To become a social worker is to make a commitment to help the most vulnerable people in society, and few people struggle more in day-to-day life than those with mental illness. It could be anything from depression, which makes it difficult to find the energy or will for daily activities, to schizophrenia, which can make the world a frightening place and make it difficult to navigate everyday interactions with other people. Social workers who specialize in this area develop a proficient understanding of a wide range of conditions, but unlike psychiatrists, their focus is less on treatment and more on dealing with the impact of symptoms on ordinary life. In this role, they provide a vital range of services.
Building relationships
Mental illness can be incredibly isolating. The first and most important thing a social worker does with a client in this situation is simply to be there, practice active listening, and build trust, ensuring that the client knows there is at least one person who cares. As well as building relationships directly with clients, they also get to know the people around them, including friends and family members who may be struggling to support them or may even be outright estranged. By explaining what mental illness is and how their clients are affected by it, they can resolve misunderstandings and help people connect more effectively. They can also help them develop specific skills that make it easier to engage in a positive way and cope with difficulties.
Support and empowerment
Just like anyone else, people with mental illness deserve to make decisions about their own care and the support they receive, but they may have more difficulty understanding their needs or articulating their preferences. Social workers aim to empower them to do this more effectively with everyone they deal with. They use their training to dismantle communication barriers, and they let clients know about the available options in any given situation, talking them through it to make it easier to figure out the best way forward. They can also help with practical things like writing letters or making phone calls, and just by visiting on a regular basis, they can help clients get past the barriers created by difficulty with motivation or organization.
Arranging therapy
Although social workers can often help a lot by being there to listen and provide guidance, they are not fully trained counselors. They can, however, arrange for counseling or other types of therapy where those are appropriate to a client’s needs. They can ensure that therapeutic arrangements fit around any particular difficulties a client has, for instance, by arranging email contact if talking on the phone is stressful, and they can provide direct support where necessary, doing things like escorting clients to and from therapy if they struggle to travel alone. In situations like this, they work closely with other types of professionals, and getting to know individual therapists means they can figure out who will be a good fit for particular clients, again helping to take the stress out of the process of relationship-building.
Arranging community support
Therapy has an important role to play in the lives of many mentally ill people, but it’s not the only form of emotional support. Often, organizations within the local community are able to help quite a bit, and social workers can help their clients connect with them. These could be charities or faith groups, condition-specific support groups, or simply volunteer befrienders. Community organizations can often provide practical help with day-to-day things that mentally ill people might struggle with, such as helping with housework or shopping, arranging hot meals, or providing informed assistance with social engagement, which makes it easier to feel like part of the community. This provides a resilient community framework that can be very effective at providing long-term help for those with chronic illness or helping others work toward recovery.
Safeguarding
When engaging with mentally ill clients, social workers make regular assessments to determine whether or not they pose a danger to themselves or others. They can call in psychiatric services when necessary to ensure that no one comes to harm, and their involvement reduces the risk of an individual deteriorating toward a crisis point without anybody intervening. Safeguarding goes beyond dealing with risks like suicide or self-harm, however. It includes helping people stick to commitments they have made, whether that’s resisting a compulsion to self-sabotage or resisting the temptations presented by an addiction. If they fear that they are beginning to lose control, clients can contact their social workers for immediate assistance, whether they need a full-on intervention or just somebody to talk to while they recover their emotional balance.
Advocacy
Often, people with poor mental health suffer from a myriad of practical difficulties because they find it hard to assert themselves or get things done. Social workers can provide invaluable assistance with things like filing paperwork or getting finances in order. They can also lobby on their client’s behalf for reasonable adjustments in service provision. They can help in dealings with doctors, police officers, or the courts, resolve disputes with neighbors, or even step in to assist in dealing with disgruntled employers. Where clients feel able to work but need special adjustments or have simply struggled to find employment due to discrimination, they can step in to make introductions to sympathetic employers. The Keuka College online MSW program offers an accredited course that teaches students the skills and knowledge needed to be a social worker and prepares students to become excellent social worker advocates whilst also giving them a chance to build up valuable contacts in other sectors who can often assist where employment placements are concerned.
If you’re thinking about getting into social work, mental health is a fantastic area in which to specialize. With comparatively simple interventions, you can really turn people’s lives around. Not every mental illness can be cured, but resolving some of the social and practical difficulties it presents can make living with it a whole lot easier and free people up to enjoy a good quality of life regardless.
