Mental health is concerned about a person's emotional, social and psychological well-being and has an impact on the thought, feeling, and action. As such, it determines how people socialize with others, makes choices and handles stress. It is an important factor throughout all the life stages that include childhood, adolescence, and adulthood (Patel & Prince, 2014). Mental health issues are associated with various elements which may be biological, family history or caused by life experiences
Responsibilities of a Mental Health Case Manager
Mental health case managers' core responsibilities include assessment of patients' mental health state, creating individual patient plans designed to meet their specific goals, overseeing paperwork to ensure the completion of disability and insurance requirements, and cooperate with other mental health treatment team to design the aftercare plan for patients who are approaching discharge (Barry & Farmer, 2002). They also undertake home visits for discharged patients to follow-up on their mental health progress,
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Ethical Responsibilities concerning Clients with Mental Disorders
The mental counselor has access to sensitive client personal information. Barry and Farmer (2002) add that they thus have the ethical responsibility to observe confidentiality relating to such. They encounter dilemmas in cases where the law and ethics require them to breach this confidentiality and disclose specific information as is the case of suspected child abuse. In observing ethical responsibilities, the medical staff must provide the client with comprehensive information regarding their ethical and legal rights to confidentiality and data privacy. The mental health counselor must clearly define and maintain professional relationships with the client. They also have the ethical responsibility to only counsel and research in areas where they are qualified to do so in terms of their education, competency as well as credentials. They should not allow their personal problems to affect objectivity, focus, stability or judgment, nor should they provide therapy in cases where there could be role conflict due to certain connections with the client. In such cases, they should make referrals to other therapists.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is essential when dealing with patients with issues about mental health as they are a vulnerable group and may even feel more exposed if they share their problems with a therapist as an outsider. For effective counseling, the therapist needs to know the client problems and feelings. The later can only disclose such information if they trust the therapist. Confidentiality ensures that the client's secrets are protected and they can thus feel free to share their experiences. Counselors must, therefore, observe client confidentiality and know exceptions thereof. In some cases, s/he has the legal obligation to breach this ethical duty. If a client discloses information that poses dangers to them or other people like suicide, murder, child or elder abuse, the counselor has an obligation to report it to authorities. Also, if law enforcement agencies request for client information, the counselor must provide it (Patel & Prince, 2014).
The Importance of understanding and Assessment of Diagnoses
Reaching the right diagnosis is a vital part of the clinical process. According to Patel, and Prince (2014), diagnosis is more important than ever before because misdiagnosis may lead to devastating effects on the patient. An error in diagnosis and assessment may deny the patient timely and effective therapy or even lead to the administration of the wrong medication that may be toxic. Clinicians should, therefore, strive to understand and make a proper assessment of diagnoses and effectively communicate the same to patients and caregivers.
Conclusion
Mental health is an important factor throughout one’s life as it affects how people think, feel and act. Related problems may come about as a result of a person’s biological orientations, family history or traumatic experiences. Mental health practitioners have various responsibilities towards their clients and are also required to uphold confidentiality. It is also important for them to understand and make an assessment of diagnoses for the good of the patient.
References
Barry, P. D., & Farmer, S. (2002). Mental health and mental illness (6th ed.). Lippincott-Raven
Patel, V., Minas, I. H., Cohen, A., & Prince, M. (2014). Global mental health: Principles and
practice (6 th ed.). Oxford University Press
