Lesson 8: History of PSR
Attention
To understand where we are it is vital to understand where we have come from. Ideas, such as PSR, do not arise in a vacuum. Many individuals and many events in history led to the development of these ideas and the philosophies that describe our work.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:
- Identify ways in which current PSR philosophy aligns with it's origins in IL and Civic Rights
Teaching
Deinstitutionalization and PSR
- There is a connection between the emergence of PSR and the Deinstitutionalization movement of the 60’s and 70’s
- Establishment of Community Mental Health Centers (not a good fit when the deinstitutionalization began)
- SSI
- Subsidized Housing
- Medicaid
- Independent Living Movement
Failure of Deinstitutionalization
- CMHC were poorly prepared to deal with Chronic MI
- Poor training
- Reliance on Psychodynamic approaches despite evidence of biological etiology
- Institutionalize identity and behavior patterns
- Functional deficits
- Atypical or inappropriate behaviors
- Extreme dependency
Psychosocial Rehabilitation as a Science/Profession
From it’s “humble” roots in the creative efforts of those first CMHC workers to the science of PSR and the profession of Psychiatric Rehabilitation the field has undergone a mercuric change
- Science wants to “Describe”, “Explain”, “Predict” and “Control”…the science of PSR wishes to do this with each of the techniques it develops
- Licensing of Professionals
- Psychiatrist
- Psychologist
- LCSW, MSW, LSW
- MHRT-I, MHRT-C
- Registered Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (IAPSRS)
Psychosocial Rehabilitation and the Consent Decree
Click here to visit the official web page of the Consent Decree.
Links- Professional Journals of research:
- International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation
- Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal
- Psychiatric Services
- Community Mental Health Journal
- The Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research
- Professional Organizations
- International Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services (IAPSRS) - Current this is being reorganized.
- World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation (WAPR)
Click here to review a history of Mental Illness
Click here to review a history of Independent Living
Assessment
Lesson 8 Discussion
Discuss ways in which the role of the MHRT/C has evolved from both the Independent Living and Civic Rights movement. How does the current philosophy of PSR align with these origins?