Critical Social Work Theories

Running head: CRITICAL SOCIAL WORK THEORIES
CRITICAL SOCIAL WORK THEORIES
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Overview of mental illness
All through history there can be found three general theories of the etiology of mental
illness namely supernatural, somatogenic, and psychogenic. Supernatural theories tend to
categorize mental illness to possession by evil or demonic spirits or discontentment of gods,
obscurity, planetary gravitation, curses and sin. Somatogenic theories primarily identify
turbulences in physical running emerging from illness, genetic inheritance or brain injury or
disproportion (Scott, Lim, Al-Hamzawi, Alonso et al., 2016). Cutcher, Degenhardt, Alati and
Kinner (2014) have noted that psychogenic theories mainly focus on traumatic or stressful
experiences with maladaptive learned relations as well as cognitions or unclear perceptions. On
the other hand, etiological theories of mental illness mainly establish the care as well as
treatment which mentally unwell individuals receive. Historical treatments primarily involve
Trephination recognized as an earliest supernatural account for mental illness (Mohatt,
Thompson, Thai & Tebes, 2014). According to Uher (2014), until the discovery of the
tranquilizing drugs, several forms of insulin-shock therapy further known as insulin-coma
therapy had been commonly used in the treatment process of schizophrenia along with other
psychotic conditions. On the other hand, while terrifying mental health remedies have been dated
back to prehistoric times, it had been witnessed in the dawn of the asylum era specifically in the
mid-1700s that indicates a period of the most inhumane mental health treatments. At this stage, it
has been noted when asylums developed into disreputable warehouses for the mentally unstable
individuals (Cutcher, Degenhardt, Alati & Kinner, 2014). Comprehensive studies of Moreira-
Almeida, Koenig and Lucchetti (2014) have revealed that in pre 1900s, emotional and
behavioural issues were not viewed as medical concerns and have been dealt with varied ways
through centuries. Historically, behavioural disorders were significantly considered as ethical

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issues, thus should face detention. According to Goldfried (2016), in early 1920s, children who
faced critical dilemmas of mental disorders were linked to ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyper
Active Disorder) (Goldfried, 2016). However, critical analyses of mental illness revealed that
such symptoms related to severe violence, suicide attempt, depression, anxiety and visual
disturbance draw significant divergences from currently explained ADHD children.
In recent times, mental health has drawn huge divergences in its treatment, care and
rationalization. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA), in 2018, 23.4% of adults receive treatment for mental health problems. In recent
times, there have been identified several community mental health centres across the nation
(Wahlbeck, 2015). Mentally unwell individuals are treated in centres which are located in
neighbourhoods near the vicinity clients thus offering substantial numbers of individuals with
mental health services of diverse kinds and for several types of mental issues related to anxiety,
suicide, and violence.
At this peak of discussion, it is important to note that several individuals suffering from
severe mental illness face immense challenges today. Hartz, Pato, Medeiros and Cavazos-Rehg
(2014) have noted that these individuals tend to struggle with the symptoms as well as
disabilities which arise from these diseases. On the other, mentally unwell individuals are
challenged by stigma, stereotypes as well as prejudice resulting from delusions and fallacies
related to mental illness. As a consequence of both, individuals suffering from mental illness are
pushed away from opportunities which reflect a quality life such as good employment, safe
accommodation, reasonable health care as well as association with a diverse group of
individuals. According to Hofmann (2014), models of self-stigma shed light on the deleterious
effects of prejudice on an individual's conception of oneself. However, research conducted by

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authors have suggested that rather than being weakened by the stigma, several individuals show
a propensity to develop severe apprehension and anger due to the prejudice that they have
experienced.
Furthermore, Goldfried (2016) has shed light on social, political and social impact and its
influence in mental health. It has been noted that political structures tend to affect the perspective
of mental condition whereby these individuals are typically separated from patients suffering
from mental illness. As a result, general treatment techniques are declined with a lack of
continuity of care between GPs and mental health experts. Furthermore, due to increasing
demands of labour market, mentally unwell individuals tend to face severe oppression, reduced
socio-economic status, and loss of employment avenues thus engrossing more into depression,
social alienation and subjugation. Furthermore, as per the opinion of Moreira-Almeida, Koenig
and Lucchetti (2014), social structural impact on individual’s mental condition whereby social
exclusion and acts of prejudice, bias and discrimination results mentally unfit individuals to view
them as illness first and then consider their other forms of identity.
. Progressive social work perspectives which depend on critical theories as well as
postmodern thought mainly offer highly relevant as well as suitable frameworks in order to
inform social work practice in the mental health domain. Critical theories advocated by
postmodernism have identified that individuals tend experience manifold and typically
contradictory realities which have been principally produced through language. Authors have
noted that deriving from such a perspective, the interpretation of an experience tends to exist in
relation to a particular milieu. Furthermore, as per the view of Wahlbeck (2015), the argument
that individuals have the agency to oppose thus being established by a discussion which
construct these individuals as passive or incapable thus opens the potentials and capacities for