Mental Health Social Workers

What is a Mental Health Social Worker?

The Mental Health credential is a highly valued acknowledgement of specialist social work skills and experience in Mental Health, which is highly regarded by employers working in Mental Health.

The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) also advocated for this accreditation to allow social workers to provide services under Medicare. As a result, mental health services and support provided by social workers are now more accessible to the community.

The federal government endorsed the process of assessing social workers for a mental health credential through the AASW. The credential enables the accredited social worker to apply to Medicare Australia to provide services.

 Eligible clients can access Medicare rebates to engage the support of a Mental Health Social Worker!

 What does a Mental Health Social Worker do?

Living with a mental illness can present challenges for many individuals, families, and communities. For some people, mental illnesses can make day-to-day life difficult. Mental health social workers play a critical role in improving overall wellbeing and mental health in our society. Mental health social workers empower individuals with mental illness—and their families, carers, and communities—to lead fulfilling, independent lives.

Through talking therapy, support, and advocacy, they enable people to manage the social factors—like relationships, housing, and employment—that allow them to get well and stay well. Building resilience in individuals, their networks, and their communities transforms people’s wellbeing and improves our society and economy.

How can a Mental Health Social Worker help you?

Mental health social workers can assess, diagnose and treat mental health concerns, behavioural disorders and emotional issues. Some examples include:

• Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions

• Child abuse, neglect and behavioural problems

• Addiction, substance abuse and alcoholism

• Significant life events, including divorce, bereavement and terminal illnesses

• Coping with unemployment, homelessness and long-term disabilities

Mental health social workers support individuals, families and communities as they seek to overcome challenges that negatively impact individual and community well-being. For example, by addressing a patient’s substance abuse issues, social workers can help recovering substance users find new employment, obtain affordable housing and take advantage of available mental health services.

Clinical social work considers the environmental and societal factors that impact a client’s physical, psychological and emotional well-being. This holistic approach seeks to resolve the underlying hardships that contribute to an individual’s overall mental health problems rather than treating such issues in a vacuum.

Clinical social workers address a wide range of mental health challenges, from substance abuse and addiction to childhood trauma and behavioural disorders. This scope allows them to work in various practice settings and assist patients with very different needs.

Since clients have different needs and preferences, social work professionals cultivate strong relationships built on trust, transparency and compassion. This is particularly important when treating people who have a diagnosed mental illness, as they may be more sensitive to specific experiences and forms of communication.