1.1. Describe the role of psychology within health and social care.
The study of psychology in health and social care deals with the behaviour and mental processes that enable healthcare professionals to understand the needs of all patients receiving treatment for mental disorders. Patients want extra attention, which can only be made available if workers in the health and social care sectors are well-educated in psychological theories in order to correlate them with the patients and deliver the best possible treatment.
Psychology and psychiatry are two professions that are related to human emotional and mental well-being but are very different. A psychologist, as opposed to a medical doctor, would concentrate on psychotherapy and treating emotional as well as mental suffering in patients through behavioural intervention, while a psychiatrist is a medical doctor with advanced training. They can prescribe medications and spend a significant amount of time with patients discussing medication management as a course of treatment.
The World Health Organization defines health as “a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being, as opposed to merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (Wyatt et al., 2017). Because of this definition, it is unavoidable that psychology will play a role in health and social care. Because this definition emphasises the significance of emotional well-being, psychological perspectives are essential in Health and Social Care. Examples of how psychology fits into health and social care include:
- Assisting people in coping with the loss of loved ones;
- Helping people in determining solutions to anger issues or relationship problems;
- Assisting people to overcome anxiety.
Other answers in the full document:
- 1.2. Describe types of psychologists and the roles of each within health and social care settings
- 2.1. Describe the concepts of nature and nurture in relation to human development and behaviour.
- 2.2. Explain the nature versus nurture debate.
- 3.1. Describe psychological theories.
- 3.2. Explain the impact of psychological theory on health and social care practice.
- 3.3. Compare and contrast approaches to health and social care practice based on psychological theory.
- 4.1. Discuss psychological approaches in the management of an identified mental health condition.
- 4.2. Analyse a psychological approach in relation to an identified mental health condition