John Mental Health post-Holiday : Critical thinking in practice(Blog Entry 2 Jose Pereira -Group 4)

Blog Entry 2: Critical thinking in practice

Jose Pereira (Group 4)

Title: John Mental Health post-Holiday

 

 Introduction 

Critical thinking entails objective contemplation and assessment of facts, relying on facts and reasoning to direct practice . Mental health care is one of the areas where it is especially important because of the uniqueness and complexity of cases. In the case of John, who has suffered a mental health downfall following his holiday, it is important that a subtle, critical judgmental approach is adopted. 
Learning about Post-Holiday Mental Health
 Although holidays can be a source of rest and renewal, some people may have low mood, anxiety, or depression when returning to their regular lives. Dr Ann Epstein at Harvard Medical School notes that holidays have the potential to increase the existing emotional condition, be it negative or positive, depending on the context of the person. Poorly set expectations, broken routine, or stressors left unresolved, among others, may lead to post-holiday challenges. Critical thinking in the case of John acknowledges that a holiday is not good across the board, and the practitioners should not assume how it is universally expected to affect him; they should look at the particular effects it will have on John, including the effect it will have on his routine, social environment or personal expectations Epstein, A. (2023) .

Evaluation by Critical Thinking
 The holistic evaluation of the needs of the person is one of the keystones of the successful practice. 
This implies that practitioners are supposed to: 
·       Active listening, observation (verbal and non-verbal) of signs of distress or insight . 
·       Obtain information about the patient through various sources, including family or past care history when applicable and ethically feasible . 
·       Trace any new medication, sleep, or daily organisation changes that might have contributed to the change in mood in John .
 Critical thinking is a process of doubting first impressions and looking at other possibilities of explanation, thereby justifying a more realistic and customised intervention strategy. 
Intervention and Decision-Making
 Selecting and adapting interventions involves the use of professional judgement that is informed by critical thinking.
For John: 
·       The technology, like mood diaries, can offer objective data on the progress, but the practitioner should not forget about their restrictions and possible side effects on John's anxiety.
·       The interventions may include cognitive behavioural therapy to change lifestyle and social support, tailored to the needs and preferences of John . 
·       The practitioners are expected to reflect on themselves over their own biases and also to make decisions that are person-centred instead of guided by generalisation. 
Ethical awareness is also an essential aspect, as the autonomy and confidentiality of John should be respected in all cases, but the professional and legal standards should be followed.
Critical Reflection and Review
 Critical reflection is the process which is cyclic and helps to achieve constant improvement and learning in practice . The practitioners are expected to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions regularly, consult John, and change the plans when needed. Reflective models, e.g., the Reflective Cycle of Gibbs, allow organising the assessment of the actions, feelings, and results. Gibbs, G. (1988) and Harvard Medical School Mental Health Bulletin, 15(2), pp. 45-52.

This may involve exploring what was effective, what has not worked and how the communication or intervention planning could be better next time. These types of critical reflection encourage improved judgment and improve the quality of care. 
Linking Theory to Practice 
According to the cognitive-behavioural theory, there is a relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviours. In the case of John, negative self-talk regarding his failure to spend the best during his vacation, or fear of going back to work, may be caused by post-holiday sadness. Critical thinking contributes to making practitioners aware of such patterns and combining interventions together, i.e., goal-setting or experimenting with coping strategies . Critical thinking practitioners do not merely provide care but offer clients the ability to build life-long coping and resilience .
Conclusion
Mental health practice is based on critical thinking, which determines that care is unique and according to the case circumstances and underpins evidence-based, ethical and effective interventions. The case of John shows that critical thinking can be applicable at all levels of care delivery, such as assessment, intervention, review, and reflection.