Mental Illness

Case Study: Mariano A. is a nine-year old third grader at a Catholic private school. He has four siblings and is the youngest of the brood. When he was conceived, his mother tried to abort him but failed. After he was born, his mother tried to overcompensate what she tried to do to him when she became pregnant at the cost of neglecting the other children even her husband. Sensing favoritism, the other children retaliated by ignoring and/or annoying Mariano. At first, when Mariano started school, he was withdrawn. He does not want to play with other children, not even to talk to them. He does not even recite when called by the teacher. Others perceived him to be too timid or lonely; others saw him as aloof and indifferent. This behavior went on until he reached third grade. Mariano’s behavior has been increasingly hard to handle and has been getting more troublesome. His teachers have been calling his attention and his parents because his behavior has been affecting his classmates. It also affects the teaching and learning process because some of his classmates tend to follow his examples. While some follow him, others are annoyed by his antics. He is uncooperative with classroom projects and activities especially if the task is a group task. When compelled to do his share of the work, he becomes quarrelsome. When the teacher notices the disagreement and talks to him, he answers back in a disrespectful way sometimes complete with a belligerent attitude. Since he is enrolled in a Catholic school, students are required to attend mass during feast days. Every time a mass will be held the next day, Mariano will exhibit symptoms of illness as headaches, stomachaches, and toothaches the day before and for sure, he will be absent the next day. When attention is called, he will just produce a letter of excuse from his mother. In fact, a meeting was held between his parents, the principal, the priest, the guidance counselor, and Mariano to ensure the latter’s readiness and willingness to attend the rites and lectures required before receiving his first Holy Communion. There was a time that his mother was not there when the class was dismissed. It produced loud bawling and crying from Mariano not to find her mother at the gate. This behavior is not expected anymore from a nine-year old boy. At home, he is known to threaten to harm himself, other people and pets if he will not get what he wants. If not threatening himself or others, he damages or destroys things at home especially those items considered special by the person who intimidates or rejects him. He is also prone to lying, and hiding things. Obviously, he does not do well in school. He is very argumentative, and consistently hostile to others. You work at the Catholic school Mariano attends as an aid. You attend a meeting that includes the family, teacher and principle. Please answer the following questions and discuss your recommendations. You will need to do research and cite in APA format as needed. Assignment due by Wednesday Nov. 26th by 11:59 pm. Discuss what you believe the presenting problem is. Provide your reasons for this by referencing and citing your readings from this week and earlier in the semester. Research resources/treatment (at least 3) options in Ramsey County (Minnesota) where the child resides and provide referral sources for this client. Discuss your reasons for referring the client to these resources/treatment options. Make sure you cite any information that you gather if needed. Write a goal for this client. Discuss why you picked this particular goal and how this goal is going to help the client.