2.1.

3 Apply Critical thinking to inform and communicate

professional judgments
Practice Behaviors:
Distinguish, appraise, and integrate multiple sources of knowledge,
including research based knowledge, and practice wisdom; analyze
models of assessment, prevention, intervention and evaluation;
demonstrate effective oral and written communication in working with
individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and colleagues
SW 3710
Term paper: The Social problem and services to address the problem
This is a term paper that I wrote for my class social welfare and the social work
profession: history trends and basic concepts (SW3710). This this two part term paper I had to
choose a topic of a social problem and how to address the problem. The social problem that I
choose to address was the lack of affordable or available care for those with mental health needs.
I explain the needs for this and the lack of availability due to budget cuts, and other financial and
political reasons.
Due to research and my previous knowledge about resources for mental health services, I
am able to provide information about some of the resources that are available in the metro
Detroit area for those with mental health needs. The issue that I find, which is the focus of this
term paper is the lack of long term treatment. There are little to no facilities that offer long term
care for those with severe mental health capabilities or needs. This term paper was one of my
first attempts in my Social work educational experience at finding research and gaining my
knowdlege in this way.

Term Paper Part I

The Social problem and services to address the problem
The social welfare issue that I will be addressing in my term paper will
be the lack of resources that are available to those suffering from mental
illness, I will focus especially on long term care. With many areas in the
United States dealing with great financial crisis as well as detrimental natural
disasters we are at risk for an increase in mental health. The issue being that
many do not have the resources to help those in need, and those in need
feel they have nowhere to turn. In 2008 many states have experienced
drastic cuts in mental health aid such as Alaska. From 2009-2012 Alaska
received a 32.6% decrease in general funding for mental health care
(Honberg, 2). This is devastating to them, since in 2007 according to USA
today, Alaska was the state with the largest suicide rate as well (Thomson
Healthcare, 2007). Many of those suffering from these diseases may also
suffer from a variety of demographic responsibilities that can help aid in their
mental competency.
For example a teenage boy or girl living in Detroit, facing many
environmental influences that may encourage them to drop out of school or
not to attend college. In addition to these pressures this person may also not
have the financial resources to attend college, as well as cultural
expectations. This otherwise motivated young man or woman could have
been extremely successful but the stress of these life decisions have really

brought them to a point where they no longer feel the desire to succeed,
they feel that there is no way to please everyone around them and feel
completely lost. They may begin blaming themselves and become consumed
by a feeling of complete hatred for their own existence. In order to survive
they may begin to commit petty crimes, and develop a resentment for
authority after feeling so left behind. This person may not even realize that
their feelings of depression and anger are completely treatable. It would be
extremely beneficial if there were more resources in these urban settings for
those who feel lost and alone. For those who feel that because of their
financial, behavioral or cultural situation that they do not deserve the help.
Many do not have people in their lives that offer support, there needs to be
places for all of these people to go in order to feel safe and understood.
There are a some resources for those that suffer from mental health,
according to Mental Health.gov the Affordable health care act implemented
in 2014 that most (but not all) health insurance plans were required to cover
essential health benefits of mental health and substance abuse services
(Mentalhealth.gov). This is beneficial for those with personal insurance plans
or those provided through their jobs. Although this not favorable for those
who cannot afford health insurance let alone mental health services. This
solution can be tricky sometimes too, it is important for those to be very
clear on what is actually covered within their insurance plans, some only
cover minimal services and then seeking help for their illness may become
financially risky. Most importantly are the health care providers and agencies,

which are few and far between. For example in the metro Detroit area we do
have resources for those suffering from mental illness. There are an
abundance of Social workers, therapists and counselors. Although long term
care of mental health is hard to come by, there are a few Hospitals that
provide assistance such as Common Ground, Havenwyk Hospital, and Henry
ford Kings wood just to name a few. As far I know these are all hospitals that
offer short term inpatient programs. It is clear that in many cases of health
care those with greater resources or more income will reap the greatest
rewards. I believe that their needs to be more opportunities for those in
lower income or not income at all to be provided assistance through the
state or federal government.

Bibliography
Honberg, Ron , Kimball, Angela, Diehl, Sita , Usher, Laura and Fitzpatrick,
Mike. State Mental Health Cuts: The Continuing Crisis. 2011 by NAMI, the
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Thomson Healthcare from National Center for Health Statistics and Bureau of
Census data. USA Today, 11/28/2007.
MentalHealth.gov. http://www.mentalhealth.gov/get-help/healthinsurance/index.html