Wilson, George and Kirwan, Gloria
(2007)
Mental health social work in Northern Ireland
and the Republic of Ireland: challenges and
opportunities for developing practice.
European Journal of Social Work, 10 (2).
pp. 175-191.
ISSN 1369-1457
Abstract
Drawing on their experience of mental health social work in Northern Ireland and the
Republic of Ireland, the authors examine the impact of current legislative and policy
change in both jurisdictions. The paper applies Lorenz’s theoretical framework to develop
a comparative analysis of how global and country specific variables have interacted in
shaping mental health social work. The analysis identifies linkages between factors and
indicates similarities and differences in mental health social work practice. The paper
highlights emerging discourses in this field and explores the impact on practice of
developments such as de-institutionalisation, community care, and ‘user rights’ versus
‘public protection’. The article concludes with a review of key challenges facing social
workers in both jurisdictions and identifies opportunities for developing mental health
social work in ways that can positively respond to change and effectively address the
needs of mental health service users and their carers. The analysis provides an
opportunity to evaluate Lorenz’s theoretical framework and the paper includes a brief
critical commentary on its utility as a conceptual tool in comparative social work.
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