Assignment Task:
Application Assignment: Stigma of Mental Illness
Overview:
Often the non-professional communities, as well as family members of persons with mental illness, do not understand the distinctions between the various categories of mental illness. Many people who are not in the Clinical Mental Health profession view schizophrenia, multiple personality, and bipolar disorder as similar diseases. In fact, you may have not fully understood those distinctions until entering this course. Many people shun those with the disorders listed as if the disorder were contagious. As a Clinical Mental Health Counselor, you are in a unique position to assess and treat clients as well as to educate the client, the family, and the community about the stigma of mental illness.
Assignment will help you to clarify your understanding mental illness, treatment, and stigma. You should also listen to the lecture, review supplemental materials, and use the rubrics as guides to help you complete the assignment.
Directions:
Write a short paper (2-3 text pages) discussion briefly the broad differences between schizophrenia, multiple personality disorder, and bipolar disorder. Discuss how you will educate the client about his or her disorder and treatment of that disorder. Discuss how you will involve the family in the treatment and understanding of a mental illness. Finally, discuss how you will advocate in such a way to reduce stigma about mental illness and how you have addressed your own bias and stigma.
The following sections are suggested for your paper.
Broad Differences between Three Forms of Mental Illness
Educating the Client
Educating the Family
Reducing Stigma
Use your textbooks and the DSM to support your writing. You may also use information from other scholarly sources such as articles found in the Lamar library. Be sure to write your paper using APA style and cite all references accordingly.