Analyzing Maya’s case from a Person-in-Environment perspective, the initial step would be to examine the different areas of her life and how they are influencing her psychosocial wellbeing. The presenting concerns in Maya’s situation seems to be the academic pressure with CSEC coming up, which is negatively affecting other aspects of her life. These include her family, peers, and social life, which is seen in her ability to concentrate, her relationship with her mother, her friends, and her interest in an activity she used to enjoy. An important factor to consider based on unit 1, is also her developmental stage, which is important in understanding her situation. Maya is an adolescent, and this is a period, as stated in Unit 1, they are becoming an independent adult, but there are also pressures on the developing person. Maya may be becoming more aware of how she is perceived by others, while also thinking heavily about her future and the expectations that come with becoming an adult. These developmental pressures along with the stress associated with the academic and social pressures can be a contributing factor to why she feels overwhelmed.
The first step I would take towards Maya with this information in mind is to engage with her in a safe environment where she can speak comfortably with no judgement and build rapport. Then, I would want to gain insight into her situation from her point of view, so I would ask “What do you feel is putting the most pressure on you right now?” This question would allow me to understand what, in her mind, is ranked as the main concern. I would also acknowledge that Maya indicated everything is becoming too much, so I would ask how she has been coping with pressure and what are some strategies she utilizes to manage. It is also extremely important that I assess her safety given the changes in her behaviour and emotions, so I would ask if she had any thoughts of self-harm or feelings of giving up. This would help me determine potential risk factors and the appropriate support for Maya.
I would also look at resources and support systems Maya can make use of. E.g. the school social worker or guidance counselor may be able to provide support and coping strategies, as well as referrals if needed. They may also be able to provide parent-in-education sessions for Maya’s mother, which would help her understand Maya’s situation and equip her with the tools to support Maya.
Based on unit 1, one thing I would avoid doing is making the assumption that Maya’s behaviour is an indication of mental illness, because stress, difficulty coping, and behavioural changes does not mean that she has a mental disorder. As a result, I would avoid linking her behaviour to such and instead pay attention to what factors are contributing to her behaviour.
I would approach Maya’s situation this way because in this unit, it is clear that someone’s psychological well-being can be influenced by multiple different factors, which is evident in Maya’s case where we can clearly see that there’s one situation influencing other aspects of her life that is leading to the situation she is in. Therefore, I think a holistic approach is most appropriate.
