1

Psychosocial Intervention in Mental Health Practice

Student's Name

Institution

Professor's Name

Course No

Due Date
 2

Introduction

Psychosocial intervention is used to refer to treatments or activities that are carried out to

ease a person's return to healthy participation in society following a period of detachment from it

(Glass, 2000). It is common practice to use psychosocial therapies in treating social disorders,

the withdrawal from substance abuse, and the maintenance of abstinence to reduce the risk of

relapse. When a person is not appropriately interacting with society, psychosocial intervention

may be utilized to help guide them back to a healthy state of being. This refers to employing

methods that do not include pharmaceuticals to improve a person's behavior and the social

interactions they have to decrease the impact of their ailment or disorder. Psychosocial

psychotherapy does not rely on drugs to change a person's behavior in the direction of healthy

social interaction is the defining quality of this type of intervention. According to Haber et al.

(2021), psychosocial intervention may be beneficial for treating some mental illnesses,

discontinuing undesired habits (especially dangerous addictions), and wellness programs. Even

though there are a wide variety of treatments with a variety of focuses, the most critical factor in

the effectiveness of any psychological intervention is educating the patient, as well as the

patient's family or another support system, about the problem and the treatment method. The

term "psychosocial intervention" refers to a set of strategies frequently deployed by medical

professionals during patient interactions. Therefore, psychosocial interventions for mental or

intellectual health and substance use ailments are activities, techniques, or procedures that

purpose to advance health functioning and well-being by targeting cognitive, biological,

behavioral, emotional, social and interpersonal, or environmental aspects (Sharma, &

Palanichamy, 2018). These interventions can take the form of informational interactions or
 3

interpersonal activities. Dobson & Dobson (2018) asserts that structured counseling,

improvements in motivation, improved case management, care coordination, psychotherapy, and

relapse prevention are all examples of psychological therapies that can be found in medical

practices today. These psychosocial interventions substantially impact mental health

practitioners' recovery or well-being, who may or may not be suffering from mental disorders

such as anxiety and depression. In this paper, I will investigate the impact that psychosocial

intervention has had on the field of mental health practice. Consequently, I will summarize the

influence this Psychosocial Intervention has had on the mental health profession by providing a

commentary on one psychosocial intervention I put into practice during my practicum.

To start with, psychosocial intervention is effective in reducing depressive symptoms in

the field of mental health. Medical professionals who work in the mental health field are more

likely to suffer from clinical depression because of the nature of their work. As a consequence of

this, the individual's level of depression is either significantly reduced or eliminated through the

utilization of psychosocial counseling. As a result, most people who suffer from depressive

disorders are treated in primary care settings or community-based organizations. It would appear

that patients receiving primary care prefer psychosocial therapies to pharmaceutical treatments.

Non-directive counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, a treatment that focuses on problem-

solving, and group-psych education are just a few of the different psychosocial tactics that health

practitioners use when aiding their parents. According to Dowrick (2001), the form of therapy

known as non-directive counseling is the most common type of psychosocial intervention

provided in primary care. In addition, showing the efficacy of non-directive treatment has been

the intervention that has been the most challenging to do so. According to the findings of
 4

Dowrick's research, non-directive counseling developed from the work of Carl Rogers. It

involves the skilled and principled utilization of relationships to assist the patient or client in

developing self-awareness, emotional acceptance and growth, and personal resources.

The non-directive counselor will listen to the client and ask questions until both the client

and the counselor understand the client's point of view entirely. The counselor helps the client

explain their thoughts and feelings, which benefits the client in better understanding the problem

and what they want to do about it. This helps alleviate any depression the client, medical

practitioner, or patient may be experiencing. The British Association of Counselling stipulates

that to become an accredited therapist, an individual must complete 450 hours of counseling

training and 450 hours of supervised practice (Counsellors). According to the findings of the

Dowrick study, it is abundantly evident to those working in the field of medicine and public

health that non-directive therapy substantially impacts the overall level of depression.

Secondly, psychosocial intervention improves mental health practice's overall quality of

life. According to Tarrier & Bobes (2000), psychosocial interventions can be implemented

beginning with the first episode of psychosis. They can contribute to a better overall outcome in

schizophrenia, greater patient satisfaction with treatment, and a higher quality of life for the

patient and their family. This study was conducted on patients who had previously been

diagnosed with schizophrenia. Furthermore, serious illnesses impair the patient's mental health;

psychosocial interventions, such as counseling, will assist patients in minimizing their feelings of

anxiety and loneliness, thereby improving the quality of their lives regardless of the severity of

their illnesses. Widiasih et al. (2019), sserts that psychosocial therapies are beneficial in

supporting breast cancer stickers as individuals.

 5

However, none of these studies included family members in the interventions. During the

experimentation, people with breast cancer whose mental well-being had been seriously

compromised or harmed by the ailment were given psychosocial rehabilitations such as

acceptance, commitment therapy, behavioral treatment, and mindfulness psychotherapy. The

researchers discovered considerable improvements in patients' mental health, including fewer

cases of anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. As a direct result of the intervention,

patients improved their quality of life. In addition, according to Anderson & Ozakinci (2018),

long-term diseases are complicated disorders of physical health that endure for a year or longer

and, as a result, call for ongoing therapy and help. Because chronic illnesses can be managed

with treatment but not reversed, it is vital to provide patients with long-term care and staff with

specialized training in rehabilitation to address the irreversible and incapacitating aspects of

conditions. Trained professionals in these facilities utilize psychological therapies as part of this

technical rehabilitation program. These interventions include giving affected individuals help

and counseling. As a result, the overall quality of their lives is improved. This is because the

patient can discuss their problems with the specialist, and being as how an issue that is discussed

is half fixed, this will improve the patient's quality of life.

Also, psychosocial intervention lowers the death rate of patients and the professionals

working in mental health care. Both those providing mental health care and those receiving it

experience a lower mortality rate due to psychosocial intervention. This is because various

psychosocial therapies are indispensable in managing and treating mental health and substance

abuse issues (England et al., 2005). People who struggle with mental health conditions, including

depression, anxiety, and others, tend to isolate themselves, contributing to high rates of death
 6

caused by the disorder or suicide. According to Walker et al. (2015), researchers have

consistently discovered that people suffering from mental illnesses have a greater mortality rate

than the general population. According to the research findings, Malzberg1 stated in 1937 that

the mortality rate among psychiatric inpatients in New York was six times higher than the

mortality rate among the general population. Since that time, various studies and assessments on

the mortality risks of individuals suffering from a wide range of mental disorders 2–6 and

specific diagnoses have been carried out (for instance, schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar

disorder). In addition, the author's work reveals that the global disease burden illustrates the

growing weight of mental disorders (Walter, et al., 2015). Even though this burden has been

primarily reflected in disability rather than mortality, it is clear that the importance of mental

disorders is increasing. The fact that most persons with mental illnesses do not die from their

condition but rather from heart disease and other chronic diseases, infections, suicide, and other

reasons makes the relationship between mental difficulties and mortality more complicated. The

number of individuals with mental health problems and the sum of people working in the field of

psychological health care has significantly decreased over the past decade as a direct

consequence of the adoption or implementation of psychosocial therapies in mental health

practice. Patients, as well as professionals working in the mental health field, can receive aid and

counseling. This enables those affected to communicate more freely with one another, which

lessens their sense of isolation and gives patients a more optimistic perspective on life, which in

turn helps them fight for their lives. This results in a reduction in the mortality rates associated

with suicide and mental health disorders.

 7

Lastly, Psychosocial Intervention encourages harmony between patients and the

professionals who provide mental health care. According to Forsman et al. (2011), psychosocial

intervention fosters concord between professionals providing mental health treatment and

individuals receiving such care. This is because there were a total of 44 trials that provided data

for their meta-analysis of the effectiveness of the treatment. Psychosocial therapy was found to

benefit individuals' quality of life and mental health (Forsman et al., 2011). The joint

interventions not only had a statistically noteworthy impact on the reduction of signs associated

with depression but also had a huge statistically significant upshot on lessening symptoms

associated with anxiety. The researchers concluded that psychosocial treatments create harmony

in the community by lowering levels of depression, which positively affects the overall quality of

life and mental health.

In addition, the involvement of care coordination helps foster harmony between the many

parties involved in the practice of medical care. This is because care coordination is the process

of allowing a person with mental illness to access various resources in a way that promotes their

recovery. This is why this is important. In addition, it involves the interactions between a variety

of physicians and other providers of medical care, the patient, the patient's place of employment,

the patient's family, and other influential individuals. Care coordination attempts to improve the

health and functionality of those struggling with mental health conditions (Croghan, & Brown,

2010). It benefits people receiving mental health care in long-term care institutions and have

complex psychological and physical health care needs. Since these individuals are connected to

various organizations and individuals who are aiding them with their care requirements, they are

at a greater risk of "dropping through the cracks." Self-management, collaboration with

 8

multidisciplinary teams, and psychological support providers may all be components of care

coordination, in addition to the provision of professional therapy. As a result, the field of mental

health practice can achieve harmony through psychosocial intervention.

 9

Reflection on the one Psychosocial Intervention that I encountered during my practice

placement

Care Coordination intervention

During my time in the practice setting, the psychosocial intervention that I witnessed and

participated in most frequently was the care coordination intervention. To offer safer and more

operative patient care, care coordination embroils the organization or management of patient care

actions and the sharing of information among all individuals involved in a patient's care (Prokop,

2016). This indicates that the requirements and preferences of the patient are known in advance,

communicated to the relevant persons at the proper time, and utilized to offer safe, suitable, and

successful treatment. When providing patients with high-quality and high-value medical care, the

primary purpose of care coordination is to meet the patient's needs and accommodate their

preferences. According to Mitchell et al. (2012), there are two approaches to achieving

coordinated care: generic principles frequently used to improve health care delivery and specific

actions focusing on care coordination. The use of teams and care management systems are two

examples of more general approaches to care coordination. Other examples include:

 The prescription as well as the administration of prescriptions and medicines.

 The utilization or application of info technology to medical management or treatment.

 A medical home that emphasizes the patient

The following is a list of particular examples of activities that fall under care

coordination:

 Determining who is accountable for what and what their tasks are.
 10

 The dissemination as well as the exchange of information.

 Assisting with transitions in care

 Evaluating patient requirements and objectives.

 Creating a preventative care strategy for the patient.

 Monitoring and follow-up, including adjusting to the many requirements that patients

may develop over time.

 Assisting patients in achieving their desired level of self-management.

 Establishing connections with regional resources.

 Making efforts to match available resources with the need of individual patients and

entire populations

During my clinical rotation, I had the opportunity to watch a technique called care

coordination that had significant benefits not only for the patient but also for my colleagues. This

is because it promoted harmony, which led to more pleasant working conditions for all

individuals who were involved in the practice. This includes patients, healthcare professionals,

and members of patients' immediate families. This intervention lowered hospital mortality rates

due to a thorough assessment of patient requirements and goals and monitoring and follow-up,

including a response to patient needs modifications. In conclusion, this method helped improve

the standard of care by alleviating depression symptoms experienced by patients and those

working in the medical field. This was achieved through the collaboration of practitioners and

the alignment of resources with the requirements of patients and the population as a whole,

reducing the stress these patients experience.

 11

Conclusively, psychosocial intervention is essential in mental health therapy. This is

because it encompasses any treatments or acts used to assist a person in healthily reintegrating

into society when there has been some disconnect with society. Psychosocial therapies are

frequently utilized to address social disorders, substance addiction cessation, and relapse

prevention. Psychosocial treatments in mental health practice have helped to reduce death rates

among persons such as affected patients and mental health practitioners who may be suffering

from depression. This has been accomplished through care coordination, which aims to improve

the health and functionality of persons suffering from mental health disorders while providing

guidance and counseling. Second, this psychosocial intervention has brought together the health

care provider, the patients, and their immediate families. This has been accomplished through

worker collaboration, organization of the patient care activities, and information sharing among

all employees entangled in a patient's care. Finally, the psychosocial intervention improved

mental health practice's overall quality of life. This has been accomplished through the use of

psychological therapies and counseling. As a result, their general quality of life improves. This is

because the patient can share their difficulties with the specialist, and because a problem that is

talked about is half fixed, the patient's quality of life will improve. During my practice

placement, I observed a strategy known as care coordination, which had significant benefits for

the patient and my colleagues. This is because it encouraged concord, which resulted in more

pleasant working conditions for all those participating in the profession. Patients, healthcare

workers, and members of patients' immediate families are all included. Finally, I would

encourage all mental health practice centers to continue embracing psychological interventions

because of their tremendous impact on the lives of patients, practitioners, and society.
12
 13

References

Anderson, N., & Ozakinci, G. (2018). Effectiveness of psychological interventions to improve

quality of life in people with long-term conditions: rapid systematic review of

randomized controlled trials. BMC psychology, 6(1), 1-17.

Counselors, P. Psychotherapist. Ross-on.

Croghan, T. W., & Brown, J. D. (2010). Integrating mental health treatment into the patient

centered medical home. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Dobson, D., & Dobson, K. S. (2018). Evidence-based practice of cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Guilford publications.

Dowrick, C. (2001). Psychosocial interventions for depression in community settings. Zeitschrift

für Gesundheitswissenschaften= Journal of public health, 9(3), 197-204.

England, M. J., Butler, A. S., & Gonzalez, M. L. (Eds.). (2015). Psychosocial interventions for

mental and substance use disorders: a framework for establishing evidence-based

standards (pp. 57-69). Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Forsman, A. K., Nordmyr, J., & Wahlbeck, K. (2011). Psychosocial interventions for the

promotion of mental health and the prevention of depression among older adults. Health

promotion international, 26(suppl_1), i85-i107.

Glass, T. A. (2000). Psychosocial intervention. Social epidemiology, 267-305.

 14

Haber, P. S., Riordan, B. C., Winter, D. T., Barrett, L., Saunders, J., Hides, L., ... & Morley, K.

C. (2021). New Australian guidelines for the treatment of alcohol problems: an overview

of recommendations. Medical Journal of Australia, 215, S3-S32.

Mitchell, P., Wynia, M., Golden, R., McNellis, B., Okun, S., Webb, C. E., ... & Von Kohorn, I.

(2012). Core principles & values of effective team-based health care. NAM Perspectives.

Prokop, J. (2016, October). Care coordination strategies in reforming health care: a concept

analysis. In Nursing forum (Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 268-274).

Sharma, M. K., & Palanichamy, T. S. (2018). Psychosocial interventions for technological

addictions. Indian journal of psychiatry, 60(Suppl 4), S541.

Tarrier, N., & Bobes, J. (2000). The importance of psychosocial interventions and patient

involvement in the treatment of schizophrenia. International Journal of Psychiatry in

Clinical Practice, 4(1), 35-51.

Walker, E. R., McGee, R. E., & Druss, B. G. (2015). Mortality in mental disorders and global

disease burden implications: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry,

72(4), 334-341.

Widiasih, R., Jayanti, T. N., & Rais, Y. (2019, March). Psychosocial Interventions for Improving

the Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Literature Review. In IOP Conference

Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 248, No. 1, p. 012056). IOP Publishing.