George: Using many lenses to assess cases

George is brought to a community outpatient mental health clinic due to his parent's observation that he is "not acting like a normal 13-year-old." George's parents report that he is failing school, has no peer group, and he is often angry at home, "lashing out at this younger brother and sister."

They brought him to the clinic because they think he is suffering from the same mental illness his mother has, and the last straw was that he was found with marijuana in his bedroom. The family reports a long and detailed family history of substance abuse. And they report that George's mother lives with debilitating symptoms of anxiety and intermittent depressive episodes.

When you talk to George, he reports "My parents are exaggerating. I have friends. And, my little brother and sister are annoying, and are always bothering me and stealing my stuff.BesidesI prefer hanging out by myself.

Questions to respond:

1.What are some of the "lenses" that you can view this case?

Medical

Family context

School context

2.What instrument (mental health questionnaire, addiction questionnaire, depression questionnaire etc.) will you consider using for assessment? And why?

3. How can we maintain a focus on the social context (expanded crisis theory) when thinking about cases on all levels? {Note:Social context is the sociocultural forces that shape people's day-to-day experiences and that directly and indirectly affect health and behaviour (Pasick & Burke, 2008)}