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Social Work, Mental Health, and Rural Practice: A Perspective from New Zealand

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Handbook of Rural, Remote, and very Remote Mental Health

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Abstract

This chapter provides an analysis of rural social work in mental health with a particular focus on anti-oppressive practice. The chapter is written within the Aotearoa New Zealand (ANZ) context and as such addresses cultural dimensions essential to practice with Māori (indigenous peoples of New Zealand). The chapter begins by summarizing some key facts about rural ANZ followed by identification of organizational initiatives that have been developed outside of the statutory mental health sector to address health and well-being. Discussion about Te Whare Tapa Wha (Durie, Māori Health Development. Auckland: Oxford University Press, 1994) follows a paradigm for understanding the holistic dimensions of Māori. Next, antecedents for modern-day social work are explained noting the dual functions of social justice imperatives alongside, case management. Mental health social work using Larson’s (J Progress Hum Serv 19:39–54, 2008) seven principles of anti-oppressive practice discussed next to demonstrate the implications for rural social work practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. The relevance and application of ecological systems theory to rural social work is alluded to throughout. The chapter concludes with a case study to consider and a list of key points about how to foster effective rural mental health social work in an ongoing way.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Language, Social and Political Science, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Jane Maidment

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  1. Jane Maidment
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Correspondence to Jane Maidment .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Flinders University, Centre for Remote Health, Alice Springs, NT, Australia

    Timothy A. Carey

  2. Fac. of Business, Justice a. Behav. Sci., Charles Sturt University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Judith Gullifer

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Maidment, J. (2020). Social Work, Mental Health, and Rural Practice: A Perspective from New Zealand. In: Carey, T.A., Gullifer, J. (eds) Handbook of Rural, Remote, and very Remote Mental Health. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5012-1_19-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5012-1_19-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-5012-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-5012-1

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