[Current social workers' task: promoting a life model].
The enactment of Psychiatric Social Workers Act was passed the National Diet in 1997. With this professional certification, psychiatric social workers are expected to help discharging more mental patients. For the further development of community care system, community agencies need to work as equal partners. It is critical to developing a team concept in the time that Japan is implementing case management service for the mentally ill. We should be able to work for the cause and think alike what we are for. Whether Japanese care management service empower the consumers or not depends on what model this service is based on, and whether community agencies and consumers working together. Social workers need to advocate for mental health consumers' choose from available resources, consent to treatment, create natural support networks, feel empowered, and allow themselves to live as an integral part of the community.