MENTAL HEALTH TEAM

Teamwork is paramount for the success of any group. Teamwork means the combined, co-coordinated & dedicated effort of each & every member of the team toward achievement of the vested interest, target or goal of the team as an entity. 

Members of the Mental Health Team:-

1.     Psychiatrist

2.     Psychiatric nurse clinical specialist

3.     Registered nurse in a psychiatric unit

4.     Clinical psychologist

5.     Psychiatric social worker

6.     Psychiatric para-professionals

·        Psychiatric nursing aids / attendants

·        ECT Techniques

·        Auxiliary personnel

·        Occupational therapist

·        Recreational therapist

·        Diversional play therapist

·        Creative art therapist

·        clergymen

Psychiatrist:-The psychiatrist is a doctor with post-graduation in psychiatry with 2-3 years of residence training. The psychiatrist is responsible for diagnosis, treatment & prevention of mental disorders, prescribe medicines & somatic therapy & function as a leader of the mental health team.

Psychiatric nurse clinical specialist:-The psychiatric nurse clinical specialist should have a master degree in nursing, preferably with post –graduate research work. She participates actively in primary, secondary & tertiary prevention of mental disorder & provides individual, group & family psychotherapy in a hospital & community setting. She also takes up the responsibility of teaching, administration & research.

Registered nurse in a psychiatric unit:-The registered nurse undergoes a general nursing & midwifery program or B.Sc nursing / post-basic B.Sc nursing program with added qualification such as diploma in psychiatric nursing. Diploma in nursing administration etc. This nurse is skilled in caring for the mentally ill, gives holistic care by assessing the patient’s mental, social, physical, psychological & spiritual needs.

Clinical psychologist:-The clinical psychologist holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology & is registered with the clinical psychologist’s association. She/he conducts psychological, diagnosis tests, interprets & evaluates the finding of these tests & implements a program of behavior modification.

Psychiatric social worker:-The psychiatric social worker is a graduate in social work & post-graduate in psychiatric social work. She/he assesses the individual, the family & community support system, helps in discharge planning, counseling for job placement & is aware of the state laws & legal rights of the patient & protects these rights.

Psychiatric para-professionals:- 

a.     Psychiatric nursing aids / attendants:-They have high school training & are trained on the job. They aid maintaining the therapeutic environment & provide care under supervision.

b.     ECT Techniques:-They undergo training for 6-9 months. Their function is to keep ready the ECT under the supervision of a psychiatrist or anesthetist.

c.      Auxiliary personnel:-They are volunteer housekeeper or clerical staff & require in-service education to interact with the patient therapeutically.

d.     Occupational therapist:-Occupational therapist goes through specialized training. He /she has a pivotal role to play by using manual & creative techniques to assess the interpersonal responses of the patient. Patients are helped to develop skill in the area of their choice & become economically independent. They are helped to work in sheltered workshop.

e.     Recreational therapist:-The recreational therapist plans activities to stimulate the patient’s muscle co-ordination, interpersonal relationship & socialization. These approaches are need-based.

f.       Diversional play therapist:-Makes observation of a child / patient during his play. The behavior of the child while playing, the type of toys & his reaction toward the doll, beating, calling or throwing are the focus of attention.

g.     Creative art therapist:-He/she is an art graduate & encourages the patient to express his work freely with colors & analysis the use of various colours, drawing of various scenes etc. this therapy helps in diagnosis & also in bringing the repressed feelings of the patient to the conscious level. 

h.     Clergymen:-These are religious persons who may be asked to come to the hospital unit once a week (depending on the patient’s religious faith) & have a spiritual talk with the patient.

Posted in: Mental Health Nursing