Studies have shown that adapting mental health care to be sensitive to one's culture and having feasible REAL goals can alter an individuals prognosis for the better. Social work is evolving to maintain these facets in the regular care of individuals. It's really interesting and one of the reasons I'm looking forward to working in social work. (Hopefully administrative position)

For example, a feasible goal should never be, "To stay on medications and be stable." Stability is not measurable so the goal should be more specific to the individual and their ability to function. Staying on medication is a means to an end but doesn't really have meaning besides that. A goal like, "I would like to have [partial?] custody of my children and in order to do this I need to stay active in my treatment plan by finding a therapist who respects my cultural needs/find sobriety/join groups to meet others and find support...blahblah"

Where I work service plans are detailed and individualized to each girl in my house. They aren't all on medications, but encouraged to do various things to help them reach their service goal. (This includes therapy, groups, tutoring, school activities etc) We also try to model behaviors that we'd like to see in the girls.

Trauma informed care is also becoming huge. (At least in my state) Numerous studies have shown the importance of being sensitive to the trauma an individual may have experienced early-on in their lives.

Unfortunately these are things that are still being worked on and not implemented everywhere.

I am hopeful that there will continue to be a change in the field, but I know that it will be hard to change peoples beliefs. Still, it's important and hopeful that these changes will indicate less use of medication as we look at the whole individual.

I also don't really think my medications do much for me except let me sleep. ;P Also dulls my emotions a little. I would say my attitude and unwillingness to give up has been the major factor in any success that I have had. A bunch of ladies on here have taught me that giving up isn't worth it.