Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse: An Asset-Based Assessment

This paper addresses the issue of mental health, alcohol and drug abuse among children and young adults through an asset-based assessment model. It discusses the role of stakeholders and the most appropriate consultation model through mental health practitioners. The paper also looks at the rainbow model and tries to take forward the argument in relation to the proposed model for mental health.

1MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
Name of student:
Name of university:
Author note:

2MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
Introduction
The issue chosen from the mental health, alcohol and drug abuse from an asset based
assessment. The stakeholders have identified mental health as the most common factor invading
the lives of residents. According to WHO (world Health Organization), 10 to 20 per cent
children suffer from mental illness. This mental illness begins by the age of 14 and there is an
increase in the rate by the mid-20s (World Health Organization, World Health Organization).
Children with mental health disorder face stigma and isolation (1). The aim of this paper is to
address the burning issue of mental health, alcohol and drug abuse among children and young
adults and examine it through an asset-based assessment model. There are discussions on the role
of the pertinent stakeholders and identification of the most appropriate consultation model
through the relevant stakeholder group, in this case they are the mental health practitioners. The
paper finally looks at the rainbow model and tries to take forward the argument in relation to the
proposed model for mental health.

3MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
Question 1
Priority theme: Mental Health, alcohol and other drugs
Population: Children and young adults
Consultation model: Collaborative interdependent model
Stakeholder
group
Reason for
including
stakeholder group
in consultation
Stakeholder analysis Level of
engagement
Consultation
methodLevel
of
interest
(high/
med/
low)
Level of
influence
(high/
med/
low)
Potential
impact
(high/ med/
low)
1.
Health service
providers
They will bring their
professional
knowledge in the
treatment of different
types of patients
suffering from severe
mental health
condition
H H H H
Contextual
2.
Informal carers This includes people
who are associated
with alternative
systems of health.
Involving them
would facilitate in
bringing new kind of
therapeutic strategy
L L L M Quality circle

4MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
in the addressing the
issue.
3.
Professional
associations
This includes the
nurses,
psychologists,
psychiatrists,
occupational
therapists, general
practitioners and the
social workers. They
have been trained
and specialized to
provide healthcare
services.
H H M M Focus group
4.
Academic
institutions
This includes those
institutions that train
the psychiatrists,
nurses,
psychologists, social
workers, technicians
and health
professionals.
M H H Face-to-face
interaction and
counselling
5. Government
agencies
This will include the
heads of government
and ministries who
are associated with
internal affairs, trade
and industry, finance,
police, health,
employment,
education and
environment.
H M H Project
implementation

5MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
6.
Family groups
and consumers of
health
This includes the
associations and
representatives who
are suffering from
mental health issues.
There may be
advocacy
organizations that put
forth the interest of
the groups.
M L H Socialization
Question 2
Stakeholders
It has been found that many victims of substance abuse belong to the disadvantaged
sections of the society. It has also been found that there are young children who live with parents
who are victims of alcohol abuse and drug violence. This makes the situational the more
complicated considering that carers (2). The mental health professional would be able to identify
the children who are suffering from mental health issue and formulate steps for early
intervention. Consultation is important to mitigate the risk that may occur due to the overdrive in
the mental health condition (3). Alcohol and drug abuse may lead children to become ardent
consumers thus interfering with their family relationships, jeopardizing their health and posing
constraints on their financial health (4). The appropriate method of consultation for the of
children and young adults would be adopting the contextual understanding and context
approach (5). This approach will be important in deciphering the importance of the environment
of the young adult and the children along with that of family and community. The diagnosis
cannot be done solely from a western perspective (6). The consultation will be conducted
through involving the families in the welfare of their children and alleviating their condition. The

6MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
session plan for this purpose would be counseling the children twice every week for a period of
three months. During the course of the session plan the children will be enquired that when did
they resort to alcohol and drugs? Is it a peer-group pressure? From where did they get the money
to source drug and alcohol? I would also be interested to understand whether they have become
victims of substance abuse as a coping mechanism to deal other forms of violence in the family.
During the course of the event, the parents need to be sensitized and the children should be dealt
in a manner so that they do not feel they are being moral policed or stigmatized.
Stakeholder group: Mental health professionals
Stakeholder group profile:
(At least five key points
describing the life
circumstances of the group)
 Belief that drug abuse and alcoholism can be cured with
proper treatment
 Institutionally trained individuals
 Counselling and therapy
 Orientation with the family to educate about the causes
of mental health and substance abuse
 Treatment though session plan and consultation model
based on the requirement of the patient
Consultation purpose:
(What information or
feedback do you want from
the stakeholder group? What
do you want to achieve from
the consultation?)
Consultation method: Contexualized

7MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
Justification for consultation
method selected:
Will help in understanding the different biographies of children
What time of day, and where,
will it be held?
It will be held in the conference hall of the city during the day time
between 11 am to 4pm.
How will you recruit
stakeholders to the event?
The stakeholders for the event will be recruited through first
advertising followed by an one-on-interview
Describe the session plan/
agenda?
(How will you conduct the
session? What will it
include?
The session plan for this purpose would be counselling the children
twice every week for a period of three months. During the course of
the event, the parents need to be sensitized and the children should be
dealt in a manner so that they do not feel they are being moral policed
or stigmatized.
What types of questions will
be asked/ or, what will be the
themes of discussion?
(Develop at least three key
questions, including probes
and prompts. Where the
method selected requires
participants to identify
questions and/or themes,
When did they resort to alcohol and drugs?
Is it a peer-group pressure?
From where did they get the money to source drug and alcohol?
I would also be interested to understand whether they have become
victims of substance abuse as a coping mechanism to deal other
forms of violence in the family.

8MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
anticipate what these might
be.)

9MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
Question 3
The rainbow model of report is concerned with the seeking new directions through
meeting self-transformational needs of the individuals. The aim of this model is to demonstrate
the relationship between the different approaches to health and the entirety of development of
life. According to Dahlgren-Whitehead inequalities in health are connected the socio-economic
conditions (7). However, this living and working condition level allotted by the course
coordinator for this purpose is not appropriate. It is because here it is the social and community
networks that have influence on the children and adolescent’s substance abuse and mental health
condition. A study conducted by Bambra et al (2010), found that there is an increasing risk in
tackling the social determinants of health with the use of proper interventions. Studies have
shown there is a link between substance abuse and severe mental health condition. The data
sourced presents that there is systematic review of evidence about specific categories of
intervention. The limitation of this secondary source is that it was a challenge to identify the
significant systematic reviews by the author.
Table
Summary details of housing and community reviews
Citation Intervention(s) Summary of results
Anderson et
al17
“Social” changes (rent
assistance so that low-income
families can choose where to
live, eg, public/private)
Improvements in self-reported health status
such as a decrease in depression;
improvements in social outcomes including
neighbourhood safety and social disorder.

10MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
Citation Intervention(s) Summary of results
Acevedo-
Garcia et
al200418
“Social” changes (rent
assistance so that low income
families can choose where to
live, eg, public/private)
Improvements reported in terms of overall
health, distress and anxiety, depression,
problem drinking, substance abuse and
exposure to violence.
Chang et al19 “Environmental” changes
(changes in the housing
infrastructure to reduce risk of
falls)
NS reduction in “at least one fall” (adjusted
risk ratio of 0.90 0.77 to 1.05). NS reduction in
monthly rate of falling (adjusted incidence rate
ratio 0.85 0.65 to 1.11).
McClure et
al20
“Environmental” changes
(changes in the housing
infrastructure to reduce risk of
falls)
Significant decreases in some types of fall-
related injuries (relative reduction in fall
related injuries ranging from 6% to 33%).
Nilsen21 “Environmental” changes
(changes in the housing
infrastructure to reduce
injuries)
Two studies reported decreases in certain
injuries but most of the studies found no
decline in rates of any kind of injury.
Thomson et
al22
“Environmental” changes
(rehousing, renovation,
updating)
Mixed effects on self-reported mental and/or
physical health with some studies reporting
small improvements and others small negative
effects. Improvements found in social

11MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
Citation Intervention(s) Summary of results
outcomes such as perceptions of crime.
Saegert et al23 “Environmental” changes
(rehousing, renovation,
updating)
49/72 studies reported a significant
improvement in health.
Thomson et
al25
Area-based urban regeneration Impact of interventions was highly variable
with some studies reporting improvements (in
mortality), whereas others found deteriorations
(in self-reported health).
Hahn et al24 Area-based firearms
restrictions
Findings were inconsistent with some studies
reporting reductions in homicides and suicides,
whereas others reported increases.

12MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
Conclusion
Therefore, it can be understood that children with mental health and substance abuse
issues should be treated by the mental health professional who are trained in the field. A
collaborative interdependent model needs to be adopted involving the community especially the
parents and identify the incidences of family issues that may contribute substance abuse and
mental health disorder.
References and bibliography

13MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
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