We tend to turn to the support of a psychologist when dealing with any mental health problem. Nevertheless, it is important to know that another professional can provide valuable support: it is the social worker. In what follows, we will explain how this professional intervenes, particularly with regard to the social determinants that are so important in maintaining mental health.
Social worker: front-line worker
According to the Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec, social workers “help individuals and communities who are experiencing problems, whether they are related to difficult, crisis or everyday life situations. These professionals find solutions to the social problems encountered by their clients by building on the strengths of the individual and his or her environment. The goal of their intervention is always to promote daily well-being.
Since the focus here is on the mental health social worker’s interventions, it should be noted that they can be carried out in different settings. These include CLSCs, youth centers, community organizations, or interventions carried out with seniors, at home or in nursing homes. There are many reasons to consult a social worker, either as an individual or as a family. We explain some of the contexts of social worker intervention in this article.
The importance of acting on social determinants
Today, we look at health from a dynamic perspective. To give you a better understanding of what this means, let’s share the definition of health, as mentioned in the Act respecting health services and social services. It defines health as “the physical, mental and social capacity of persons to act in their environment and to accomplish the roles they intend to assume in a manner acceptable to themselves and to the groups to which they belong. It is therefore important to understand that beyond a person’s physical condition, their mental and psychosocial health status is just as important in determining their overall health.
Thus, in addition to considering physical condition, we must also consider what we call the determinants of health. Among the determinants of health are elements such as the individual’s income, social situation (single, couple, family, etc.), education, housing conditions, professional situation, and social and personal support network.
You will therefore understand that during their interventions, social workers assess each of the determinants of health and their impact, both positive and negative, on their client’s mental health. By drawing a clear picture of the individual’s social situation, the professional can better identify the determinants on which to act and those on which to focus to improve the person’s quality of life.
Multi-faceted services, also offered by online consultation
In the team at Clinique GO™, several social workers are ready to work with clients from all walks of life. Our social work services are also offered via teleconsultation. They can also collaborate with our psychologists to offer their clients comprehensive mental health support.
Do not hesitate to ask our team for more information!
Approuvé par Francis Desjardins
