Case Analysis
John, a Shamiri mental health lay provider, forwarded the case of Allan (fake name), a fifteen-year-old boy who was being abused at home. Allan admits to having suicidal ideation and exhibits self-destructive behavior. He is distant and withdrawn and rarely associates with his classmates. He confided in John that his father drinks and physically and emotionally abuse him and his mother. A review of Allan’s case shows that he is facing constant Abuse at home from his father and lacks a proper support system, which contributes to his low self-esteem, suicidal ideation, and withdrawn nature.
During one of the Shamiri outreach programs, John befriended Allan, the only student who rarely said anything. He developed a healthy rapport with Allan, and on one occasion, Allan confided in him about the Abuse. Allan and his parents live in the Kariobangi area. He attends a local high school and is currently in form two. His father works manual jobs while his mother sells vegetables near their area. Allan’s father is a person with alcoholism who drinks every single day. Whenever he comes home drunk, he either verbally abuses Allan and his mother or beats both of them. At first, the father would only beat up the mother, but when he tried to intervene once, the father started beating him, too. The family dynamics do not allow his mother to help him when he is being beaten up. This aspect is in line with Radcliffe et al. (2021), who argue that partners who experience intimate partner violence under psychological and financial oppression.
Allan’s mother does not come to his help because they mostly rely on financial upkeep as well as years of psychological manipulation. As a result of the Abuse, Allan has developed low self-esteem and tends to withdraw from the rest of the other teenagers. John reports that during one of their sessions, Allan admitted that he fantasizes about committing suicide to escape the ongoing Abuse. Allan showcases self-destructive behaviors such as smoking, truancy, and causing disruptions in class. His smoking habits could be a coping mechanism that he employs. According to Puno and Kim (2023), children who experience any form of Abuse are more likely to develop substance abuse disorders. Allan’s self-destructive behavior can be linked to the physical Abuse he has to endure.
The analysis of Allan’s case utilized a few focus points that were most relevant to his experience. One of the main aspects John reported was that Allan felt responsible for the Abuse in that if he was a perfect child, his father would not need to drink and beat him and his mother up frequently. The suicidal ideation was also connected to his trying to find an end to the beatings of his mother. His thought process was that with him out of the picture, he wouldn’t experience any more abuse, and his father would not have a reason to beat up his mother. The patterns of Abuse in this case are connected to the father’s alcohol Abuse. Allan offered that when his father is sober, he rarely talks or confronts anyone. However, when he is drunk, he becomes violent and verbally abusive. The family dynamics show that the father is the dominant one in the family. The mother feels helpless and cannot help herself or Allan during or after the Abuse. The result of these points shows that there is an evident physical, emotional, and mental strain on Allan due to the Abuse.
While discussing the case with John, the proposal was to provide psychosocial support for Allan, report the issue to the area chief, and find secondary accommodation for Allan among relatives. The comprehensive application of these recommendations would ensure that the local authorities’ plan is removed from abrasive homes. homering to the area chef may work for a while, but as studies show, repeat offenders often disregard the law to facilitate their needs. On finding secondary accommodation, John stated that Allan had turned it down because the only relatives he had lived far away. Before John reported the matter to me, he had started offering counseling sessions to Allan, which I believe have helped us understand his point of view on the Abuse. While Jons’s recommendations are practical, there is more that Shamiri can do to ensure Allan’s wellbeing. One of the recommendations is to provide psychosocial support to the entire family. The Shamiri mental health experts can conduct a couple of family therapy sessions so the effects of the Abuse can be discussed. Another practical element involves high-level legal authorities. Other than that, informing you the matter should be reported to the Children Welfare Society of Kenya. In line with the Child Protection Act, any form of violence against a child is a crime. Lastly, it is recommended that Allan receive individual therapy sessions to evaluate the effect of the Abuse and work through the trauma. Due to this suicidal ideation, it is also appropriate for his parents to be informed in case he plans on doing it in the long run. All intervention strategies should target counseling counseling regarding his home life and amplify him with tools and skills that make him realize his goals.
Individual Supervision Feedback Report
The supervision process with John showed a high understanding of the Shamiri three-tier model as well as other mental health care principles. The sessions began by reviewing all the documents he had on Allan. The documentation indicated that he had given informed consent to be cared for by the Shamiri team. There was also a signature from his mother, allowing the sessions to continue. Other than that, Allan’s history was well documented and in a way that was easy to follow. It also captured the main issues, making the evaluation process easier.
It is also commendable that John sought a referral from a Shamiri mental health care provider who was more experienced than him. During the supervision session, it was clear that John did not know how to handle the issue of suicidal ideation. We went through some of the Shamiri and mental health provision guidelines, emphasizing the instances when confidentiality can be voided. I informed John of the life-threatening rule and suggested that next time he consults a parent or guardian early in any case of suicidal ideation or planning. The other thing we discussed was the importance of knowing the child abuse hotline and having any victims of Abuse dial the number whenever it happens. Comprehensively, Jon has a good mastery of mental health principles, and the application of the same can be seen in how he handled the case.
Client Advocacy Action Plan
The following action plan targets the abuse issues that Allan faces at the hands of his father. Due to the family dynamics portrayed by the lack of support by the mother, who is also a victim, it is only right that it be the responsibility of other care providers in the community.
This action plan considers Shamiri care providers and external organizations to offer comprehensive care to the client. Due to the extreme levels of Abuse, the following steps will be appropriate in handling Allan’s case;
- Provision of counseling services to Allan by trained professionals. This trained professional can be found within the Shamiri Institute.
- Engage local authorities, i.e., the local chief head of Nyumba Kumi Initiates, religious leaders, etc.
- Inform and educate the parents on the effects of Abuse on a child’s future. Provide psychosocial support to the parents.
- Equip Allan and the mother with information on resources and organizations to aid them. For instance, Allan should be aware of the Child Protection hotline, which is 116. They should also be aware of the Child Welfare Society of Kenya and the Assaulted Women’s Helpline.
- Assess Allan’s mood, affect, and general conduct after three months. Target psychosocial support. Review his relations with others, self-concept, academic performance, and whether or not he is suicidal.
References
Puno, A., & Kim, R. (2023). Violence against children and substance abuse: A pooled study of 8 low-and middle-income countries. European Journal of Public Health, 33(Supplement_2), ckad160-333.
Radcliffe, P., Gadd, D., Henderson, J., Love, B., Stephens-Lewis, D., Johnson, A., … & Gilchrist, G. (2021). What role does substance use play in intimate partner violence? A narrative analysis of in-depth interviews with men in substance use treatment and their current or former female partner. Journal of interpersonal violence, 36(21-22), 10285-10313.
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