Best Practices In Mental Health Community Supports And Social Role Valorization Theory

The theory of social role valorization is not particularly well known in the mental health field, yet a close reading of its key propositions reveals considerable concordance with what most practitioners in the field would consider optimal or best practices. What follows is a brief illustration of the overlap between best practices and social role valorization

(SRV) theory

1) The Acquisition Of Valued Social Roles And Status

This goal is central to the definition of SRV, yet there would be few practitioners who would not espouse the value to their clients of obtaining valued social roles in their community. Most professionals are all too aware of the loss of valued social roles that can come with the onset of various disorders and properly place emphasis on their preservation and enhancement. Even where professionals are pessimistic of success with this goal they typically maintain it as legitimate nonetheless

2) Treating People As People

It is commonly noted that the humanity of people with mental disorders is overlooked. This is why the ethic (and practice) of systematically seeing and treating people as being people essentially like everyone else is so crucial. In social role valorization theory, the preferred method for doing this is by insisting that people be treated as other valued

citizens of the society are, i.e., use of culturally valued analogues.

3) Practical Supports To Enable Normal Living Even In The Face of Significant Functional Impairment.

While it is indeed true that many functional impairments could lead to a loss of the advantages of being able to continue a typical life, it has always been considered both feasible and desirable to both pursue normal living as an accessible goal and to undertake to provide the practical supports necessary to accomplish this. Many of these supports need not be formalized services, though many people today can no longer grasp the reality

of non-professionalized community supports.

4) Countering Social Devaluation And Stigma

Even the most indifferent of people can recognize that people with mental disorders are socially devalued and scarred by prejudicial stereotypes. Social role valorization theory, professional practice, and virtually all self-help and advocacy groups point out both the need and feasibility of challenging social devaluation, prejudicial attitudes, and the mistreatment which comes with them.

5) The Enhancement Of Autonomy And Empowerment

The reality of the powerlessness experienced by persons with mental disorders, in regards to both society and human services, requires a firm resolve to undertake practice that authentically empowers the person and support their autonomous functioning as common with all citizens. While in reality such aspirations are rarely followed through systematically, it does not take away from their legitimacy as key elements of treating people as people.

6) The Preservation And Enhancement of Community Belonging And Social Integration

It is all too obvious that people with mental disorders are at risk of being rejected and excluded from most elements of society, e.g., relationships, school, work, family, etc. This is why so much of good practice has recognized the value of not letting crucial ties to-community be broken and the creating of such ties where they are missing. This principle has been central to both SRV theory and best practices.

7) Utilization Of Generic Resources

A key element of getting ones needs met without resorting to a segregated life apart from community is to utilize the common (generic) resources used by all citizens without notice or discrimination. These can be as varied as medical care, leisure, schooling, transport, housing, community clubs, etc. When people are denied these, they are left with-no choice

but to eke out an existence on the fringes of society, typically entrapped in the permanent mental health client role.

8) The Preservation And Enrichment Of Natural Supports

It may surprise many to consider the possibility that the "real" mental health systems one of "natural" informal supports offered by friends, family, and even casual acquaintances. Yet for the majority of people living with

mental disorders it is these that-make much of their life more functional and

satisfying. This is why the support and-mobilization of such a resource is so continually heralded as a vital element of good practice. In many cases, such supports may be much more dependable and decisive than those of

the formal/professional system.

9) The Appropriate Individualization Of Support and Service(s)

Most socially devalued groups will encounter some form of gross and negative generalizations as to what all such persons are supposed to be like. In this the unique identity-of each person is clouded by the overall depiction and (negative) treatment of the group. This is why the unique personality and personhood of every person needs to be safeguarded. Most-high quality practices not only respect individual differences but also "grow"

supports out of the unique identity of each person.

10) The Protection And Advancement Of Human Rights And Dignity

The history of the mental health field has been full of examples of the degradation-of the human dignity and rights of its clients. This consciousness has often led to quite-meritorious attempts to "set things right" by fully recognizing the rights of persons even-when the broader culture continues to devalue. Not all aspects of human dignity are enshrined as rights, so it is necessary to respect people in the fullness as people irrespective of the tendency to do otherwise.

These principles and propositions that are key elements of social role valorization theory are clearly not always honored in practice yet few would disagree that when they are pursued they constitute some of the best practices of the mental health and allied fields.