Psychosocial Intervention & working with serious Mental Health problems
This theme focuses upon serious mental health problems and the use of psychosocial interventions. Serious mental health problems include presentations such as psychosis and schizophrenia, which affect between 22 and 34.1 people per 100,000 in Ireland (Jacinto et al., 2023). Environmental factors such as substance misuse, discrimination and adverse childhood events are associated with psychological stress and an increased risk of developing psychosis (Mian et al., 2018). People receiving these diagnoses are more likely than the general public to experience self-blame and to catastrophise when in psychological distress (Rowland et al., 2013).
Psychosocial interventions are a range of activities designed to enhance an individual’s social and psychological functioning. Psychosocial approaches are considered to offer much in the management and treatment of serious mental health problems and complement psycho‐pharmacological treatment (NICE, 2009). With foundations in the recovery approach, the research theme encompasses strategies for engagement, assessment, psychoeducation, psychological approaches to managing symptoms, coping strategy enhancement, family intervention, skills training, problem-solving, cognitive-behavioural intervention, medication management and relapse prevention. Psychosocial models also encompass work on service delivery, such as case management and assertive outreach.