Critical Evaluation of Social Justice Literature- Implications for Practice and Policy

Critical Evaluation of Social Justice Literature- Implications for Practice and Policy

Azibo, D. A. (2016). The backstory on the 500-pound gorilla and the elephant meeting in the consulting room for a critical perspective on evidence-based practice and nosology in mental health establishmentarianism: A possible way out of the conundrum of multiculturalism and cultural competence in psychopathology. Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry, 18(3), 229–257. https://doi.org/10.1891/1559-4343.18.3.229

Introduction

To improve knowledge and acquire practical skills about social justice and human diversity, modern-day social workers must critically analyze and assess published material. This paper aims to evaluate a chosen journal article’s authenticity and relevance, emphasizing the article’s consequences for clinical practice and policy formation. The selected article explores the complexities of evidence-based practice (EBP) and nosology in mental health, focusing on marginalized populations and cultural perspectives. It is titled “The Backstory on the 500-Pound Gorilla and the Elephant Meeting in the Consulting Room for Critical Perspective on Evidence-Based Practice and Nosology in Mental Health Establishmentarianism”. By examining the central focus, theoretical perspective, implications for social justice work, and ethical considerations raised in this article, one will gain valuable insights into the intersectionality of social work and mental health practice.

Central Focus of the Research

The article’s primary focus is on African descent people (ADP). It also considers other aspects of the greater conversation that challenge repressive practices in the counseling and social care system. It follows the persistent legacy of the ADP, starting with the history of colonization, enslavement, punitive colonialism, and their implicit effects on psycho-cultural functioning. The author criticizes the existing paradigms in mental health establishmentarianism (MHE), which monopolizes the Euro-centric overview that reduces and marginalizes the real African cultural perspectives and, hence thereof, the continued situation of the colonial frameworks (Azibo, 2016). ADPs are portrayed as encountering systemic obstacles in MHE, such as restricted inclusion in diagnostic frameworks like as the DSM and ICD and difficulties in obtaining care that is culturally sensitive. The article’s overall position is to confront and demolish oppressive structures by promoting the recognition and empowerment of ADP in the discourse surrounding mental health.

Theory/Perspective Utilized in the Article and Values Presented

The article has an African-centered viewpoint, attempting to place African historical and cultural experiences at the core of the understanding of mental health and psychopathology. This standpoint, however, critiques Eurocentric biases embedded in the establishment of mental health establishmentarianism for marginalizing authentic African constructs and experiences. Through the inclusion of the promotion of Afro-centric thinking, the article aims to reduce the prejudice against the oppressing structures and build up diversified and empowered methods for mental health care of the African descent people.

The study examines the adoption of EBP and nosology in mental health establishmentarianism via a critical lens informed by postcolonial and anti-oppressive theory. It questions the Eurocentric assumptions and power relations that underpin present psychiatric treatments, asking for the integration of other cultural views, notably those of African ancestry. The ideals articulated include cultural humility, social fairness, and an understanding of historical and systematic disparities in mental health care. The article advocates for the decolonization of mental health procedures, as well as the empowerment of oppressed people, to define their own psychopathological experiences.

The Theory Article, the Role of the Social Justice Worker, and the Population

The roles and responsibilities of social justice professionals in the context of mental health and counseling are greatly aided by African-centered ideas. This standpoint asserts that this consideration includes a view whereby the MHE establishment should be alert in acknowledging and addressing the injustices inflicted on African descent people not only in the past but up to the present. Works like those of Appiah urge social workers to align themselves with African values by practicing African-centered approaches whereby African cultural values, experiences, and perspectives shape the scope of their work (Appiah et al., 2024). This means speaking out against Eurocentric frameworks and promoting the use of real African concepts in diagnostic and treatment procedures. By embracing African-based knowledge, professionals in social work can use this to critically analyze conventional social services where they try to reshape the system to be equitable for African heritage people. Furthermore, the theory highlights the significance of incorporating the population’s experiences and needs into mental health therapies and policy initiatives. Social justice workers are expected to actively interact with ADP communities, listening to their problems and working together to establish culturally sensitive and empowering ways of mental health care (Haider, 2021). This entails criticizing Eurocentric notions of psychopathology and pushing for the acknowledgment and support of other cultural worldviews in mental health discussions.

Evidence in the Article about the Clinical Issue

The evidence presented in the article consists mainly of critical analysis and theoretical reasoning rather than empirical facts or quantitative research. The author uses postcolonial and anti-oppressive theories to criticize EBP and nosology in MHE. The author emphasizes the removal of accurate cultural viewpoints, particularly those of African ancestry, from present psychiatric methods and advocates for the decolonization of mental health approaches. Furthermore, the author criticizes the validity and cultural relevance of the DSM and ICD nosology, underlining their shortcomings in reflecting the experiences of varied groups (Azibo, 2016). The paper critically analyzes the underlying presumptions and power dynamics within the mental health field.

Data: The Source and How It Was Acquired

Most of the facts in the paper come from theoretical arguments and critical analyses based on previously published works and theoretical frameworks. The author criticizes the application of EBP and nosology in the context of MHE using postcolonial and anti-oppressive ideas. Numerous sources are consulted in the analysis, including scholarly journals, old records, and theoretical viewpoints from anthropology, psychology, and sociology. Furthermore, the author critically analyzes the ICD and DSM nosology, emphasizing their shortcomings in accurately representing the experiences of various communities. To support the points made in the article, the data-collecting process generally includes synthesizing and interpreting current information within a critical theoretical framework.

Implicit Issues Articulated with Regards to Clinical Issues

Several concerns about the clinical problem of MHE and the use of EBP in the field of psychopathology are subtly addressed in this essay. The power structures and hierarchies in the mental health field are one hidden problem, especially when it comes to the marginalization of different cultural viewpoints. The author highlights how the predominance of Western frameworks may uphold colonial and authoritarian beliefs while criticizing the Eurocentric bias ingrained in contemporary psychiatric procedures (Azibo, 2016). The article also suggests that current diagnostic frameworks, like the ICD and the DSM, may not fully capture the experiences and psychopathology of diverse populations, raising questions about their validity and cultural applicability.

The need for social justice and decolonization in the mental health sector is another latent problem. The author makes the case for reevaluating therapeutic procedures and using culturally sensitive methods that put the experiences and viewpoints of underrepresented groups—especially those of African descent—front and center. Ensuring equitable and effective treatment for all individuals in the mental health sector is contingent upon addressing power differentials, cultural prejudices, and societal injustices, all of which are implicit issues the essay articulates (Ayim, 2023). The paper advocates for a more comprehensive understanding of the social determinants of mental health and the integration of anti-oppressive concepts into clinical treatment by drawing attention to the shortcomings and prejudices present in contemporary psychiatric procedures.

Population of Theoretical or Substantive Interest

In this article, Black people, especially those of African descent who have historically experienced structural oppression within the counseling-social service network, constitute the population of theoretical and substantive interest. The author aims to draw attention to how genuine African cultural viewpoints and experiences are marginalized and erased within the framework of mental health establishmentarianism (MHE), which mostly reflects prejudices toward the European continent. Diagnostic frameworks such as the DSM and ICD are frequently inadequate in accurately representing the psycho-cultural reality of Black individuals, leading to the portrayal of them as experiencing major difficulties in getting culturally appropriate care. The author aims to empower Black individuals and communities in their pursuit of mental health and well-being by challenging and disrupting the oppressive structures that are upheld within the counseling-social service network. To do this, the author advocates for the inclusion of African-centered thought and centers on Black experiences.

The Kind of Sample

The article’s nature precludes it from presenting actual research using a particular sample. Instead, it provides a theoretical critique and study of nosology in mental health establishmentarianism and EBP. As a result, it does not use sampling techniques like convenience, stratified random, or purposive sampling that are frequently used in empirical research. Instead, various existing literature, theoretical frameworks, and critical viewpoints bolster the article’s arguments and insights.

Population Generalized by the Results of This Research

The findings of this study are most applicable to Black communities generally, especially to those in Western settings whom the mental health system has marginalized. The article highlights how biases in existing diagnosis and treatment models have tended to disadvantage Black persons as they enable them to play a critical role. Therefore, they will be exposed to significant perspectives and quality validation of their African-centered culture, which fundamentally challenges the once-widespread Western (Eurocentric) )-centered view. The requests for genuine transformation for the institutions include the incorporation of the true African cultural constructs into the diagnostic processes, the recognition of diverse modalities, including healing methods outside the Western world, and the preference for culturally competent care in mental health. Nevertheless, caution should be exercised when applying these results to non-Black populations or the context where the pattern of oppression and marginalization changes drastically since the relevance of the Afro-centered approaches may differ accordingly.

Best Clinical and Community Practices Approaches

The paper makes several suggestions for community and clinical practice strategies to deal with the structural and cultural issues that arise from MHE. First of all, it promotes the use of culturally appropriate conceptualizations of psychopathology, like the Azibo Nosology II, along with actual African personality traits in diagnostic frameworks and therapeutic approaches. Second, it emphasizes how critical it is to acknowledge and address the ways that systemic racism, colonization, and historical trauma have impacted the mental health and general well-being of people of African ancestry. Lastly, it highlights social justice practitioners’ need to embrace a decolonized methodology emphasizing advocacy for fair access to mental health resources and services, critical consciousness, and cultural humility. Top of Form

Social Policy Significance

The paper addresses how nosology in mental health establishmentarianism and EBP affect social policy. It argues that by excluding culturally specific understandings of psychopathology and actual African personality traits, the prevailing EBP paradigm maintains colonial and ethnocentric practices inside mental health systems. The paper emphasizes how social policy shapes diagnostic frameworks and treatment techniques, emphasizing how crucial it is to incorporate social justice concepts and cultural competency into the procedures involved in developing mental health policies (Sue et al., 2022). The article highlights specific implementation gaps in mental health policies, such as the failure to include social justice concepts and cultural competency in policy development processes, the persistence of colonial and ethnocentric practices within mental health systems, and the exclusion of evidence-based practice that takes into account culturally specific understandings of psychopathology and African personality traits. These disparities draw attention to serious shortcomings in the mental health policies that are in place and emphasize how urgently new inclusive and culturally aware methods are needed. This conversation is meaningful because it highlights how social policies have the potential to either strengthen or weaken the power structures, inequities, and disparities that currently exist within mental health systems. The article proposes strategies for improving mental health systems to serve different populations better and address the systemic barriers to care experienced by marginalized communities. It does this by promoting legislative changes that support inclusivity, cultural responsiveness, and equity.

Policy Practices Offered

In the mental health industry, policy practices are often shaped by prevailing paradigms and research findings. Despite this, the article still points out that therapeutic interventions would need to encompass practices that are informed by the history, culture, and values of African people and that it would be important to note that mental health has been marginalized and the African cultural perspective neglected in mental health frameworks. Policy provisions should prioritize training programs to equip practitioners with the requisite knowledge and skills to capture the nuances and special needs of Black populations as well as integrate elaborate African cultural constructs into the diagnostic and therapeutic frameworks. This will result in better implementation of more diverse and culture-sensitive mental health services with the aim of offering low dependency and inclusive care provision, thus improving the overall quality of care.

Cultural Clinical Practices Offered in the Article

The article proposes several cultural clinical practices to address the limitations of current mental health establishmentarianism. First of all, to more fully comprehend and evaluate mental health concerns within a variety of groups, it promotes the acceptance and integration of diagnostic frameworks that are culturally distinctive, such as the Azibo Nosology II. It is crucial to highlight the significance of providing cultural competence training to ensure that mental health practitioners can interact with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds effectively (Young & Guo, 2020). The paper also recommends using holistic diagnosis methods rather than Eurocentric diagnostic criteria, which ignore socio-cultural context and individual lived experiences.

Skills and Values Important for the Social Justice Worker

Strong interpersonal communication abilities are essential for social justice practitioners to interact with people from different backgrounds and promote fair treatment. Social justice workers should also exhibit cultural humility by acknowledging their prejudices and consistently attempting to comprehend and respond to the particular needs and experiences of underrepresented cultures (Gottlieb, 2020). In addition, social justice advocates need to maintain justice, empathy, and solidarity while cooperating to break down structural obstacles and advance societal transformation.

Article Packaging

There is a gap in linking the theoretical claims with empirical data, even though the theoretical introduction and discussion sections of the paper offer a thorough framework for comprehending the intersection of African-centered thought and mental health establishmentarianism. Although the author makes strong theoretical arguments for the need for a culturally relevant nosology and the constraints of evidence-based practice, the validity of these arguments is somewhat undermined in the absence of hard empirical evidence. Furthermore, even though the theoretical discussion brings up significant issues for community and clinical practices, such as incorporating African cultural constructs into diagnostic frameworks, the effectiveness and practicality of putting these suggestions into practice are still unknown in the absence of empirical support. Therefore, the article’s overall impact and relevance to clinical and community settings would be strengthened by a more rigorous integration of theoretical reasoning with actual evidence.

Possible Ethical Issues that Might Have Arisen

The process of researching the intersection of African-centered thought and establishmentarianism in mental health likely raised ethical issues whose solution required care and sensitivity as regards the exploitation or misrepresentation of the people who face such marginalization. Ensuring the preservation of participants’ rights and dignity would have been crucial, given the delicate nature of the subject and the historical background of institutional racism within mental health systems. Nonetheless, it is morally acceptable for the researcher to question and critically analyze the repressive elements of the counseling-social service network because doing so illuminates structural problems that support damage and inequity in mental health procedures. To minimize potential ethical hazards, however, careful consideration of power dynamics, informed consent procedures, and participant well-being would be required.

Concepts Covered in the Article that Have Been Discussed in Class Readings

The ideas presented in the text closely correspond with the topics of intersectionality, social justice, and cultural competence that we have been reading about. The article, which echoes our views on the persistent influence of racism, sexism, and other types of oppression, discusses the effects of systematic oppression and discrimination on vulnerable people. Furthermore, the focus on promoting social justice and human rights is consistent with our investigation of how social workers can support fair laws and procedures. Our comments on anti-racism and anti-oppressive approaches to social work align with the article’s emphasis on incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion into practice.

What Was Worth Knowing from This Article

I have gained significant knowledge about the intersectionality of social justice work from this article, especially regarding clinical practice and community interventions. Besides, emphasizing the significance of recognizing and addressing systemic discrimination and oppression when working with marginalized populations and stressing the role of social workers in advancing equity and human rights is crucial (Husband, 2023). Additionally, discussing cultural clinical practices and the skills required for practical social justice work offers helpful advice for navigating complex social issues.

Conclusion

Examining the chosen journal article has given a great insight into the opportunities and problems of modern mental health establishmentarianism. The paper highlights the need for a paradigm shift towards more inclusive and culturally sensitive treatments by critically exploring the role of evidence-based practice and nosology in addressing multiculturalism and cultural competence in psychopathology. In addition, the discourse surrounding implicit concerns, ethical deliberations, and policy ramifications underscores the intricacies of tackling systemic disparities and advancing social equity within mental health frameworks. The article’s African-centered theory-based premise emphasizes how critical it is to address systemic racism and anti-Black prejudice inside mental health systems. Its influence comes from opposing systems of oppression and promoting culturally appropriate actions that benefit Black communities. These systemic ramifications also underscore the pressing need for legislative adjustments that give African-centered practice application training a priority and handle the moral dilemmas posed by fighting racism in the context of mental health establishmentarianism.

References

Appiah, R., Raviola, G., & Weobong, B. (2024). Balancing Ethics and Culture: A Scoping Review of Ethico-Cultural and Implementation Challenges of the Individual-Based Consent Model in African Research. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1177/15562646241237669

Ayim, E. (2023). Black disabled people and mental health: Intersectionality of racism, COVID-19, and disability. An autoethnographic journey. Mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca. https://mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca/items/4f285fd7-d6d1-4332-9d23-7a5b5b03afff

Azibo, D. A. (2016). The backstory on the 500-pound gorilla and the elephant meeting in the consulting room for critical perspective on evidence-based practice and nosology in mental health establishmentarianism: A possible way out of the conundrum of multiculturalism and cultural competence in psychopathology. Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry, 18(3), 229–257. https://doi.org/10.1891/1559-4343.18.3.229

Gottlieb, M. (2020). The case for a cultural humility framework in social work practice. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 30(6), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313204.2020.1753615

Haider, S. (2021). The ethical aspects of sensitive social work research. Sensitive Research in Social Work, 81–122. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85009-8_3

Husband, J. (2023). Social work’s role in addressing police oppression: Social workers’ perspectives. Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/1635/

Sue, D. W., Sue, D., Neville, H. A., & Smith, L. (2022). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (9th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.

Young, S., & Guo, K. L. (2020). Cultural diversity training: The necessity of cultural competence for health care providers and in nursing practice. The Health Care Manager, 39(2), 100–108. https://doi.org/10.1097/

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To improve knowledge and acquire practical skills about social justice and human diversity, modern-day social workers must critically analyze and assess published material. This paper aims to evaluate a chosen journal article’s authenticity and relevance, emphasizing the article’s consequences for clinical practice and policy formation.

The selected article explores the complexities of evidence-based practice (EBP) and nosology in mental health, focusing on marginalized populations and cultural perspectives. It is titled “The Backstory on the 500-Pound Gorilla and the Elephant Meeting in the Consulting Room for Critical Perspective on Evidence-Based Practice and Nosology in Mental Health Establishmentarianism”. By examining the central focus, theoretical perspective, implications for social justice work, and ethical considerations raised in this article, oneaims to gain valuable insights into the intersectionality of social work and mental health practice.