Social Work foundations in mental Health Care – quantitative Research

Aim. In the theoretical-empirical contribution, the author presents and identifies mental health care in connection with social work, its methods of activity and ways of implementing the work. The author analyzed the basic conceptual definitions that are inherent in social work in a psychiatric day hospital. She also pointed out specific work procedures of a social worker in a psychiatric day hospital. Methods. In quantitative research, the author uses the SQUALA self-assessment questionnaire to determine life satisfaction in people with mental problems who have completed hospitalization in a specialized outpatient psychiatric care facility. 70 respondents were approached for the research. Based on the selection of individual partial results of the quantitative research, the author evaluated the most important emotional and internal values in women and men in the average age category of 43 years. The total quality of life score was given by the sum of individual scores within 23 areas. Respondents had the opportunity to choose an answer within the questionnaire items, assigning importance to individual items within a range of eight values. Results. The main indicator of satisfaction with the level of fulfillment in the life of a person with mental disabilities is the discrepancy between meaning and fulfillment. The author points out the priority areas of life down to the least important values that occur in the lives of respondents. At the end of the empirical part, the author evaluated the established hypothesis. Conclusion. A person with mental disabilities must have all basic life needs ensured, even during hospitalization or placement in any facility, in accordance with the duties and obligations of the person guaranteed by legislation. The basic element of care for a person with mental illness is efficiency, concentration and ensuring the maintenance of social relationships. At the end of the empirical part, the author also points out the extensiveness of the research carried out, and it would be encouraging to expand the research based on the SQUALA questionnaire to include further investigations using the WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-100 quality of life questionnaires.