Values and ethics in mental-health education and training: a different perspective

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the challenges of teaching values and ethics in mental-health, explore the differing perspectives of the key stakeholders and stimulate further questions for debate in this area; leading to a proposal of an alternative approach to educating mental-health professionals on values and ethics.

Originality/value

In current mental-health care settings, very few professionals work with homogeneous populations. It is imperative that mental-health education and training ensures health professionals are competent to practice in diverse settings; where ethics and values are bound to differ. Establishing professional practice not only involves considering concepts such as values and ethics, but also equality, diversity and culture. Incorporating values-based practice and cultural diversity training holds promise to education and training, that is truly reflective of the complexity of clinical decision making in mental-health. Further research is needed as to how these two frameworks can be unified and taught.

Citation

George, R.E., Dogra, N. and Fulford, B. (2015), "Values and ethics in mental-health education and training: a different perspective", The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Vol. 10 No. 3, pp. 189-204. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-08-2014-0024