The Theme of Death in Emily Dickinson’s Poems Free Essays

Emily Dickinson is one of the famous and fabulous female poets in the world. Her poems, for all their innovative brilliance, are nonetheless outpourings of her private feelings. And just like her great masterpieces, her enigmatic character will never fall into oblivion. We will write a custom essay sample on The Theme of Death in Emily Dickinson’s Poems or any similar topic only for you Order Now Emily Dickinson’s poetry has been the focus of researchers, such as nature ,love and death. But one fourth of her poetry is about the theme of death. Obviously, death is her most beloving theme of her poems. Death is always the endearing topic of many artists and philosophers. While in Emily’s eyes, death is different from others. In her eyes, death is not dead, death is beautiful , fantastic and mystical which most of us couldn’t understand and imagine. So we want to probe into the inner world of Emily Dickinson. We want to figure out the reason why Emily could imagine death in that unique and unprecedented way. We also want to get some new understanding about life and death through her works for we really need to keep a positive, lucid and quiet mind in secular society. Death is the eternal theme during our whole life. If life is a river, it’s always a river of death. Death is inevitable for all of us from the moment we come to this world. Death is following us like a shadow. , invisible but existing. Death is so important that only we get full knowledge of death can we live a better and meaningful life. How to cite The Theme of Death in Emily Dickinson’s Poems, Papers

AGAINST MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION Essay Example For Students

AGAINST MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION Essay Against marijuana legalizationShould Marijuana Be Legalized? In society today, many people look for a feeling of freedom. Many people go on vacationand spend money. The most common gateway for people is drugs. Our American society is facing a tremendous drugproblem. In order to eradicate the drug problem, a public debate is going on to find some solutions to this drugdilemma. It has become a highly controversial issue whether drugs such as marijuana should be legalized or not. Somepeople advocate this issue and believe that legalization is the only solution left for the nation while others opposebecause it will increase the number of drug users and drug related crimes. Marijuana is a drug that is illegal in theUnited States. This drug as you know is bad and causes severe side effects to your brain and body. Scientist have foundthat smoking marijuana can cause you to loose your memory. Marijuana has many psychological and physical effects. People usually smoke marijuana in cigarettes or pipes, but it also can be mixed with food and beverages. Short-termeffects of marijuana include both psychological and physical reactions. These reactions usually last for three to fivehours after a person has smoked marijuana. The psychological reaction, known as a high consists of changes in theuserOs feelings and thoughts. Such changes are caused mainly by THC. The effects of a marijuana high vary fromperson to person and from one time to another in the same individual. In most cases, the high consists of a dreamy,relaxed state in which users seem more aware of their senses and feel that time is moving slowly. Sometimes, however,marijuana produces a feeling of panic and dread. The different reactions result partly from the concentration of THC inthe marijuana. Other factors, such as the setting in which marijuana is used and the userOs expectations, personality,and mood, also affect a personOs reaction to the drug. Long-term effects of marijuana are not completely known, butstudies have shown that some people have used marijuana regularly for several months or longer have develop seriouslong-term problems. Among males, marijuana use can reduce the production of sperm and of the male sex hormonetestosterone. Among females, it can cause menstrual irregularity and reduced fertility. Extended use of marijuana alsohas a long-term psychological effect on many people. These individuals loose interest in everything. However, accordingto scientific experiments, marijuana is known to be beneficial in medicine. The question is should marijuana belegalized? One of the consequences of legalization will be a tremendous increase in drug users. Right now, drug usershave fear of law enforcement agents, but if drugs were to be legalized, they no longer will have fear and will feel that itwill be okay to use drugs. Over twenty years ago, estimates of drug use among Americans went as high as 24 million,but we now estimate that the number of Americans ho use illegal drugs is down to some 11 million. And a recent studydone by my office shows that Americans are spending less on illegal drugs, not more. In 1993, Americans spent $49billion on illegal drugs, down from $64 billion in 1988 (Brown 629). This decline is due to more officers on the streetsand drug awareness programs. An increase in drug use will result in an increase in drug related crimes if drugs arelegalized. Supporters of drug legalization believe that crime and violence would decrease if drug use was legal. Statistics tell us that almost half of those arrested for committing a crime test positive for the use of drugs at the timeof their arrest. Making drugs more readily available could only propel more individuals into a life of crime and violence(Brown 629). Also drug users turn to crime to pay for their habits because they are stimulated by drugs and thereforeact violently. If drug is sold legally, it will become easy for users to buy it around the corner. Thus, it will increase thealready existing problem of crime. Church mentions that every year drug lords make over twenty billion dollars fromcocaine and marijuana business, and legalizers believe that legalization will wipe out their major sources of funds(Church 12). However, drug use is a matter of supply and demand. As long as demand exists, someone is going tosupply it, either legally or illegally. Supporters of legalization believe that if government regulate drugs such as cocaineand marijuana by imposing taxes, then the black market will be eliminated (Church 12). However, the higher the taxrate, the higher the price of the drugs, and not many users can afford to buy high priced drugs such as marijuana andcocaine. Therefore, they will have to go to drug gangs who sell marijuana and cocaine under the market price. Inaddition, children and teenagers will be obviously banned from purchasing marijuana and cocaine just as they areprohibited from buying beer and liquor. Nevertheless, there will be drug pushers who will continue to encourage theyoungsters and try to get them hooked to marijuana and cocaine. Hence, legalization will encourage a growing criminalblack market. The main benefit of marijuana legalization can be in medicine and will give patients with severe anddangerous diseases a new and effective medicine to help them. Yes, marijuana can help in medicine. Marijuana is oneof the safest therapeutically active substances known (Nagorney 1). One of marijuanaOs greatest advantages as amedicine is its re markable safety. It has little effect on major physiological functions. Marijuana is also far less addictiveand far less subject to abuse than many drugs ( Grinspoon and Bakalar 1875). Marijuana as medicine has beenstudied for many years. In some cultures, it is already used as medicine. There are many good uses for marijuana to beused as medicine which will be discussed. The problem is that in order to be used in United States as medicine,marijuana must be legalized. Many doctors already recommend that their patients break the law and get marijuana. .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e , .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e .postImageUrl , .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e , .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e:hover , .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e:visited , .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e:active { border:0!important; } .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e:active , .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u871f58612286b2df1528ce0bb7dc638e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Malcolm X EssayThatOs because there is a very strong evidence that marijuana works as a medicine. Marijuana is often useful in thetreatment of the following diseases: Cancer: Marijuana alleviates the nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite caused bythe chemotherapy treatment. AIDS: Marijuana alleviates the nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite caused by thedisease itself. Glaucoma: Marijuana by reducing intraocular pressure alleviates the pain and slows the progress of thedisease. This disease damages vision by gradually increasing eye pressure. It is the leading cause of blindness in UnitedStates. Multiple Sclerosis: Marijuana reduces the muscle pain and spastically caused by the disease. Epilepsy:Marijuana prevents epileptic seizures in some patients and allows more fresh areas of bronchi to open up. ChronicPain: Marijuana reduces the chronic often debilitating pain caused by a variety of injuries and disorders. In order to beeffective, marijuana must be taken daily. It seems to be the most effective three hours after dosage, and last for fivehours. Some critic contend that after taken for a period of time, the person may become tolerant to the drug andreduce effectiveness. This is true for a lot of pain relieving drugs. A person cannot rule out marijuana because it hasnot been proven that a person will develop tolerance. Marijuana could benefit as many as five million patients in theUnited States (Nagorney 2). This situation to many people is intolerable. Those patients who choose to stay within thelaw suffer and die, both from disease and from many prescription drugs that cause side effects. Nearly all medicineshave toxic, potentially lethal effec ts, but marijuana is not such a substance (Nagorney 2). This successful use ofmarijuana has given many patients a much more positive outlook on their treatment. There is now an enormousamount of public support of medical marijuana. A scientific survey of oncologist (cancer specialist) found that 54% ofthose control medical marijuana availability and 44% have already broken the law by obtaining marijuana illegally. Thirty-four states letting patients with certain conditions smoke dope (Foreman 25). States such as Texas, California,Massachusetts, etc., have recognized marijuanaOs therapeutic potential and have passed legislation supporting itsvalue. These reforms could be passed throughout the nation with the help of people like you. Meanwhile, the only wayfor patients to gain legal access to marijuana as medicine is from the doctor. The patient must get a written note fromthe government and participate in a special program setup for them. We know that legalization is neither a reasonablenor rational policy for this country. One of the things that bothers me most about legalization argument is the mixedmessage it sends to our young people. The legalization will advance a laissez-faire attitude about drugs. I believe thatwe must change public attitudes toward drugs and focus on prevention and treatment, but we must also maintain thelaws that make drugs illegal. Some of the drugs such as marijuana and cocaine should be legalized for medicalpurposes. Polls and voter referenda have repeatedly indicated that the vast majority of Americans think marijuanashould be medically available (Grinspoon and Bakalar 1875). A final important prevention strategy is to enforce thelaws against illegal drugs in order to control their availability. There are many uses for marijuana, and many areunexplored. Actually some are explored in depth because of interest and others are left behind. There are probablymany other uses that have not been found because of the lack of experimentation on the drug as a whole. If marijuanais legalized there will be much more research done on the drug, and hopefully the drug will begin to be approved foruse.

Addiction of Whitney Houston

Introduction Addiction refers to intense yearning for something we cannot control. Addicts continue to use the substance of their addiction despite knowing the adverse effect it has on them and those close to them. Addiction transforms the brain functions by disrupting the way it transmits pleasure signals.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Addiction of Whitney Houston specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It corrupts the normal brain functions that encourage learning and inspiration. It is easy to get into an addiction, but overcoming it is very hard. This paper looks at the causes of addiction, hindrances to recovery, and the causes of relapse or successful recovery using the life of Whitney Houston as a model. A Short Background on Whitney Houston’s Life Whitney Houston was conceived in a middle-class community in Newark, New Jersey on August 9th, 1963. She was the third-born child of entertainment director J ohn Russell Houston and talented gospel musician Cissy Houston. Young Houston announced her first album at a tender age of twenty two. Three singles on that album attained the number one spot. She later released other number one hit singles and even won a Grammy award. However, her career suffered when she married Bobby, who many suspect introduced her to drugs. Bobby Brown is on record denying these claims saying that Whitney had been already hooked to drugs when they met. Whitney’s success goes beyond just music as she had successful roles in movies and modeling. She played a role in the movie The bodyguard and was the cover model for the magazine Seventeen in 1980. Whitney is listed as the most decorated female musician in the Guinness Book of World Records due to musical prowess. Her musical success and achievements are, however, overshadowed by her battle with drug addiction, days in court and a rocky marriage to Bobby Brown. In 2002, Whitney confessed to using cocaine, alcohol, prescription drugs, and marijuana in an interview with Diane Sawyer. She was admitted into rehab in 2004, but relapsed and was admitted back in 2005 and subsequently in 2011. In 2012, Whitney died in a room at a Hotel in Los Angeles due to drug related complications. The Nature of Whitney’s Addiction Environmental signals escalate the movement of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the human brain. Dopamine influences the desire or craving an addict feels towards the object of addiction and is the main reason why we crave certain things like drugs and chocolate. The drug abused by Whitney Houston was mostly cocaine. Cocaine excites its users and increases their craving. It works by accelerating the movement of dopamine into the pleasure center of the brain and leaves the user drained.Advertising Looking for report on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Whitney abused cocaine in its smoked form (crack), whi ch is more intoxicating than taking it in its powder form. Crack also works as an efficient aphrodisiac. This is probably why it is one of the most frequently abused drugs by celebrities besides marijuana. Years of abusing crack must have severely altered the chemistry of Whitney Houston’s brain. To understand Whitney Houston’s addiction, we also need to look at her as a woman. The major impact of a woman’s addiction is psychological. Women appear to consume intoxicating drugs for different intentions from men. Their incentives for abusing drugs are particular and individual. Whitney’s addiction was probably for mood management and not risk-taking or thrill. Another factor that complicates women’s fight against addiction is that they are less inclined to seek rehabilitation than their male counterparts. It took Whitney Houston until 2004 to enter rehab despite the fact that she was already using crack before she met Bobby. If she had sought help ea rlier, perhaps she could have been salvaged. Progression of the Addiction Like many other addicts, Whitney Houston probably began her use of drugs with a simple snort or puff. Though the age at which she started her use of drugs is not clear, she was on drugs for a major part of her life. Her elder brother Michael, whom she looked up to was a user and confided in Oprah that he introduced her younger sister Whitney to drugs. This shows the influence that addicted family members have on the lives of those who look up to them. Whitney’s marriage in 1992 to Bobby Brown marked a major period in her abuse of multiple drugs. Bobby was a confessed addict of crack and marijuana and was an abusive husband. The maltreatment she received in her rocky marriage drove Whitney further down the self-destructive path of substance abuse. She used drugs to forget her marital turmoil. By the time they divorced in 2007, Whitney had already been in rehab three times. The age at which Whitney got in to celebrity life and strains that came with such life further accelerated her dependence drugs and alcohol. She had to meet strict deadlines and be a mother and a wife simultaneously. Such pressure can take its toll on even the strongest person. Her journey into addiction was gradual and steady as she was surrounded by other users and people who could not advise her to stop. By the time she went into rehab, Whitney was already far down the addiction path. Perhaps an earlier intervention could have saved her life. Signs and Symptoms of the Addiction When the high caused be cocaine deteriorates, the user becomes restless, short-tempered and uncomfortable. The user has problems with sleep and craves more of the substance. This could explain Whitney’s run-ins with the law in the later part of her addiction. She became increasingly irritable and even had an altercation with a flight attendant. She missed appointments and turned up late to performances. She became less concerned a bout her physical appearance and was increasingly careless about her public image.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Addiction of Whitney Houston specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Reasons for Her Relapses and Failure to Recover Successfully Though it is not easy and takes much effort, recovery from cocaine addiction is certainly possible. However, there are several barriers that can hinder this recovery. In Whitney’s case, the first barrier was her family. Whitney Houston did not receive sufficient support from her family that could have helped in her recovery. It was hard enough dealing with rehabilitation on its own, but Whitney also had to deal with divorce cases and cases involving the inheritance of her father’s estate. Those emotional roller coasters did not provide the proper environment for recovery. In addition, Whitney should have distanced herself from Bobby who reminded her of her drug pr oblem. To her, Bobby was a trigger and the main cause of her relapses. Another obstacle to effective recovery is a denial of the addiction. Throughout the early stages of her addiction, Whitney denied having an addiction problem and took over ten years to seek help. It is not just enough for a person to concede that they have a problem, they must also seek professional help in dealing with the problem. Most celebrities (like Whitney) see confession to addiction as a blow to their carrier and prefer to suffer silently until it is too late. Conclusion People (even celebrities) use drugs for several reasons. However, the effects of drugs are far-reaching and can lead to loss of life. Addiction can be rehabilitated with proper therapy if detected early. Family and friends must take initiatives to help addicts conquer their substance addiction. The addicts themselves also need to recognize that they have a problem and deliberately seek professional help. This report on Addiction of Whitney Houston was written and submitted by user Miranda Delaney to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Big Movies essays

Big Movies essays The discovery of cloning can be both beneficial and harmful to society. There are many reasonable methods of cloning. For instance, the use of cloning for medical purposes can be helpful in taking human DNA and creating new body parts. Because of the shortage of donors, this could become a valuable asset to our society. Cloning of human body parts can also be harmful if it gets into the wrong hands. Cloning should be controlled by the government to the extent there is no possible way it will be misused. Cloning in the field of medicine could have practical applications. For example, genes from humans that produce necessary proteins could be included in the animal DNA so that the animal would produce that protein in its milk or blood. That protein could then be extracted and used in treatment for various human diseases or disorders. This could lead to the prevention and/or cure for AIDS and cancer. Genetic defects could also be cured with cloning technology. A genetic defect is a mutation in which the DNA has been altered and caused an abnormality in the body. People who wish to have a child could be tested for possible mutations in the DNA, and a genetic solution could be created and injected into the still developing egg. Mutations are natural, but when an abnormality occurs its a hard thing for a person to live with. Through cloning technology, genetic defects could be treated enabling the person affected the possibility of longer life. When transplants are needed, it could give physicians the ability to create body parts through DNA. For example, a kidney can be grown outside the body using the patients own DNA and used in a transplant without the fear of rejection. Although correcting genes and creating body parts is good, I think it would be harmful for a human to be cloned. For instance, a child that is born from a cloned embryo would have a picture taken of him/her, along with a description of the child a ...

Breast Cancer Treatments Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy Essay

Breast Cancer Treatments Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy - Essay Example Consequently, both are the main choices of patients and physicians in treating the disease. Both procedures are also found to have equal survival rates. However, with the increasing awareness of women afflicted with breast cancer on the impact of surgery on their psychological state related to loss of their breast, more and more women are resorting to a less invasive treatment which is lumpectomy and adjuvant therapies. Added to this is the notion that mastectomy is over used. Lumpectomy is a surgical removal of the breast lump including some normal tissues. Although, lumpectomy and adjuvant therapies are preferred methods of treatment for most women with breast cancer, their use is bombarded with several controversies. Body One distinct issue with lumpectomy includes the inadequate outcome data to the extent of its use and efficacy. Clinical trials included insufficient size to establish a convincing result of its application. Although, there had been multiple randomized trials of l umpectomy in patients with or without radiation, it was found out that the survival rates are based solely on unpublished analysis. In addition, participants in several studies were over treated producing a bias result. This was revealed in the study by Cumming (n.d) where he added that using a meta- analysis pose a risk on grounds that methods might be a concern. Cumming also found out that in the case of ductal carcinoma alone, data is limited to show importance of lumpectomy and other treatments following it. Consensus among pathologists on pathologic staging is also a question because there is no recommendation as to the exact stage lumpectomy is effective. It was further revealed that studies on radiation therapy after lumpectomy had no uniform techniques in using different radiotherapy agent such as iridium, electron beam, and cesium needle brachytherapy. Added to the above problem is controversy surrounding the falsified claim that lumpectomy with adjuvant therapy was as effe ctive as mastectomy. The lead investigators are found to commit misconduct with the result of their study of not providing the correct result of their study. Although, lumpectomy has been found to be effective with the early stages of cancer, its credibility was damaged because of the controversy which ruined the trust not only of patients but the public in general towards lumpectomy and adjuvant therapies. This shows that not only the lack of data on the efficacy of lumpectomy combined with adjuvant therapies is a problem but is accompanied with several other problems. Interestingly though, the study published in the Journal of National Cancer Institute ( 2004) reported that there is a significant decrease in the recurrence in the number of patients who went through lumpectomy with radiotherapy however not in lumpectomy alone. There is also no survival advantage even with the addition of radiotherapy. Similar with the study of Cumming, the JNCI reported that information from curren t and previous studies are found to be deficient in attesting that lumpectomy in combination with adjuvant therapy is more promising. Whether lumpectomy is a choice of the patient or the physician, cost is also an issue for the choice of therapy among women with breast cancer. Lumpectomy with radiation therapy is more costly than mastectomy. Munoz and company (1986) found out in their

The Complete Persepolis and The Sand Child Essay

The Complete Persepolis and The Sand Child - Essay Example In comparison to the first book of Tahar Ben Jelloun’s trilogy, The Sand Child, it talks about the story of a young girl, Zahra, who is raised as a man, Ahmed. As her father’s eagerness to have a son as his heir arises, it has been decided that the 8th kid will be a son. Zahra’s identity crisis emerges since her early years when the natural emotions of a girl come into surface. As she conceals her true identity in accordance to her father’s image, a tyrant figure, she becomes distorted as she realizes and enjoys the advantages of being a man but at the same time empathizes with the society’s cruelty to women – her true identity. This paper compares and contrasts the most important theme in the two novels – identity. In Search of Identity Marjane, being a daughter to liberal parents, grows up as someone who thinks outside the box. In the early part of the first book, The Story of a Childhood, she has conversations with an imaginary frie nd that looks like God and tells him that she would be the ‘last prophet.† She announces one day in school that she would be it but all laugh at her and her parents have been Last Name 3 summoned to discuss the incident. Her parents instantly defend her to her teachers. In this scene, it will be noticed that Marjane’s parents do not succumb to the Islamic doctrine, which gives a good background on Marjane’s character and defines their family as modern. ... As a result, she rebels on the deeply-rooted Islamic society and professes herself of being different. It is explained that she wears her veil sideways with her sneakers on, giving a punk image, which makes the Guardians of the Revolution question her. â€Å"The reason for my shame and for the Revolution is the same: the difference between social classes. (Persepolis, 33) In this quote, Marjane rebels on the idealism of her parent’s political stance and the reality of their social class. She realizes the class divisions at a very early age when she discovers that Mehri, her maid, cannot be with the man she in in love with due to their class difference. She feels a great deal of disagreement in herself from this fact, which affects makes her identity revolt from the class conflicts. Marjane’s life is a study of inconsistencies and contradictions. She is torn between her â€Å"avant garde† lifestyle and her family’s loyalty to their motherland and everythin g it entails. Her parents have been fighting for the poor for the longest time and yet they also have been holding on to their class distinction. She strongly defines herself as someone born in a religious heritage yet her family is secular. These contradictions during her coming of age make her feel a sense of disenfranchisement from the only land she knows. As the story progresses, Marjane finds her identity in the midst of all political chaos. As she continuously enjoys the privileges of her Last Name 4 family’s she finds herself in rebellion towards those fanatics of the current Shah regime. She hits her principal for trying to take her jewelry from her and proclaims the truth behind the lies her professor is professing to her

Organisational Structures in Social Work

Organisational Structures in Social Work Organisations Working Separately and Individuals Working in Isolation are no Longer an Option Introduction This paper will consider the key ideas and theories underlying organizations. In doing so there will be particular concentration on the areas of mental health and social services. There will be an examination of the legislative context and policy changes as they apply to the chosen areas. Since the 1990 NHS and Community Care Act there has been considerable emphasis on partnership working and the importance of this to mental health and social services will be examined. Attention will also be paid to the experiences of users and carers, particularly as it relates to issues of power and inequality. The paper will begin with a general introduction to the areas under consideration. It is no longer an option for organizations to work in isolation, this is particularly the case with organization concerned with services to the public. The organizations which come under the umbrella of what is known as human services operate in both the public and the private arenas. The introduction of market principles into areas that were once the sole responsibility of the state welfare system, has meant that an increasing number of human service workers are employed in the private sector. Human Service organisations are comprised of medical staff and others such as administrators, cooks and cleaners employed by the NHS or in private practice, the police and probation services, the prison services, social services, and to a limited extent those working in education. Certainly the pre-school sector could be described as a human service organisation because of the many different services the sector performs. Many of these are voluntary organisations. The voluntary human services might also include organisations that help the disabled, organisations such as Adaction which work with alcoholics and people with drug problems, and Mind, a voluntary sector organisation which caters for people with mental health problems. Social Services People seeking to work in the human services usually do better if they have had some prior experience. This might be through undertaking work placements or by undertaking voluntary work for a time. In social work, this is likely to be even more the case because prior community involvement is seen as a valuable asset. This may be a result of the fact that the social services has its roots in the voluntary charity work of the late nineteenth century. The role of a social worker is primarily defined by what used to be known as personal social services. This is because on the whole social workers are concerned with individuals and the care they may need. In the field of human services social work may be seen as both typical, and untypical , firstly its aim is to provide a personal service that benefits other people, social workers are more likely than other human service workers to be involved with people on an individual basis, often for a prolonged period of time. In other areas of the human services contact with the public is usually more fleeting. As a result of current Government policy a social worker who may be involved with clients with mental health needs, may find themselves in partnership with the NHS (or community mental health team) and a voluntary organisation such as Mind. More importantly, Government expects social care and health professionals to work closely and collaboratively with service users. What social work consists of is decided by Parliament. This is because the Government defines the statutes that outline social workers responsibilities and the people towards whom they have that responsibility, also the ma nner in which such responsibilities should be undertaken, and the legislative framework that underpins the professional practice of social work (Brayne and Martin, 1995).[1] Social workers have to abide by the code of practice set by the General Social Care Council, and are bound by the 1970 Social Services Act as it applies to local authorities. Since the Human Rights Act of 1998 social workers are bound by law to respect the inherent rights and dignity of every human person. Social workers are bound by the 1990 Community Care Act and subsequent legislation. Local Authorities are also by the Disability Discrimination Act and social workers whose clients who have mental or physical disabilities Social workers have to be familiar with this Act as well as the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act of 1970. Social workers also need to be aware of what defines a person with mental or physical or disabilities and how their needs might best be addressed. Local authorites have to regulate services to deal accommodate both their own financial restraints and people’s needs and disabilitie. The social worker is bound by the same terms as their employer. Local Authority Social Service Departments have a legal duty to find out if there are people with disabilities in their area, what the number is, and what help the Department is able to offer. Details of services should be published and the department has a duty to inform clients of their rights in relation to the services they provide.[2] The Local Authority and also the social worker have to take into account the major implications of the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act when dealing with people who have mental or physical difficulties. Disability is defined under this Act disability as: Disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities (Brayne and Martin, 1999:460). Social workers have a duty to assess the service needs that disabled service users may have and decide whether they can help the person with that need. There is also a considerable emphasis within social services on encouraging the user to participate in decisions regarding their care. At the same time social workers are encouraged to lessen the power differential between themselves and service users, this means engaging in anti-oppressive practice e.g. accessible language, and doing what they can to empower individuals. Policy Changes Changes in Government social policy during the 1970s and 1980s resulted in significant changes to those organizations which provided services for people with disabilities, people with learning disabilities, and older people (Kirk, 1998). As a result of Government spending cuts numbers of institutions were closed and this resulted in care being increasingly focused on the community. The Griffiths Report (1988) was commissioned by the Government and it recommended that local authorities should be enablers, who organized and directed community care. Local authorities would no longer be the sole providers of care, but would have their own budgets to purchase care from the private and voluntary sector. This policy became a matter of statute under the 1990 NHS and Community Care Act. The Act stipulated that individual care packages would be organised by local authorities with input from voluntary and charitable organisations. The terms of the Act resulted in an increase in the burden of care for the social work profession. Under the 1990 Act social workers are required to make initial assessments and then refer clients to the appropriate services. The Act emphasized partnership working in all areas and social workers now have to consult with professionals from all walks of life in order to adequately provide for their clients needs. The Government has been committed to this idea of partnership working and has regularly updated the terms since coming to power, and produced a white paper on the delivery of integrated health and social care in July of last year.[3] When it comes to clients with mental health needs many social workers may find themselves working in conjunction with the organization known as Mind. Mind Mind is the leading mental health charity in both England and Wales.[4] Mind has over 200 local associations which run drop in centres, help lines, give housing advice and work with mental health professionals and social workers to improve the lives of people with mental health difficulties. The aims of Mind are as follows Advancing the views, needs and ambitions of people with mental health problems Challenging discrimination and promoting inclusion Influencing policy through campaigning and education Inspiring the development of quality services which reflect expressed need and diversity Achieving equal rights through campaigning and education.[5] Their aims demonstrate that Mind is geared towards the minimalisation of inequalitites and the promotion of the needs and rights of people with mental health difficulties. Mind aims to empower its users and to encourage their participation in assessing and providing for their needs. Mind campaigns to improve the lives of those with mental health problems and to raise awareness in the wider community so that the public and the Government are more accepting of people with these needs. Mind also advises Government, Health Authorities, and Social Services Departments on what is best practice for addressing mental health needs. In this way Mind might be said to be a good advertisement for partnership working which, as Molyneux (2001)[6] reminds us can sometimes be problematic. Social Services and Mind Mind is aware of the contribution that social workers make and points out that the right kind of social care can go a long way to alleviating the stress that mental health difficulties may bring. At present mental health users receive only a small amount of social care and are often referred for medical help alone. However, this course of action neglects the enormous social consequences that mental health difficulties can have and how it affects family units. Greater availability of social care would go a long way to alleviating such difficulties. The increasing Government emphasis on partnership working should lead to a greater connection between those who work for social services and the staff of mind. The two of them together could be of considerable help in assisting sufferers to reintegrate back into society after a long hospital stay. Conclusion This paper has examined some of the theories and structures underlying social service departments and the charity called Mind. It has looked at the legislative and policy contexts as they apply to people who need social care and who may also have mental health problems. It has looked at partnership working and how the responsibilities that are incumbent upon social workers are intended to minimalise inequalities and to substantially lessen the power differential between service users and service providers. Bibliography Banks, S. 2003 From oaths to rulebooks: a critical examination of codes of ethics for the social professions European journal of Social Work Volume 6 No. 2 July 2003 p. 133-144 Brayne and Martin 6th ed. 1999 Law for Social Workers London, Blackstone Press http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/PressReleases/PressReleasesNotices/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4116486chk=zOTHS/ Molyneux, J 2001 â€Å"Interprofessional team working: What makes teams work well?† Journal of Inter-professional Care 15 (1) 2001 p.1-7 http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/PressReleases/PressReleasesNotices/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4116486chk=zOTHS/ http://www.mind.org.uk/About+Mind/ p.1 Disability Discrimination Act 1995 http://www.drc-gb.org/thelaw/thedda.asp http://www.after16.org.uk/pages/law5.html http://www.after16.org.uk/pages/law5.html 1 Footnotes [1] Brayne and Martin 6th ed. 1999 Law for Social Workers London, Blackstone Press [2] http://www.after16.org.uk/pages/law5.html [3] http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/PressReleases/PressReleasesNotices/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4116486chk=zOTHS/ [4] http://www.mind.org.uk/About+Mind/ [5] http://www.mind.org.uk/About+Mind/ p.1 [6] Molyneux, J 2001 â€Å"Interprofessional team working: What makes teams work well?† Journal of Inter-professional Care 15 (1) 2001 p.1-7