Events
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PRETORIA BRANCHTOPIC: MANAGING THE MENTALLY ILL- PATIENTS: A SOCIAL WORK PERSPECIVE
| Presenter: | Dr. J. Chabalala, Head Department of Psychiatry at 1 Mil Hosp |
| Date: | 20 June 2018 |
| Venue: | Erasmus, Seta |
| Time: | 09h00 to 14h00 |
Dr. J. Chabalala presented on how social worker’s should manage patients with mental illness. He explained mental illness as a disorder that affects the thoughts, mood and perception. Mental illness also impact negatively on the person’s behavior, social, occupational and functional abilities. Patients with mental-illness also tend to lose the ability to make rational decisions. Their mood can be unpredictable as they can become sad, irritable or overly happy. In most cases their behavior is triggered by hallucinations (auditory and visual), they constantly hear voices and see things that other people cannot see.
According to Dr. Chabalala, mental illness can be caused by genes, psycho-social stressors, substance abuse, certain medical illnesses (Epilepsy, Cancer or Infections), head injury, advancing age (Dementia) and Cultural Bound Syndromes (ukuthwasa).
In this regard, Social Worker’s play an important role in educating patients and families about the effects of having a mental illness and how it can be managed better. The SW also needs to discuss aftercare services (placement, curatorship) with the patient and the family as they need continuous support depending on the patient’s mental condition.
Dr. Chabalala emphasized that Social Worker’s needs to be familiar with all mental illnesses. This will expand the knowledge of Social Worker’s in providing relevant social services, depending on individual’s Psycho-Social Stressors.
Interaction among social worker’s took place and they shared experiences and approaches that can be used to manage patients better. Social worker’s also requested Dr. Chabalala to present on Personality Disorders in future. This will help Social Worker’s to improve their client care services and to properly refer cases to other professionals for further management.
NOTE: The slide presentation have been been placed onto the SAOSWA Web-site under “Member Tab” which is reserved for members who paid their membership fees.
JOHANNESBURG BRANCH
27 June 2018
"Risky Business: Interventions to address substance use disorders in the workplace for professionals"
Ms Adrie Vermeulen, SANCA National
The SAOSWA Johannesburg branch hosted a CPD presentation and group discussion on the topic, "Risky Business: Interventions to address substance use disorders in the workplace for professionals". The speaker, Ms Adrie Vermeulen, from SANCA National, is experienced in both substance abuse disorders and occupational social work. During the presentation, special attention was given to the impact of substance abuse disorders on the workplace, acts and legislation which are applicable and the process of assisting our clients who suffer from substance abuse disorders. Screening tools and assessment were briefly discussed. Small group discussions of the stages of change indicated clearly that the social workers in attendance have had quite some experience with the “pre-contemplation stage” and the importance of assisting clients to go through each stage was highlighted.
NOTE: The slide presentation, hand-outs, exercises and research and theory links will be placed onto the SAOSWA Web-site under “Member Tab” which is reserved for members who paid their membership fees.