Ethics And Mental Health

ETHICS AND MENTAL HEALTH: TOWARDS A RIGHTS-BASED MODEL

Introduction: Despite many positive & improvement to modern psychiatry & psychology , however still have many ethical challenges. Actually, a duty of care & an ethical code ensure the rights and dignities of clients. These are not the formal laws but guidelines to assist professionals, consumers and community for decision making.

In addition to carers should be more accountable, and consumers are more concern their rights. Thus, the rights-based model of mental health has arisen. This rights-based model is examined through mental health research, diagnosis and treatment.

1. Research • Evidence-based research • Make sure the ethical standards are upheld, 4 common safeguards are recommended: informed consent, confidentiality, volunatry participation and debriefing.

A. Informed Consent Participants have right to: • Full explanation of the nature of the research • What costs and benefits exist • Information must be clear, concise • Use a language they understand

B. Confidentiality • Use anonymity e.g. coding system • Research data keep in a locked filing cabinet & have password for computer access • Keep information in a separate location • Never disclose to a third party unless you have participant’s consent

C. Voluntary Participation • Ensure the participant is voluntary to involvement, i.e. participant free to withdraw & discontinue in the research at any stage

D. Debriefing • Is also called Feedback • Provide the participant with a full clarification of the purpose of the study • How they have contributed to the research • Address any questions or misconceptions • Clarification should be clear, concise & the language they understand

2. Diagnosis • A label of the client • Formal diagnosis made by the trained professional who has knowledge, skill & experience in psychiatric classification

A. Diagnostic & Statistical Manual (DSM) • Psychiatric classification and diagnosis are based on the medical model • Use biological framework to explain and treat symptoms • Mental health diagnosis will more complex and uncertain • DSM is the bible of psychiatry and clinical psychology

B. Stigma • Diagnosis can be helpful which explain the symptoms or give hope of an effective treatment. • Also is harmful which provide a social stigma (label) and may cause target of abuse or discrimination. This is a barrier for these client to recover.

C. Problems With Psychiatric Diagnosis

3. Treatment • Ensure individuals are helped not harmed

A. Institutional Care • Respect clients’ right • Aim at the client success to integrated back into society

B. Community and Residential Care • Return to community does not mean to close the file. To follow their condition is also important such as the side effect of psychotropic drugs, whether take the medication or not. These will influence their mental illness condition or relapse

Mental-health illness is not just responsible by professionals, and the mainly is to support by Community.