​Mental Health Importance for Social Workers

Social Workers take care of people all day long. There are many ups and downs involved in this career. Social workers work with patients and clients in a variety of settings to help them handle, solve, and cope with both everyday problems and more serious problems that they encounter in their lives. While some clients may face joyous situations, such as adopting a child, many seek
the help of a social worker to assist them during times of hardship. Social Workers may feel burnt out over time because as they take care of everyone else's needs, they may neglect their own needs.

If a Social Worker is burnt out or has compassion fatigue, then the client sufferers as well. A professional in social work stated that, “As social workers, we really do often put the needs of others before our own, thinking we will eat after everyone has gotten enough food. The problem is we continue to go undernourished until we fall ill or breakdown; then no one gets fed,”. Self care is important for Social Workers to implement into their daily lives.

Here are some self care suggestions:
● Create a self care plan that is designed for you.
● Make sure to get plenty of rest, eat nutritionally, and go on occasional walks.
● Leaning on trusted others for support.
● Paying attention to when your body signals you to slow down and listening to it, and not pushing yourself to the point of breakdown.
● That simple word, “no” is both rare and powerful, an expert notes. “Self-care means
saying yes when you mean yes and no when you mean no, and letting the chips fall where they may. It’s a matter of evolving out of being a people pleaser and learning to set healthy boundaries to be better able to serve the greater good”.
● Ask for help when needed and accept the help!

Social workers help relieve people's suffering, fight for social justice, and improve lives and communities. Remember to take care of yourself, because after all, Social Workers are rockstars!

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”— Anne Lamott