Vasha has found herself at "rock bottom" -- again. Now 42, she hasn't seen her son in some time, and her daughter was removed from her by the Department of Social Services. She has been living in a homeless shelter for the last several months, and she can't seem to get herself together. Vasha has been using on and off -- when she can find some money to buy alcohol or drugs, she often does. Sadly, she has sometimes even sold her very body in order to get money.
The shelter recently had a group of people come in and do a short presentation on services that they offer. They say that if you have a diagnosable mental health condition, you can get assistance in the form of a worker to help with activities of daily living. Vasha, in one of her more lucid moments, made the decision to invite a person from the agency come to talk with her to see if she would be eligible.
Vasha found that she was indeed eligible for "Mental Health Support" services through the agency, and she was assigned a person to work with her.
* What are the typical developmental milestones for middle adulthood?
* What is "Mental Health Support?" What agencies in Harrisonburg provide this service? (Hint: contact Crossroads Counseling Center [801-0885] and talk with Dwayne Martin). How is it that someone can qualify for MHS services? Who is likely to be assigned as a worker, and what are their qualifications?
* What would be some goals for Vasha and her MHS worker at this point? How could someone help her given her current situation? What other services might she need?
Questions from Group 6-
ReplyDelete1. Did Vasha ever get any form of a job rather than selling her body for money?
2. Who is her son living with? Was he removed by Social Services as well?
3. Does the shelter test for drug use? How can they help Vasha from partaking in these activities?
1. Middle adulthood consists of the ages ranging from 40 to 60. For those who are 40 to 50 the physical characteristics are a lack of adaptive ability of the eye’s lens, a decline in color discrimination, and a higher sensitivity to glare. Hearing loss at high frequencies occurs, aging continues in hair and skin, metabolism slows down, and weight gain continues with an increase in fat cells in the torso but a decrease in fat beneath the skin. Muscle strength weakens with a decrease in lean muscle mass. Individuals in this age group begin to get annual tests for different cancers like colon and breast because the rate of cancer and cardiovascular disease increases especially in women. Women also begin to experience irregularity in periods where estrogen production declines. For men, there is a decrease in the amount of semen and sperm, the intensity of a sexual response drops, but there is only a slight decline in sexual activity (“Milestones of Development”).
ReplyDeleteThe cognitive characteristics for this age group are that there is an increase in consciousness about aging, reaction time decreases but the ability to chunk a significant amount of information into working memory is still functioning, and the ability to divide and control attention declines. Middle adults tend to compensate their difficulties with experience and practice. It becomes harder to retrieve long-term memories but there is an increase in problem solving, cognitive flexibility, and knowledge of facts, procedures, and work-related information (“Milestones of Development”).
The emotional and social characteristics include Erikson’s seventh stage of development, which is generativity vs. stagnation. This explains that simply having children does not satisfy generativity and middle adults go on to desire to guide and provide for the next generation (Clifton & Davis, 1995). These individuals focus on a meaningful life, try to resolve four opposing tendencies: creation/destruction, masculinity/femininity, engagement/separation, young/old, and experience a decrease in possible selves. Introspection increases as people think about the second half of their lives, sibling bonds may strengthen while the number of friends one has declines, and job satisfaction increases (“Milestones of Development”).
For the 50 to 60 age group of middle adulthood, their physical characteristics are the eye’s lens loses it adaptive ability completely, hearing loss extends to all frequencies, skin continues to age, menopause occurs between 50-55, and bone loss continues with a higher rate of osteoporosis. The height of an individual may drop as much as one inch due to a collapse in the spinal cord but the cognitive abilities remain about the same as the 40-50 aged individuals (“Milestones of Development”).
The social and emotional changes continue and they re-evaluate their own lives. There is a higher concern with the “passing of the torch” and they want positive aspects of their culture to be passed on. They may become a grandparent and rely more on their own children helping them instead of them helping their children. They also may retire (“Milestones of Development”).
Clifton, A., & Davis, D. (1995). Psychosocial Theory: Erikson.
Retrieved from http://www.haverford.edu/psych/ddavis/p109g/erikson.stages.html
Milestones of Development. Retrieved from
http://www.odessa.edu/dept/psyc/wells/2308/fall/milestones.pdf
2. What is "Mental Health Support?" What agencies in Harrisonburg provide this service? (Hint: contact Crossroads Counseling Center [801-0885] and talk with Dwayne Martin). How is it that someone can qualify for MHS services? Who is likely to be assigned as a worker, and what are their qualifications?
ReplyDeleteMental Health Support is treatment for people who find peer support to be a helpful tool that can aid in their recovery. There are a variety of organizations that offer support groups for consumers, their family members, and friends. Some support groups are peer-led, while others may be led by a mental health professional. It is a service to help individuals with their ability to develop and sustain independent living whether it be developing social networks, interpersonal relationships, or independent living skills.
Some mental health agencies in Harrisonburg are: Augusta Medical Center, Center for Marriage and Family Counseling, Child and Family Guidance, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Family Life Resource Center (FLRC), Harrisonburg Rockingham County Community Service Board, McNulty Center for Children and Families, Mental Health Association of Augusta, RMH Center for Behavioral Health, RMH Life – Outpatient Services, RMH, Mental Health Center, Valley Behavioral Medicine, Valley Community Services Board, and the Valley Hope Counseling Center.
Crossroads Counseling Center – Dwayne Martin was not available when I called so I spoke with Andy Felton who is the assistant program coordinator. Andy said mental health support is a program designed for older adolescents starting at age 17, as long as they have Medicaid. Usually patients have a behavioral disorder/mood disorder who need assistance with their social interactions. There are certain criteria one must have to qualify to receive assistance and they must meet 2 of the 4 criteria. 1. Difficulty in establishing/maintaining interpersonal relationships to such a degree that there are risks of homelessness, hospitalization or isolation from social support 2. Any past services they have received such as: hospitalization, psychiatric evaluation, at home services, currently get social security income or food stamps or involvement with the community services board 3. Ability to recognize and interact in socially appropriate behaviors and recognize harmful situations or engage in risky behavior 4. Knowledge and ability to implement individual living skills: hygiene, nutrition, managing money.
Counselors, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatrists are most likely to be assigned as a worker in mental health services. Each worker approaches helping patients differently For example, psychiatrist most likely will prescribe medication, psychologists will provide assessment and determine ‘what’s wrong with her’ in terms of a diagnosis and some interventions that might take place, counselors will counsel and reflect back to the client that they’re talking to whatever the client says.
Vasha will need all of these workers collaborating together to help out her situation.
Some of the qualifications for these workers are:
ReplyDeletePsychologists – PHD (clinical psychology)
Social Workers – Degree in Sociology or Social Work – Masters of Social Work with a concentration in clinical social work
Counselors – Degree in counseling (typically a psychology degree) and at least a masters
Psychiatrist – MD Doctorate (medical school for 4 years) residency for 2 years and back to school for 4 years
Mental Health Services for Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Augusta County, Staunton & Waynesboro. 2005. Retrieved December 2, 2011. From
http://www.preventsuicidecsv.org/localresources.pdf
3. At this point Vasha has really hit rock bottom. Getting involved with a Mental Health Support group and talking to workers who can help her is a good start in rebuilding her life. Since she has reached such a low in her life, they will have to work together to start from the ground up in changing Vasha’s life. One goal of the MHS is help her become sober and maintain her sobriety. Once Vasha and her worker can join together and fix this first problem, then she can start her life again by applying for an entry level job. Once Vasha reaches her first two goals, sobriety and employment, she can accomplish with some time another huge goal, shelter. Once she gets enough money Vasha will be able to rent an apartment and have a roof over her head and food to eat. If she continues to work on these three goals and succeeds, she can be happy and successful with her new life. She can have hope that one day the children protective services can reevaluate her and eventually give her back her children. This all cannot be accomplished though if she does not work with the help she is getting from the MHS.
ReplyDeleteIn her current situation, she can use a lot of help. Vasha is fortunate enough to receive the services from the MHS program. This group of workers, social workers, counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists, can aid in Vasha’s path to a new life. They can help her by getting her clean in rehab and staying that way. They can give her opportunities for employment and help guide her in the right direction. A 24- hour hotline, substance abuse services, family and children services, health care services, legal assistance and support groups are just s few of the ways this program can reach out and help Vasha (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations).
In all, Vasha will need a variety of services. These services will include a 12- step program about drug and alcohol abuse in families, behavioral therapy, counseling, detoxification, drug testing, employment services, family treatment approaches, housing services, mental health promotion and screening, relapse prevention, and self-help. These are a few programs of the many that the MHS provides. Getting involved and being open to start a new life if key in changing Vasha’s attitude and getting her life back on track before it is too late (Guide to Mental Health Community Support Services).
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations. November 30. Retrieved from http://store.samhsa.gov/facet/Treatment-Prevention-Recovery
Mental Health Association. Guide to Mental Health Community Support Services. November 30. Retrieved from http://www.fcmha.org/publiceducationandadvocacy/index.php?p=GuideToMentalHealthCommunitySupportServices