Social Work Group Project: Mindfulness for Young Adult Mental Health

This social work group project focuses on addressing mental health issues in young adults through group interventions and mindfulness practices. The project aims to provide support and coping mechanisms for individuals dealing with depression and anxiety, considering factors like self-esteem, bullying, and abuse. The group work, designed as a treatment-formed group, follows Tuckman's stages of group development (forming, storming, norming, performing) to promote mindfulness and prevent harmful effects of mental illness. Key components include establishing respectful group norms, practicing mindful eating, and fostering emotional support. The project identifies challenges faced by individuals with depression, such as stress, financial problems, and health concerns, and emphasizes the importance of effective communication, coordination, and therapeutic relationships within the group. The ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life for participants by reducing depression factors and promoting mindful eating habits.

Social
Work with Groups

Table of Contents
Question 1...............................................................................................................................3
Question 2...............................................................................................................................3
Question 3...............................................................................................................................3
Question 4...............................................................................................................................3
Question 5...............................................................................................................................3
Question 6...............................................................................................................................3
Question 7...............................................................................................................................3
Question 8...............................................................................................................................3
Question 9...............................................................................................................................3
Question 10.............................................................................................................................3
Question 11.............................................................................................................................3
Question 12.............................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

Question 1
The social issue on which this project highly aims on mental illness in young people, that
can promote mental disorder such as depression & anxieties. This can affect several individuals
which is mild to moderate severity. Considered factors which can trigger depression are having
complexities impacts on self-esteem, obesity, long term bullying, peer pressure etc. (Barker & et.
al., 2020) it has been found that the individual who have witness any sort of abuse i.e. physical or
sexual abuse can submerged to depression also it can also prevail other mental illness such as
psychosis. Depression can also lead to disturbed sleeping pattern and eating disorder.
Question 2
The purpose of choosing this group work i.e. treatment formed group was to provide and
assist number of audience at same time. As it can provide support, as it might help individuals
that they are not the one who are dealing with these complications, there are other individuals as
well, who are dealing with similar issues. While working in group can also facilitate in
distributing each duty and responsibilities of work, as it can allow facilities to address each
individuals and their issues. As per the studies, psychologist Bruce Tuck-man proposed a
memorable phrase that is forming, storming, norming and performing, in the his paper known as
Development Sequence in Small Groups. (Bayes & et. al., 2020)
As it is beneficial in providing path that can help team to follow to attain high
performance. In this first stage is forming stage, in which team termed to identify purpose and
goals of team. The storming stage is to pushing individual in respect to determined boundaries.
In the norming stage, team gradually moves in resolving issues of individuals and also appreciate
each ad other strength. Whereas, till performing stage, each team members are termed to identify
their inbuilt potential and work in systematic flow along with hard work as well as structured
processes. (Tuckman's Model for Nurturing a Team to High Performance, 2020)
Question 3
The type of group that has been considered in working wit individuals is by treatment
formed group. This is basically growth oriented Closed group which is on the stage of storming.
The determined purpose of this project is to promoting mindfulness in individual who are dealing
with issues of chronic depression. It can also provide a better understanding of the mindfulness
to individuals who are dealing with acute depression, the considered goals and objective of this

program is to prevent the harmful affects of mental illness, improving eating habitats and also
daily activities which can individual perform to address and minimise familiar issues.
There are considered group norms which are respectfully listening, respectfully speaking,
confidentiality (which is making each information confidential and also avoiding sharing with
others) and no judgements will be there while addressing individuals. The project also provide
facility that if an individual may feel uncomfortable or triggered by any topic there are free to
leave the place, there will be no external force or policy will be applied on the individual. There
are ample of benefits of this project as it can help an individual to lower and mange their body
mass index, facilitates in reducing stress of individuals. (Gavurova, Rigelsky, & Ivankova, 2021)
Question 4
The organisation which is considered to work with, is Flinders Social Work. It has been
observed that this organisation is working with the traditional lands as well as water of Kaurna
people. It is termed to provide a additional support to team, which can help in addressing each
issues of individuals who are suffering form mental distress.
Question 5
The target group of this project is young adults. As it has been observed that due to
several factors such as lifestyle choices, eating habitats of people, work related stress, life events,
physical inactivity and other can lead this audience to encounter multiple chronic factors of
depression. The size of the target group majorly depends on the individual who are interested in
program. It is closed group and also its nature is heterogeneous. The recruitment method tat can
be used in order to determine the target group can be randomized. As it depend on people's
interest.
Question 6
The environment which should be conducted by individuals should be comfortable and
suitable for each individuals. It can conducted by providing value ad respect to each individuals
who are seeking help from the program. Also listening and responding to each demands an also
help in enhancing the environment. In the environment, there should be no judgements present
and also there should be complete access to an individual to leave the place if they feel
uncomfortable or triggered at any time of the session as well. An envioement can aslo be

conducted through effective communication skills with individuals and allowing them ample of
opportunities to express their thoughts, views and opinions.
Question 7
The beginning of the group that can be performed by effective communication and asking
about their names, place and their interest. While proposing the introduction statements, a team
leader should ensure there should be two way communication, and should allow others to speak
and express their-selves. The approach that should be used while making interaction with
individual should also consider holistic approach. The holistic approach considered overall
health of an individual. The empathy which should be established while addressing and
responding the issues of individuals as well. According to the studies, it has been determined that
individuals who termed to suffer with depression generally requires emotional support and
motivation, which should be provided by this program to each individuals. Also, it has been
observed that people who are depressed generally like to withdraw themselves socially, as the
group tend to achieve opportunity to socially active which can reduce their mental complexities.
(Barker & et. al., 2020)
Question 8
The group will achieve core learning of exercises, such breathing exercises, mind-full
drinking, cooking and importance of eating together. The mindful eating practice can help
individuals to address the screen time and also family eating can provide emotional support to
individual which helps in lowering issues in regards with depression. The session will be
conducted on the mindful eating, as it has been observed by the studies, there are evidence based
positive impact of the mindful eating practice. The positive outcomes which can be determined
through this practice can contribute in the improving quality of life of individuals. The positive
factors that can be concluded are helps in reducing stress, facilitate in losing weight, foster
enjoyment of meals, being present for loved ones, helps in managing calories in body and also
control intake of calories, promotes to easy digestion, beneficial for improving health of
individual's cardiovascular system, beneficial in managing blood pressure, hypertension as well
as it can be positive healthier responses to the stress and also stress causing factors as well. The
mindful eating also involve applicable intervention which are formulated for the increasing the
productivity of individuals and also it can promote the exposure physical activities as well.

Question 9
Roles and responsibilities of group leader:
It has been considered that the group should be professional in dealing with the issues of
mental illness. The group leader should have effective communication skills, coordination skills,
active listener, should have excellent decision making skills and problem solving skills, keen
observer, should have learning of building therapeutic relationship with individuals as well. If in
case, group leader is working in a team, then he or she should have efficient team working skills
which can provide them facility to make their work flow smooth and systematic working style.
The group leader should be always open foe other suggestions and recommendations.
Question 10
Challenges experienced by the groups
As per the studies, it has been determined that individuals are termed to deal with long
lasting complications, disagreements and also number of threats in their daily lifestyle. (Ongoing
challenges can get on top of you, 2020) The stress which is occurred by the depression can also
result the various areas of individual's well being. There can be number of things that can be
contributed top it, such as not being available to attain desired goals, money problems, physical
disabilities, in some cases it can also promote to the acute or chronic illness such as obesity,
diabetes Type 2 etc. Moreover, the depression s also associated with health concerning factors
such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and so on. Also, there can be other several
challenges which can be faced by the groups, while administering the issues of depression, it has
been studied that depression can also lead to promote suicidal abilities. The groups which are
considered are acute pain, headache and its head related injuries, severe mood swings.
Depression can also lead to reduce self-esteem, self-confidence as well as self-worth of an
individual, that can lead an individual to fall more into depression. (Ongoing challenges can get
on top of you, 2020)
Question 11
Ending of the session
The ending of session will be called completed when each and every individuals are
termed to have core learning ad awareness of depression, as well as, its interventions which are
considered for the management of depression and also promoting their habitats to mindful eating
practice.

Evaluation
In the evaluation of individuals, it has been considered that individuals have termed to
lower down their depression factors, and also termed to be improve their quality of life by
following interventions of mindful eating practice. They are termed to attain emotional, social
and family support and also motivation to make their life better as compared to earlier lifestyle.
Question 12
I am so glad that I attained opportunity to make efforts for people who are dealing issues
of depression. I got to know that I will be working with team, who have five members, and all
team members do have acknowledge of their roles and responsibilities, as it can make work flow
smooth and systematic. I had opportunity to delineate individual in respect to the effective
exercises of mindful eating practices, that can help them to lower down and address their mental
illness and also it can help them to importune their quality of life. While, working in a group, I
achieved understanding that how can team work skills can promote effective working style and
also increase productivity and lead to perform high performance, which can help individual to
gain best, positive as well as desired goals. It also help me in addressing my strength. While
working, I observed that I have effective communication skills and also skilled in building
therapeutic relationships with individual which helped me, in interaction with individuals and
also it promoted to form a healthy environment of an individual, where an individual was able to
express their thoughts and confession, which makes their heart light in weight. I have also
observed that I have good observing skills, problem skills and decision skills, as these skills
helped me to determined best outcome for individuals, which helped me to determine effective
strategic plan for their problems. I am also quick responders, as will group setting at first, it
seems that we might not be helpful for individuals but once we started that the session, I realised
that it might not that tough, as individuals who are here for the group session, they need our help.
The area of improvement which I have observed that needs to improve are coordination level of
team and execution of strategy. As I have determined by this program that the language which
has been used to make individuals understand should be used as simple as one can and also the
strategy of management should be executed in an innovative way, which have potential to
impress each person who are sitting in a room.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Barker, M. M., Bland, M., & Fraser, L. K. (2020). Anxiety and Depression Prevalence in
Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults With Life-Limiting Conditions—Reply. JAMA
pediatrics, 174(2), 208-209.\
Bayes, J., Schloss, J., & Sibbritt, D. (2020). Investigation into the diets and nutritional
knowledge of young men with depression: The MENDDS survey. Nutrition, 78, 110946.
Bernert, R. A., Hom, M. A., Iwata, N. G., & Joiner, T. E. (2017). Objectively assessed sleep
variability as an acute warning sign of suicidal ideation in a longitudinal evaluation of young
adults at high suicide risk. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 78(6), 0-0.
Gavurova, B., Rigelsky, M., & Ivankova, V. (2021). Sex Differences between Young Adults in
the Czech and Slovak Republics in the Relationship between Alcohol-Related Consequences
and Depression. In Addictions-Diagnosis and Treatment. IntechOpen.
Han, B., Compton, W. M., Einstein, E. B., & Volkow, N. D. (2021). Associations of Suicidality
Trends With Cannabis Use as a Function of Sex and Depression Status. JAMA Network
Open, 4(6), e2113025-e2113025.
Matar Boumosleh, J., & Jaalouk, D. (2017). Depression, anxiety, and smartphone addiction in
university students-A cross sectional study. PloS one, 12(8), e0182239.
Rosenberg, M., Luetke, M., Hensel, D., Kianersi, S., Fu, T. C., & Herbenick, D. (2021).
Depression and loneliness during April 2020 COVID-19 restrictions in the United States, and
their associations with frequency of social and sexual connections. Social psychiatry and
psychiatric epidemiology, 1-12.
West-Bey, N., Cosse, R., & Schmit, S. (2018). Maternal Depression and Young Adult Mental
Health.
Tuckman's Model for Nurturing a Team to High Performance, 2020, [Online] Available Online:
<https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_86.htm>
Ongoing challenges can get on top of you, 2020, [Online] Available Online:
<https://depression.org.nz/the-causes/ongoing-challenges/>