Hughes (1999) has offered ten strong reasons why social workers should be included in the behavioral health plan for community support. He is sure that social workers are close to mentally ill people and their intervention is helpful and promotes recovery. Being isolated from family and friends, in some cases, people suffer greatly. Socialization and recreation are the health community needs patients to require and should be offered. CHARG Resource Center offers such an opportunity (Manning, 2000). Looking at the situation in the world and the prejudiced relation to mentally ill people, much attention should be paid to HIV-infected. These people are in higher danger. Thus, the health promotion program should be directed in the relation to these people as well. Considering the data, 70% of HIV-infected people require professional psychiatric help, but only 54 among them managed to get professional assistance (Taylor et al, 2004). The creation of the health promotion program for medical workers directed at offering them information about mentally ill people and their sociable needs may improve the general situation. Much attention should be paid to people with specific health problems, like HIV. As the basis for health promotion programs should be taken Hughes’s (1999) idea. He is sure that social workers should take part in dealing with mentally ill people. The needs of mentally ill people are met in this way, they have the connection with the community and may get rid of their fears about prejudiced attitudes. However, social workers and nurses are not professionals in the sphere and their intrusion should be as additional or urgent. Mentally ill people should get professional assistance.
References
Hughes, W. (1999). Managed care, meet community support: ten reasons to include direct support services in every behavioral health plan. Health & Social Work, 24(2), 103-111.
Manning, S. S. (2000). The CHARG experithe ence with th consumer-professional partnership. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 24(2), 125.
Taylor, S. L., Burnam, M., Sherbourne, C., Andersen, R., & Cunningham, W. E. (2004). The Relationship Between Type of Mental Health Provider and Met and Unmet Mental Health Needs in a Nationally Representative Sample of HIV-Positive Patients. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 31(2), 149-163.