Biomedical Explanations of Mental Illness

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PART A
Question 3. Biomedical explanations of mental illness
The biomedical model explains mental illness is a result of brain disorder, and specifically talks to chemical imbalances. Critically analyse and discuss why this model is problematic for critical social work practitioners undertaking anti-oppressive practice in the mental health field. Consider alternate ways of understanding and working with people who experience human distress and emotional suffering.
The biomedical model has been one of the most predominant views in the medical field for many years. When it comes to mental illnesses or disorders, the biomedical model focuses on the chemical imbalances in the brain and other probable biological abnormalities. This model has promoted the use of research when dealing with diseases which resulted to the discovery and development of various interventions. There is also an increase in the extent of knowledge that professionals know about mental health (Longino et al., 2020). However, there are problems that are continuously encountered when using the biomedical model in promoting mental health, especially for critical social work practitioners.
The biomedical model focuses too much on the illness or disorder itself, linking the cause of these to the biological abnormalities that a person has. This is a major part of why the biomedical model is problematic because it tends to ignore the other factors that may influence and affect mental health such as trauma, social disadvantage, or stress, among many others. Another characteristic of the biomedical model is its heavy reliance on pharmacological treatment to address the presumed cause which has two negative impacts. First, due to the belief that the mental health issues of an individual can be treated with medications, the prevention part of mental health is somehow neglected. Second, iatrogenesis happens because of heavy reliance on medications to address the symptoms of mental illnesses, leading to other health concerns such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease (Beckett, 2017).
The aforementioned characteristics of the biomedical model contradicts the beliefs and operations of critical social work practitioners because critical social work looks into the social injustices that are contributing to the mental health issues of an individual. Some examples of the concerns that critical social work practitioners aim to address are poverty, racism, abuse, and exploitation. This is very much different from the biomedical model since critical social work involves the outside world rather than focusing on the disease or imbalance in an individual’s body. Social aspects like the relationships that an individual has on various levels are recognized, including its interconnectedness and impact on one another.
The biopsychosocial model is an alternative that can accommodate the positive aspects of the biomedical model and the principles in critical social work. This will help the individuals who are in distress and/or are undergoing emotional suffering to be viewed in a holistic manner, with consideration to the relationship of different factors that may affect me...