Chapter 7

Learning Objectives 

After reading this chapter, one should be able to answer the following questions:    

1. What do estimates of mental illness in the population tell us?  
2. How might different models of mental illness focus us on different ways to intervene?  
3. What is the historical and contemporary context to deinstitutionalization?  
4. What are some alternatives to dealing with mental health following deinstitutionalization?  
5. How does prevention play a role in dealing with mental health issues?  
6. What are some research bases to the devising of prevention programs?   

Test your knowledge of this chapter with this quiz!  

Question 1

The standard medical model for treatment assumes:

the doctor is the expert who prescribes the correct medicine.

the patient is the passive recipient of medical knowledge.

illness is the result of biological imbalances.

All of the above

None

Question 2

Psychiatric diagnoses have been provided from all of the following BUT NOT

the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – IV

the International Code of Diagnosis

the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – IIIR

the Psychological Manual of Diagnostic Categories

None

Question 3

What role did Freud believe biology played in the development of the psyche?

an important role

no role

a minor role

an insignificant role in comparison to the environment

None

Question 4

According to the behavioral model, depression is a form of:

learned helplessness

internal loss of control

unconditional stimulus

all of the above

None

Question 5

Bogat and Jason believe that behavioral principles provide:

a yin to community’s yang.

technological tools for working in the community.

the opportunity for small successes on the path to systems change.

Both b and c.

none of the above

None

Question 6

Psychotropic drugs are

mood altering.

drugs like thorazine.

one of the reasons deinstitutionalization was possible.

All of the above

None

Question 7

The text proposes that one possibility for dealing with institutionalized mentally ill is for

mental health and the schools to work together.

mental health and cities to get together.

mental health and the criminal justice system to coordinate.

mental health and the political establishment.

None

Question 8

The newer interventions for mental illness are focused on

provision of medication above all else.

use of paraprofessionals.

integration of services.

volunteerism.

None

Question 9

A novel measure of success for patients and people in general is

“capabilities” such as affiliation and optimism

lowered levels of diagnostic severity

duration of medication reduction

All of the above

None

Question 10

Clinical psychologists are NOT trained to

provide diagnoses.

change public policies.

work in hospital settings.

provide individual treatment for pathology.

None

Time’s up

Study Questions 

1. How might one build from what has been learned regarding treatment of the mental health issues?  
2. This chapter addresses issues presented by severe mental illness. What might be learned regarding less severe mental health problems?  
3. How do community psychology principles get applied to the mental health issues presented?     

Additional Resources 

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Violence Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/violence-prevention/ 
• Videos 
  • What is Community Mental Health? From California Institute of Integral Studies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKwvLZMi57w 
  • PBS A State of Mind: The Climb Out (2024): What is it like to be a single mother in Wyoming struggling with depression and drug addiction? Many single moms don’t like to ask for help or believe they need help. But the stress they live with can lead to a mental health crisis:  https://www.pbs.org/video/the-climb-out-kv6emy/  
  • 5 Ways the U.S. Mental Health Care System is in Crisis, Francesca Fiorentini (Al Jazeera+):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR8zfpUwTrQ  
  • If You’re Not White It’s Harder to Get Mental Health Care, Francesca Fiorentini (Al Jazeera+): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgNaqfGTysU