Thesis Abstract

Abstract
The relevance of social workers in mental institutions has been a subject of increasing importance in the field of mental health care. This study focused on the role of social workers in the Neurophysciatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta State, Nigeria. The main objective of the study was to explore the impact of social workers on the mental health treatment and overall well-being of patients in the institution. A mixed-methods approach was utilized, combining both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Structured questionnaires were administered to both social workers and patients in the hospital to gather quantitative data on the services provided by social workers and the perceived benefits by the patients. In-depth interviews were also conducted with social workers to gain insights into their experiences, challenges, and perceived impact on patient care. The findings of the study revealed that social workers play a crucial role in the mental health care system of the Neurophysciatric Hospital. They provide a range of services including individual counseling, group therapy, family interventions, discharge planning, and community reintegration support. Patients expressed positive feedback regarding the support received from social workers, citing improvements in their mental health symptoms, coping skills, and overall quality of life. Social workers also identified various challenges in their work, including high caseloads, limited resources, and the stigma associated with mental illness in the community. Despite these challenges, social workers demonstrated a strong sense of dedication and commitment to their roles in supporting the recovery and well-being of patients. Overall, this study highlights the importance of social workers in mental institutions like the Neurophysciatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta State. Their unique skills in psychosocial assessment, intervention planning, and advocacy contribute significantly to the holistic care of patients with mental health conditions. The findings underscore the need for continued support and recognition of social workers in mental health care settings to enhance the quality of care and outcomes for patients. Keywords social workers, mental health, mental institutions, Nigeria, Neurophysciatric Hospital, Aro, patient care.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

          According to NASW policy statement journal (2012-2014) stated that 60% of social workers are trained professionals in mental health practice among other health professionals. This has shown that social work is needed and vital in mental institution for good functioning.

          It is necessary that social workers work hand in hand with other health professionals for the positive wellbeing of a client. If there is a positive relationship between the social worker and other health professionals, the wellbeing of the individual involved would be put at heart. Social workers are useful for the positive growth and improvement of the client’s health because the social worker comes in contact with the client and are easily accessible and the social worker is able to build a link or relationship between the client and other health professionals.

          Social work is a helping profession which deals with human beings. It looks at the wellbeing and state of the client to see if they are stable. Social workers deal with all the aspects of humans ranging from the social life to the physical, emotional, environmental and behavioural aspect of man.

          Medical social work is sub-discipline of social work also known as Hospital social work and healthcare social work. Medical social workers typically work in the hospital or other health organizations. “The medical social worker seeks to remove those obstacles, either in the patients surroundings or in their mental attitude, that interfere with successful treatment, thus freeing the patient to aid in his recovery as a whole person” (Ida cannon, 1923). Medical social workers work with the other interdisciplinary team to achieve a positive outcome in the patient’s health. Medical social workers are to assess the functioning of psychosocial needs, environmental and support needs of patients and families and intervene. Medical social work is the branch of social work that works with patients who have mental illness in a neuropsychiatric hospital. According to World Health Organization, health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

          According to Wikipedia, mental health is a level of physiological wellbeing or an absence of a mental disorder; it is the psychological state of someone who is functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioural adjustment. Mental health is a vital issue because it deals with the functioning of an individual, psychologically, behaviourally and socially.

    According to World Health Organization (WHO) mental health includes subjective wellbeing, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence intergenerational dependence and self-actualization of one’s intellectual and emotional potentials among others. When the mental health of an individual begins to deteriorate in the sense that an individual mental functioning does not perform well is called mental illness.

Mental illness refers to all of the diagnosable mental disorders and it’s characterized by abnormalities in thinking, feeling or behaviours. Types of mental illness range from depression, anxiety, behaviours and substance abuse disorder. Mental illness brings about abnormal functioning of the mind of a man. It has been known that there is no specific cause of mental illness because it is a complexity of genes, psychological and environmental factors. Mental illness could also comprise of stress from work or family. It could also comprise of natural disaster or wars. Military veterans also suffer from mental illness due to the trauma of war they have been involved in. In Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, there was an alarming increase rate of 28,000 patients in 2009 compared to 42,000 patients in 2010.

The aspect of social work that deals with mental health is under medical social work. Medical social work is a sub-discipline of social work also known as hospital social work. Medical social workers typically work in a hospital, skilled nursing facility or hospice; and work with patients and their families in need of psychosocial help. Medical social workers assess the psychosocial functioning of patients and families and intervene as necessary. Interventions may include connecting patients and families to necessary resources and support in the community; providing psychotherapy, supportive counselling or grief counselling, or helping patient to expand and strengthen their network of social supports.

The medical social workers job is to perform assessment with patients to assess for any physical, mental or emotional needs. They assess the family support system and link the patient with service to help with care if needed. Gould 2006 some social workers provide counselling to patients who are suffering from depression, anxiety or who are having difficulty coping.

Social work is very important in the aspect of mental health. This is because lots of issues and events cause mental illness in an individual. Social workers deal with the physical, social, behavioural and environmental aspect of an individual. It also laid emphasis on the family of the individual also bearing in mind the organization the individual works in.

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

There is an alarming increase in the rate at which people are affected with mental illness. It also involves the inadequacy of people addressing social factors to mental illness. So many factors cause mental illness and the psychiatrist only place more focus on the medical factors thereby neglecting other social, behavioural and environmental factor. Social workers identify these main key factors when involved in the treatment of an individual that is mentally ill. Social workers in Nigeria are not given much relevance when it comes to helping patients with mental illness that have social factors affecting their mental health and stability.

1.3    JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

This study is essential in that mental health is important to the healthy functioning of an individual so as to be able to relate with his/her environment effectively and also to bring about increase in the input of the community. In Nigeria, little regard is being given to the social worker in conjunction with mental health. Thus the need for the study to showcase the place of the social worker in relation to mental health issues.