The Patients' Rights Act is a complex and evolving system of statutes, regulations, and court decisions that govern the provision of counseling services to clients with chronic illnesses in California. This manual should be considered a guide to understanding the restrictions and regulations that apply to providing counseling services in this state. Participants in a recent study expressed the high levels of unmet need for mental health services and the strong associations between poor mental health and the challenges of living with chronic illness. Consequently, they considered it acceptable to offer mental health screening and counseling in the context of chronic disease care. They thought that counseling would be very relevant if it helped patients develop coping strategies to deal with stress and negative emotions.
Regardless of chronic illness, patients indicated their preference for lay counselors rather than existing doctors as potential management agents, which supported a task-sharing approach to providing mental health counseling in primary care settings. Some expressed concern about the viability of using lay counselors who were already present in the centers to provide this service, and suggested that more counselors might be needed. Educational psychologists work in schools or private offices and provide educational evaluation and counseling related to academic ability, behavior, and other issues. Participants identified possible psychological and behavioral priority areas for mental health counseling that could improve the relevance of counseling for this patient population. A semi-structured interview guide collected the opinions of participants on the acceptability of being asked questions about alcohol and depression and how they thought other people might respond to this evaluation; the acceptability of offering mental health counseling to patients with chronic illnesses; the priorities of mental health counseling; and preferences in providing counseling. Because patients had diverging views on the desirability of having a dedicated (“specialized”) counselor or someone who would integrate mental health counseling into their current roles, more research is needed to explore the acceptability and effectiveness of these approaches for providing mental health counseling with shared tasks in chronic disease services. The findings demonstrate the need for mental health counseling in the context of chronic disease care in South Africa, and highlight the importance of investing in this service. The findings suggest that, regardless of the diagnosis of a chronic illness, participants considered that it was generally acceptable to offer mental health screening and counseling in the context of chronic disease care; the relevance of counseling could be improved by helping patients develop coping strategies to cope with stress; and they identified lay counselors as the preferred agents for providing mental health counseling, provided that they were competent and had the required attributes. Marriage and family therapists work in clinics, counseling centers, and private practices.
Regardless of the diagnosis of a chronic illness, participants reported that they were “afraid” of these providers and “did not trust their ability to provide counseling”. Psychologists work in hospitals, clinics, counseling centers or private offices. The findings demonstrate the need for mental health counseling in the context of chronic disease care in South Africa. It is important for those seeking mental health services to understand their rights under California's Patients' Rights Act.
This includes understanding any restrictions on providing counseling services to clients with chronic illnesses. It is also important for those seeking mental health services to understand their options when it comes to finding a provider. Lay counselors may be preferred by some patients with chronic illnesses due to their familiarity with their condition. However, it is important to ensure that any lay counselor is competent and has all necessary qualifications before engaging them as a provider.
Finally, it is important for those seeking mental health services to understand what types of services are available. Educational psychologists can provide educational evaluation and counseling related to academic ability, behavior, and other issues. Marriage and family therapists can provide family therapy as well as individual therapy. Psychologists can provide psychological assessment as well as individual therapy.
In conclusion, it is important for those seeking mental health services related to chronic illnesses in California to understand their rights under California's Patients' Rights Act as well as their options when it comes to finding a provider. It is also important for them to understand what types of services are available so they can make an informed decision about which provider is best suited for their needs.
