Social Work Assessment: A Case Study Analysis of Richard's Situation

This case study analyzes the situation of Richard, a 24-year-old man diagnosed with a mental illness, likely schizophrenia, and living with his parents. The analysis explores his social context, family relationships, and the impact of his illness on his life, including social isolation, loss of employment, and struggles with symptoms such as hearing voices and experiencing delusions. The assessment examines his current level of functioning, highlighting his dependence on his parents and lack of social connections. It identifies stressors like recurring symptoms and strengths, such as his desire for a better life and attempts to connect with others. The case study also touches upon the principles of mental health care, the need for acute care plans, and the potential therapies for managing his condition. The document provides a comprehensive overview of Richard's challenges and the need for appropriate social work interventions.

Case Study Analysis

Contents
Part 1: Social Work Assessment......................................................................................................3
1. Introduction: Social context – locate the client within a network of personal, family and
community relationships..............................................................................................................3
2. Impact of the illness on the person’s life and the lives of significant others...........................3
3. Describe the person’s current level of functioning – how well are they managing in their
current context?...........................................................................................................................4
4. Stressors and strengths in the person’s current situation.........................................................5
5.......................................................................................................................................................6
6.......................................................................................................................................................7
Part 2................................................................................................................................................7
Content for A2...............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

Part 1: Social Work Assessment
1. Introduction: Social context – locate the client within a network of personal, family and
community relationships.
Richard is a 24 years old single man who lives with his parents and John and Sandra. His
father runs a small business whereas his mother Sandra, is a legal secretary. Richard has two
other siblings who Nicole and Damon. Initially, Richard was a bright and easy person who was
good at sports in school and was very clever. He and his father John loved going to the football
together and it was during this time, that his parents thought that he might develop a career in
this field. At the age of 19, Richard returned to Australia and got himself enrolled in an
engineering college at QUT (Brenner, 1973). Richard continued to drink closely at weekends. He
became growing withdrawn and remoted. His parents feared that Richard was depressed and
eventually persuaded him to see the circle of relatives GP who referred Richard to a psychiatrist.
Richard did no longer maintain the appointment, but 3 months later phoned his mom in a
disaster. He said he was hearing voices telling him terrible matters and urging him to leap off a
bridge. He expressed some unusual thoughts approximately listening to his mind broadcast on
the TV and believing that humans should read his thoughts. He was admitted to PA MH Service
and stabilized on antipsychotic medicine. He used to share a house with other young people there
during the first year. This was when his parents started noticing some signs of difficulties when
he returned for the first time. Richard was a very social person and had a lot of friends when he
was in school. But after he got enrolled in the college, he lost contact with most of his friends
and seemed more isolated as well as lonely (Corrigan, 2016). Not only this, he also gave up his
part-time job that he had in his father’s business and used to avoid family get-togethers. His
parents noticed that Richard was depressed as well as persuaded him to see a psychiatrist.
Therefore, it can be said that the condition of Richard was getting worse by each passing day. He
was not interacting with friends as well as family members and used to keep himself isolated.
2. Impact of the illness on the person’s life and the lives of significant others
From the case study, it has been observed that Richard was dealing with depression as he
continued to drink heavily at weekends. Besides this, he started isolating himself from people.
Depression is a condition that can affect the overall mental as well as physical health of the

person and as seen in case of Richard, he was not able to focus on one thing and he used to avoid
meeting friends as well as members of the family. There was a change in his behavior and the
things that such as sports that he used to enjoy during school, he did not enjoy as much. When he
got an appointment with the psychiatrist, he did not keep the same (Doran and Kinchin, 2019).
The overall impact of the illness on Richard’s life as well as the lives of his family members was
negative. This is because over time, his symptoms had increased and he also he was unemployed.
He started remaining isolated and he lacked energy as well as motivation. Also, he was
dependent on his parents for most of the social contact with family as well as friends. He had
started to feel that he did not fit in anymore as his old friends have gone on to do things such as
jobs. Richard’s elder brother, who is a psychologist, thought that he was dealing with a drug
problem (Druss, 2020). Anyway, there has been a disaster one day when John located him hiding
in his room, shaking with worry. He had those voices in his head and he turned into simply
scared to demise. It turned into a remedy for us to get him into hospital – we thought that
subsequently some thing will be accomplished to assist him. It became an alleviation to get a
analysis. Since then he’s come home and settled down, been back to medical institution, he
seems to have suffered so much. He’s a piece higher now and he’s starting to speak
approximately going lower back to Uni or getting a job. Therefore, it can be said that there is a
need to focus on the condition of Richard in order to help him cope with the illness in an
effective manner.
3. Describe the person’s current level of functioning – how well are they managing in their
current context?
As of now, Richard’s current level of functioning is not very good as he is mostly
dependent on his parent for social contact. Also, he does not have any friends as he lost contact
with the ones who were with him in school. He also left his job and had a break up with his
girlfriend. Also, in the last three years, he has put on a lot of weight and he is depressed most of
the time. Richard even complained of hearing voices that tell him terrible things and urge him to
jump off a bridge. His current level of functioning is not very good and also, he expressed some
strange ideas that his thoughts were being broadcasted on a TV (Grob, 2019). He soon left the
hospital after booking an appointment with the General Physician. He has suffered so much and
his parents are ensuring that they can provide as much support as possible so that he does not go
back to suffering from the symptoms that he previously did. Also, he is not much involved with

his studies and during the second semester, he started missing his classes. He does not want to
have the injections and shows resistance from getting the same. He doesn’t drink a whole lot
now but does want to have the abnormal restore. Richard has some of enduring signs and
symptoms of the illness. He stays withdrawn and isolated, dependent on his dad and mom for
most of his social touch. While the voices and hallucinations appear to manipulate the various
symptoms, he lacks strength and motivation. Although it can be said that he is trying to manage
things based on his current condition and that he requires support from his parents as well as the
general physician to ensure that there is an improvement in his overall condition. Therefore, it
can be said that the current level of functioning of Richard is not very effective and he has to
focus on his overall functioning as well as develop proper habits so that he can go back to being
normal.
4. Stressors and strengths in the person’s current situation.
After analyzing the current situation of it can be said that Richard is trying his best to
overcome his illness. Although he still has symptoms of the illness, he is trying to overcome the
same. One of the stressors for his condition is that his symptoms keep coming back and he
continues to drink heavily on weekends. He expressed a few peculiar thoughts about hearing his
thoughts broadcast at the TV and believing that human beings should read his thoughts. He
became admitted to PA MH Service and stabilized on antipsychotic medicinal drug. He settled
nicely and left hospital after 10 days to live together with his dad and mom and has been with
them for the closing 5 years. Schizophrenia is a severe intellectual ailment in which human
beings interpret truth abnormally (Harrington, 2019). Schizophrenia can also result in a few
mixture of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered questioning and behavior that
impairs each day functioning, and may be disabling. He turned into referred lower back to his GP
for ongoing care and medicine control. After 3 months he decided to head off his medication and
felt a good deal higher. He re-enrolled at Uni and managed to finish the second one semester of
his diploma. Richard remained pretty remoted but he turned into greater hopeful. His dad and
mom had been encouraging and supportive. But there are also some strengths in his current
situation such as he is trying to contact his friends and tries to talk with his parents about any
difficulties. He is interested in going back to his normal life wherein he can either get a full-time
or part-time job. He realizes about his illness, i.e., schizophrenia and wants it to be different and
sometimes he can get a glimpse of the life that he had, and the life he might have had. That’s

when he really gets down, and he thinks about suicide, but now has some hope that he can get
through this. It’s just so hard. Thus, it can be said that he is trying his level best to overcome his
illness and he has hope so that he can go back to his normal life and lead a healthy lifestyle in an
effective manner.
5. Mental injury is a reaction to an occasion that an individual finds exceptionally upsetting.
Models incorporate being in a disaster are that are term to be cataclysmic event or a mishap.
Injury can cause a wide scope of physical and passionate side effects. Not every person who
encounters a distressing occasion will create injury. As in this case of Richard, there are likewise
different sorts of injury and mental shocks which are describe though him.
A few groups will create indications that resolve following half a month, while others will have
all the more long haul impacts. With treatment, individuals can address the underlying driver of
the injury and discover productive approaches to deal with their side effects. A damaged
individual can feel a scope of feelings both following the occasion and in the long haul (Horwitz,
2020). They may feel overpowered, defenseless, stunned, or experience issues handling their
encounters. Injury can likewise cause actual manifestations. Injury can have long haul
consequences for the individual's prosperity. In the event that manifestations persevere and don't
diminish in seriousness, it can demonstrate that the injury has formed into a psychological well-
being problem called post-horrendous pressure issue (PTSD).
The key principle which can be taken:
Fundamental freedoms and basic rights
All persons have the right to the best available mental health care, which shall be part of
the health and social care system. All persons with a mental illness, or who are being treated as
such persons, shall be treated with humanity and respect for the inherent dignity of the human
person. Another principle that can applicable in this case,
Life in the community

All persons with a mental illness, or who are being treated as such persons, have the right
to protection from economic, sexual and other forms of exploitation, physical or other abuse and
degrading treatment. Each individual with a psychological instability will reserve the option to
live and work, quite far, in the community.
6. Acute care plan as well as therapies can be formulated for an individual to cope. A few
medicines can assist individuals with injury to adapt to their indications and improve their
personal satisfaction. Treatment is a first-line treatment for injury. Preferably, an individual will
work with an injury educated or injury centered advisor (Misra and Mohanty, 2019). Sorts of
treatment an individual with injury could profit by include: Psychological conduct treatment
Intellectual social treatment (CBT) assists individuals with changing their idea designs to impact
their practices and feelings.
According to studies, an individual may encounters number of methods and techniques which
highly effective in the prevention and promotion of recovery.
Physical encountering: This methodology includes an advisor assisting an individual
with remembering horrendous recollections in a place of refuge.
Sensorimotor psychotherapy: This kind of treatment joins psychotherapy with body-
based procedures to transform horrendous recollections into wellsprings of solidarity.
Acute point-incitement: This includes a professional applying strain to explicit focuses on
the body, which instigates a condition of unwinding. Contact treatments: Other touch treatments
incorporate Reiki, recuperating contact, and remedial touch treatment.
Part 2
The principles of lived experience, relationships, identity, and stigma inform practice
For some individuals with psychological sickness, the idea of recuperation is tied in with
remaining in charge of their life instead of the subtle condition of get back to premorbid level of
working. Such a methodology, which doesn't zero in on full indication goal yet stresses
versatility and command over issues and life, has been known as the recuperation model (Rashid
and Calhoun, 2020). The methodology contends against simply treating or overseeing

manifestations however zeroing in on building strength of individuals with psychological
instability and supporting those in enthusiastic misery.
While there is no single meaning of the idea of recuperation for individuals with
emotional well-being issues, there are core values, which accentuate trust and a solid conviction
that it is feasible for individuals with psychological sickness can recover a significant life,
notwithstanding tenacious side effects. Recuperation is frequently alluded to as a cycle, a
standpoint, a dream, a theoretical system or a core value. There is proof to propose that self-
administration systems dependent on the recuperation model may have more worth than models
dependent on physical health.
The recuperation interaction furnishes a comprehensive perspective on individuals with
psychological sickness that centers around the individual, not simply their symptoms. The cycle
contends that such recuperation is conceivable and that it is an excursion instead of an objective
(Szasz, 1960). It doesn't really infer a re-visitation of premorbid level of working and
asymptomatic period of the individual's life. Nor does it recommend a straight movement to
recuperation yet one, which may occur in "fits and starts" and, similar to life, have many good
and bad times.
The cycle calls for confidence and responsibility from individuals with psychological
instability, their families, emotional well-being experts, general wellbeing groups, social
administrations and the local area. The recuperation interaction is significantly impacted by
individuals' assumptions and perspectives and requires an efficient arrangement of help from
family, companions or experts. It likewise requires the psychological wellness framework,
essential consideration, general wellbeing and social administrations to accept new and
imaginative methods of working.
The recuperation model expects to assist individuals with dysfunctional behaviors and
trouble to look past simple endurance and existence. It urges them to push ahead and put out new
objectives. It upholds the view that they ought to move on, get things done and create
connections that give their lives meaning. The model underlines that, while individuals might not
have full command over their indications, they can have power over their lives.

Recovery isn't tied in with 'getting freed' of issues yet seeing past an individual's
psychological well-being issues, perceiving and encouraging their capacities, interests and
dreams. It contends against the customary ideas of psychological instability and social
perspectives, which frequently force limits on individuals encountering mental infirmity.
Wellbeing experts frequently have diminished assumptions, while families and companions can
be excessively defensive or skeptical about what somebody with a psychological well-being
issue will actually want to do and accomplish. Recuperation is tied in with looking past those
cutoff points to assist individuals with accomplishing their own objectives, desires and dreams.
Recuperation can be a journey of self-disclosure and self-improvement; encounters of
dysfunctional behavior can give freedoms to change, reflection and revelation of new qualities,
abilities and interests.

Content for A2
According to social workers the advices which are given to Richard were to minimize the
mental illness. By multiple steps such as worth yourself, Treat yourself with thoughtfulness and
regard, and keep away from self-analysis. In order to deal with serious impacts of mental illness.
To Deal with your body: Taking consideration of yourself actually can improve your emotional
well-being Encircle yourself with great individuals: Give yourself: Figure out how to manage
pressure.
Calm your brain Put forward reasonable objectives as well as Separate the repetitiveness.
The current ways to deal with psychological well-being and disease with their selective spotlight
on indications, the incomplete reaction to treatment of numerous individuals with serious
dysfunctional behavior and their powerlessness to return to their pervious degree of capacity and
understand their maximum capacity commands reciprocal ways to deal with the consideration
and the board of individuals with emotional wellness challenges.
As per the Richard’s consultant numerous individuals with serious dysfunctional
behavior now live locally. The conclusion of shelters and long stay mental offices has expanded
their numbers. But then, dreadfully numerous individuals carry on with separated lives.
Numerous mental, local area and general wellbeing administrations neglect to enable their clients
to draw in nearby areas and live in association with networks. Such dynamic commitment and
harmonious relationship inside local area requires a common enthusiasm for the capability of
individuals with and without emotional wellness issues. The interaction of commitment and
subsequent recuperation is emphatically connected to social consideration.
A critical job for psychological well-being and social administrations is to help
individuals to recapture their position in the networks, participate in standard exercises and use
openings for development alongside every other person. There is developing proof that upholds
the dispute that partaking in friendly, instructive, preparing, chipping in and work openings can
uphold the cycle of individual recuperation.
In addition to this, it may also sums up the recuperation model adds another measurement
to really focus and permits on individuals with serious psychological instability to assume

responsibility for their lives and give it meaning. This is a commendable objective that all
psychological wellness experts ought to buy in to and help accomplish. Social help is a vital
segment to catastrophe recuperation. Loved ones can be a significant asset.
An individual may discover backing and shared conviction from those who've
additionally endure the fiasco. In addition to this likewise need to contact others not included
who might have the option to offer more noteworthy help and objectivity. This can incorporate
eating suppers at normal occasions, resting and waking on a customary cycle, or following an
activity program. Work in some certain schedules to have something to anticipate during these
troubling occasions, such as seeking after a diversion, strolling through an appealing park or
neighborhood, or perusing a decent book.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Brenner, M.H., 1973. Mental illness and the economy. Harvard U. Press.
Corrigan, P.W., 2016. Lessons learned from unintended consequences about erasing the stigma
of mental illness. World Psychiatry, 15(1), pp.67-73.
Doran, C.M. and Kinchin, I., 2019. A review of the economic impact of mental
illness. Australian Health Review, 43(1), pp.43-48.
Druss, B.G., 2020. Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in populations with serious mental
illness. JAMA psychiatry, 77(9), pp.891-892.
Grob, G.N., 2019. Mental illness and American society, 1875-1940 (Vol. 5316). Princeton
University Press.
Harrington, A., 2019. Mind fixers: Psychiatry's troubled search for the biology of mental illness.
WW Norton & Company.
Horwitz, A.V., 2020. Creating mental illness. University of Chicago Press.
Misra, S. and Mohanty, D., 2019. Psychobiotics: a new approach for treating mental
illness?. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 59(8), pp.1230-1236.
Rashid, B. and Calhoun, V., 2020. Towards a brain‐based predictome of mental illness. Human
brain mapping, 41(12), pp.3468-3535.
Szasz, T.S., 1960. The myth of mental illness. American psychologist, 15(2), p.113.