In Mental Health Social Work, Colin Pritchard draws on his many years of experience in research, teaching and practice in order to explore key issues for social workers who want to work in the mental health field.

Mental health social work can be one of the most rewarding and one of the most frustrating areas of social work practice. Social workers need to have a good knowledge of interventions and their evidence bases, from pharmacology to psychotherapy, but also be able to work sensitively and effectively with both clients and carers in a rapidly changing context.

Based on a series of case studies and research based practice, the book explores key topics including:

• the multiple factors affecting mental health
• the bio-psycho-social model of practice
• key areas including depression, suicide, schizophrenia and personality disorder
• the mental healthâ€"child protection interface
• residential work
• treatment modalities.

Presenting new and challenging research findings in this field, this book will be invaluable reading for undergraduate social work students and for practising social workers.