Question

A social worker works with clients recently discharged to the community after long-term stays in a mental hospital. Despite the monthly medication monitoring and treatment services offered by the mental health center, the social worker notices a pattern in which many of these clients have frequent crises that require rehospitalization. What is the MOST likely explanation for this pattern?

A. The program staff are inexperienced in working with severely mentally ill clients.
B. The community lacks follow- up services.
C. Clients' families are not supportive of the treatment plan.
D. The hospital did not provide clients with the opportunity to learn self-care rehospitalization.

Answer 1

The most likely explanation for frequent client crises post-discharge from mental hospitals is the enduring stress, stigma, and trauma, along with the need for consistent social support and community reintegration. Historical policies like deinstitutionalization contribute to inadequate support and housing challenges, exacerbating the issue.

Step-by-step explanation:

The MOST likely explanation for the pattern of frequent crises and rehospitalization among clients recently discharged from a mental hospital, despite monthly medication monitoring and treatment services, is multifaceted. Many clients, once housed, continue to face challenges such as stress, stigma, and the trauma of past experiences, potentially leading to crises that require rehospitalization. Participatory approaches in program evaluations have shown that clients often feel safer and more supported when they are actively involved in their recovery process and when consistent social support and community reintegration efforts are present. Consistency in services, trust-building between social workers and clients, and addressing complex post-traumatic stress responses are essential in preventing frequent crises. The pattern could also partially reflect historical policy shifts, such as the deinstitutionalization of mental patients which led to a lack of supportive housing, inadequate follow-up services, and a growing number of mentally ill individuals becoming homeless or incarcerated.