Mental Health Social Workers: The State of their Well-Being and Support

The mental health social worker experiences unique challenges on a daily basis. A social worker\u27s well-being affects not only the social worker at the individual level; but also directly affects agency and client outcomes, which in turn impacts the mental health system. Adequate support is crucial in maintaining social workers\u27 positive well-being (Graham & Shier, 2014). Current rates of burnout among mental health professionals range from 21-61% (Morse, Salyers, Rollins, Monroe-DeVita & Pfahler, 2012). This suggests that there are gaps in adequate support for mental health social workers. A blend of systems theory, the strengths perspective and an empowerment model was used as the foundation from which to explore the individual, agency and community impacts of social worker well-being and adequate support. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were used to explore the following questions: 1. What is the impact of working within the mental health field on social worker well-being?, 2. What types of supports do mental health social workers find to be the most helpful?, and 3. What gaps do mental health social workers feel exist in level and type of support that they receive in their work? Seven interviews were conducted. A grounded theory approach was used to analyze the data to identify major emerging themes. The findings suggest society\u27s dominant cultural values and attitudes stigmatize mental health care, which results in an inadequate mental health system. The stress associated with working within an ineffective system, as well as, lacking effective responses to self-care leads to both physical and mental impacts on personal well-being. Although mental health social workers have developed effective coping skills to positively maintain their well being, participants suggested the adoption of a systemic response to self-care and social change to influence mental health policy as primary ways of improving support for mental health social workers

Mental Health Social Workers: The State of their Well-Being and Support

The mental health social worker experiences unique challenges on a daily basis. A social worker’s well-being affects not only the social worker at the individual level; but also directly affects agency and client outcomes, which in turn impacts the mental health system. Adequate support is crucial in maintaining social workers’ positive well-being (Graham & Shier, 2014). Current rates of burnout among mental health professionals range from 21-61% (Morse, Salyers, Rollins, Monroe- DeVita & Pfahler, 2012). This suggests that there are gaps in adequate support for mental health social workers. A blend of systems theory, the strengths perspective and an empowerment model was used as the foundation from which to explore the individual, agency and community impacts of social worker well-being and adequate support. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were used to explore the following questions: 1. What is the impact of working within the mental health field on social worker well-being?, 2. What types of supports do mental health social workers find to be the most helpful? and 3. What gaps do mental health social workers feel exist in level and type of support that they receive in their work? Seven interviews were conducted. A grounded theory approach was used to analyze the data to identify major emerging themes. The findings suggest society’s dominant cultural values and attitudes stigmatize mental health care, which results in an inadequate mental health system. The stress associated with working within an ineffective system, as well as, lacking effective responses to self-care leads to both physical and mental impacts on personal well-being. Although mental health social workers have developed effective coping skills to positively maintain their well being, participants suggested the adoption of a systemic response to self-care and social change to influence mental health policy as primary ways of improving support for mental health social workers

Gentrification In The Neoliberal World Order: A Study of Urban Change in the River North District of Denver, Colorado

The River North Arts district in Denver, Colorado has undergone a rapid transformation in the previous two years. I claim that the transformations are not the normal development of a thriving city but instead a neoliberal reimagining of the cityscape. The literature of gentrification was studied in this thesis to synthesize an understanding of gentrification as a neoliberal urban strategy. Subsequently I connected the locality of River North to the larger processes of neoliberal place making through an aesthetic reading, study of maps, and quantitative study of tax assessment data

Assessing the Attitudes and Perceptions of the Old Order Amish toward Genetic Testing for Familial Defective Apolipoprotein B-100

Through a founder effect, one in eight Lancaster County, PA, Amish harbors the pathogenic APOB variant R3527Q, causing Familial Defective Apolipoprotein B-100 (FDB) that is rare in the general population. Affected individuals are at increased risk for high low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and cardiovascular disease and may benefit from early screening and treatment. A qualitative interview approach was used to investigate the genetic risk perceptions of the Amish and their attitudes towards genetic testing for FDB. The goal was to identify elements necessary for a successful program that would identify high risk individuals in the Lancaster County Amish community and provide them with potentially lifesaving education and interventions. Thirty interviews were conducted. Collected data were analyzed and coded for common themes. Participants perceived a great deal of importance in genetic risk and were aware of the significant impact genetics have on health. Most individuals perceived genetic risk as more significant than family history. Twenty-four of 30 individuals would consider testing; of these, all 24 reported they would take proactive measures to reduce risks if given a positive result. Most would prefer diet modification and natural health remedies, with prescription medication only as a last resort. Several participants stated that most Amish people would be unlikely to test if they were feeling healthy. Cost was the most significant barrier to pursuing testing. Implementing a successful screening program would require community outreach and awareness, risk reduction education and support, and minimal out-of-pocket expenses. The program’s success provides insights into the efficacy of predictive genetic screening for the general population. [Abstract by authors.

The Length of Day

The Length of Day is a collaged essay film which traces the emotional history of the left. The film follows Billie Bramhall, the artist&rsquo;s maternal Grandmother and her involvement in the communist party during the McCarthy era. The film uses various tactics to aestheticize an archive both inherited and generated of texts, objects, and cinematic fragments. Marinated in a bittersweet sadness the film mourns loss in multiple timelines; young radicals losing their ideals in the face of history, the death of the protagonists, and the loss of an alternative to capitalism.</p

Natural History of Stuttering to 4 Years of Age: A Prospective Community-Based Study

These findings from a community-ascertained cohort refute long-held views suggesting that developmental stuttering is associated with a range of poorer outcomes. If anything, the reverse was true, with stuttering predicting subsequently better language,nonverbal skills, and psychosocial health-related quality of life at 4 years of age.Future research with this cohort will support a more complete longitudinal understanding of when and in whom recovery occurs. Current best practice recommends waiting for 12 monthsbefore commencing treatment, unlessthe child is distressed, there is parental concern, or the child becomes reluctant to communicate. It may be that for many children treatment could be deferred even longer. Treatment is efficacious15 but is both intensive (median of 15.4o ne-hour clinical sessions followedby 10 one-hour clinical maintenance sessions) and expensive; this "watchful waiting" recommendation would therefore help target allocation of scarce resources to the small number of children who do not resolve and experience adverse outcomes, secure in the knowledge that delaying treatment by a year or more has been shown not to compromise treatment efficac