Open AccessPsychiatric social workers in legal aid services in hospitals: Exploring roles in Indian context
Author(s) -
Priya Treesa Thomas,
G Ragesh,
Ameer Hamza
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
indian journal of social psychiatry (online)/indian journal of social psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2454-8316
pISSN - 0971-9962
DOI - 10.4103/0971-9962.218592
Subject(s) - social work , mental health , mental illness , collateral , context (archaeology) , face (sociological concept) , legal service , perspective (graphical) , work (physics) , public relations , political science , psychiatry , medicine , sociology , law , social science , mechanical engineering , paleontology , artificial intelligence , computer science , biology , engineering
Mental health and legal problems are interlinked in many ways. People facing legal issues may develop mental health problems, and people with mental illness and family also face legal issues. In India, Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 gives provision for free legal aid services for the poor sections of society. Authors explain the roles of psychiatric social workers in legal aid services in hospitals. Social case work as a method of social work is suitable in legal aid services. Counseling, referrals, collateral contacts, advocacy and networking are major services from the social work perspective. Knowledge about laws and mental illness is essential for social workers to work in legal aid clinics (LACs)