Mental Wellness Matters: Social work
By SARAH WOOD on March 17, 2023.
What does social work mean to you? Many people think social workers only work for Children’s Services. While some do, the vast majority work in other areas of the community. Social workers are helpers of many kinds. Many social workers feel like social work is a way of looking at the world and making it a better place for everyone. These days, social workers are employed in long-term care facilities, government offices, court houses, correctional facilities, counselling offices, mental health agencies and the military. Some write policy, do research, and support individuals in schools, hospitals and the community. Social work is a diverse field, integrating knowledge from psychology, sociology, politics, science, art, and various methods and theories. Social workers tend to connect various resources and services together to support many people in our communities. March is Social Work month. This is a time where we celebrate the history, achievements and promote further advocacy for social work services and positive attitudes in our communities, such as mental health awareness, breaking down stigma, and healthy choices and lifestyles. The Canadian Association of Social Workers, and Alberta College of Social Workers regulate and advocate for the profession nationally and provincially. Social workers are accountable to their code of ethics, and ethical guidelines to practice, which govern the way they serve the community. Social work became well known and utilized in Canada during the 1920s and ’30s and has evolved since then. Social work started out with volunteers helping people in need during the depression era, where there was limited food, work, and a very poor quality of life. During this time, social workers made assumptions about people’s lives, and why they were experiencing struggles. Today, social work has become client-focused, evidenced and strengths based, and strives to support rather than judge people. To find out more about social work, and what’s going on in the province, check out acsw.ab.ca. At the Canadian Mental Health Association – Alberta Southeast Region, we have several registered social workers on our team, and support social work students during their practicums. As social workers, we respond to crisis, teach suicide prevention, facilitate peer support programs and talk about mental health in schools. Social work and CMHA are both Canada-wide structures that strive to wrap local resources around people so they can face life and stressful events with more tools and the knowledge that they are not alone in their struggles. Thanks for reading, and if you feel like it, “high five” a social worker that is doing great things in your community this month. Sarah Wood (Registered Social Worker) is a Community Assisted REsponse- Support Worker at Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Southeast Region and can be reached at 403-504-1811. To find out more about CMHA programs and groups visit http://www.cmha-aser.ca. If you are in crisis, call the Distress Centre at (403) 1-800-784-2433. 9-8
