Strength Based Perspective in Working with Clients with Mental Illness

Book excerpt: This book offers to serve as a guide for professionals in understanding and applying a strength based perspectives for Chinese clients with mental illness and to discuss the Chinese articulation of concepts and practice of these perspective within Chinese culture. Ever since the emergence of a medical model in the explanation of mental illness, the disease model or deficit/problem orientation became the dominant paradigm in perceiving, treating and rehabilitating persons with mental illness. The terms 'mentally ill' and 'mental patient' serve as labels for both professionals, family caregivers and members of community to describe the burden, the needs of care and treatment for persons with mental illness. These labels also justify the establishment and implementation of mental health services. Under the influences of the disease model, persons with mental illness are regarded as subjects for academic research, patients for treatment, clients for intervention, and objects for stigmatisation and labelling.