiently. The need to balance our private lives and work priorities makes it imperative that we indulge in self-care in other to avoid burnt outs as a social worker.
How will you, as a practicing social worker, support your own self care?
Firstly, I have developed an attitude of not taking work home. Once I finish from work, I switch off from work, leaving my work tablet and mobile phone at work. I also ensure that I do not go home discussing the stories of my clients with family members. Exercising regularly has also been very helpful for me. I play soccer every Saturday and look forward to each weekends for the games. I have developed resilience, which is always helpful for me to handle difficult circumstances of work or at home. Spending time with my love ones is also an important part of my life, which helps me to relax. I am fully aware that if am feeling upset or down mentally, it will affect my family. This is why I do not discuss work at home.
Module 2
What are your thoughts about the de-institutionalisation of mental health care in Australia and the provision of community mental health services.
I am of the opinion that de-institionalisation of mental care in Australia restores basic rights such as right to freedom, association and treatment to patients of mental health. It allows the patients to retain their human dignity despite their mental health condition, providing them with social support and better form of treatment. It allows for the family of the patient to provide support in different areas of life. De-institutionalisation
ough about community mental health services which enable some mental health patients to live with their family back in community and be able to integrate as a member of the community. I agree that there has been some challenges with the process but it is still better than institutionalising mental health patients. The psychological impacts from institutionalisation does not allow for recovery.
How might this contribute to a recovery approach to the treatment of mental illness?
An appropriate de-institutionalisation framework may allow for mental health patients to be cared in community settings where they could develop meaningful relationships with friends, family or professionals and could participate in supportive physical and social environments such gardening and mens or women groups that could play a significant role in their recovery. With the right support, some have been able to maintain a part time job and have lots of community inclusion.
Module 3
1. What are the key differences in Cultural competence and cultural humility?
Cultural competence promotes ‘knowledge acquisition’ by fostering ‘attitudes, skills, behaviours and policies’ [that aim] to establish effective interpersonal and working relationships. Cultural humility is a process that value ‘accountability’ by developing ‘self-reflection and self-critique’ and knowledge of self in relation to others, by acknowledging the dynamic nature of culture, its fluidity and subjectivity, and by challenging ‘ba
iers that impact marginalized communities on both individual and institutional levels to address inequalities’ (Cross et al. cited in Fisher-Borne, Cain, & Martin, 2015, pp XXXXXXXXXX).
Cultural competence emphasize knowledge acquisition while cultural humility emphasizes the need for accountability, not only on an individual level, but also on an institutional level.
2. What skills and knowledge can social workers
ing to their mental health practice in relation to cultural competence or cultural humility?
Social workers working with refugees should focus on cultural humility in mental health practice while engaging with the clients.
For example, Social workers assisting people from refugee backgrounds could
ing their cultural humility by reflecting on the issues refugees face and the impact of trauma, by reflecting on the political context and human rights violation the refugees have been through. By using communication skills such as active listening