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Since 1949, May has been observed as national Mental Health Month, an opportunity to raise awareness about mental health, including disorders and the role of mental health care.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that about one in five Americans is affected by a mental health issue each year. Despite this prevalence, these disorders still carry stigmas that can prevent people from seeking proper treatment.

Mental Health Month attempts to break down these stigmas by providing the public with education about proper mental health services as well as information on how to access mental health care services. Each year, this month is observed through a particular theme, and this year’s is “Pathways to Wellness,” which focuses on improving public mental health attitudes through media exposure, local events and health screenings, and emphasizes the connection between mental and physical wellness. Key messages related to holistic wellness include:

Important Dates During Mental Health Month

Getting Involved in Mental Health Month

There are a number of ways that social workers can get involved in Mental Health Month. This month is all about raising mental health awareness, and social workers can accomplish this individually with their clients or on a larger scale by organizing an event. Additionally, materials are available online that can be downloaded and distributed to clients or within local communities. Mental Health America also offers a daily calendar of wellness tips that mental health professionals can reference.

By visiting Mental Health America’s Mental Health Month page, you can access their complete Mental Health Month Toolkit for 2013. Media materials contain a press release, drop-in article, and sample mayoral proclamation. The toolkit also offers useful factsheets, including “What is Wellness?”, “Understanding the Social Determinants of Health,” and “Addressing the Social Determinants of Health,” all of which can be downloaded for use with clients, coworkers and communities. The website also offers other materials to help you develop and promote your very own Mental Health Month events. Join the conversation and spread the word on Twitter by using the official Mental Health Awareness Month hashtag: #MHM2013.

Navigating the health care system at any level can often be confusing and frustrating, but understanding how the system works is integral to obtaining the full range of benefits. Unfortunately, gaining access to those benefits is often tied to education and class. The evident health disparities between socioeconomic, racial and cultural groups link social work and health care in the fight against poverty and inequality.

The National Institute of Health defines a health disparity as “a difference in the incidence, prevalence, mortality and burden of diseases and adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the United States.” Contemporary health disparities typically affect infant mortality rates, access to immunizations, cancer screenings/management and rates of heart disease, HIV/AIDS and diabetes.

The Office of Minority Health Resource Center records some of the impact of health disparities in the United States. A few statistics the center reports include:

• Heart disease rates amongst African Americans are 30 percent higher than that of the white adult population.

• Obesity rates are higher in female members of minority groups than the population at large.

• Diabetes rates are 70 percent higher in African Americans and 100 percent higher in Latinos than they are in the white adult population.

• Seventy-five percent of all adult AIDS cases and 81 percent of all pediatric AIDS cases are among African Americans and Latinos.

Much of the research surrounding these disparities links the cause to poverty in several different ways:

• In access to proper health care due to a lack of financial resources, insurance or time due to work constraints;

• In the amount of more physically taxing work impoverished communities must perform to support themselves; and

• In the lack of education concerning the health care system and benefits to which citizens are entitled.

How Social Workers Address Health Disparities

Social workers have been engaged in research relating directly to health disparities, the particular attributes and needs of various populations as defined by culture or socioeconomic status and the interplay between health and economic status. Social workers understand that the keys to better health include: a safe place to live (free of stress and physical danger), as well as access to resources and a well-rounded education. As an advocate, it is the role of the social worker to speak out and educate communities, hospital staff and public service workers to ensure that they are culturally competent so that they are prepared to implement policies addressing health disparities where applicable.

Social Workers and The Affordable Care Act

One of the greatest accomplishments of social work professionals has been aiding in the passage of The Affordable Care Act, which will provide access to health insurance to more than 30 million uninsured Americans. Acting as advocates for uninsured communities, social workers communicated their clients’ needs and encouraged communities to contact their representatives to pass the act.

Moving forward, social workers will need to push for each state to implement the Affordable Care Act, as many state governments are still debating the needs of the particular communities they serve. It will also be important for social workers to become familiar with changes to Medicaid and behavioral health services, as more people will able to access it.

Though the Affordable Care Act is a step in the right direction towards addressing health disparities, social workers cannot sit back and expect the gap to bridge itself. It is only by working together, organizing amongst their communities and advocating vociferously for their clients that social workers will be able to ensure that health disparities become a thing of the past. Thankfully, we’re already heading in the right direction.

Although there have been quite a few advances in the treatment of medical and mental health conditions in recent years, individuals with mental illness still receive less than sufficient medical care in many settings. There are a disproportionate number of people with severe mental illnesses who die from preventable disease every year; for example, rates of obesity, smoking and diabetes amongst those suffering from schizophrenia are at least 45, 50 and 10 percent higher than those without a mental illness, respectively.

This is where social workers can help: as advocates for a population that is not receiving the type of medical care that they need.

The majority of illnesses that people with severe mental health conditions are dying from are treatable and preventable, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, respiratory disease and infectious diseases (such as HIV/AIDS). Most of these health problems are worsened by unhealthy habits like smoking, low levels of physical activity, poor diet and substance abuse.

But if these health issues are treatable, why do people often not receive the help they need? There is a divide that separates mental health treatment from primary care. Each system of care is equipped to provide for specific health issues and, therefore, lacks the resources, knowledge and support to treat an individual with health concerns that span both mental health and primary care sectors.

The Center for Integrated Health Solutions, which is run by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, is working to close the gap that exists between these two systems. They believe that the solution to this problem is integrated care: a model by which mental health issues and primary care issues are treated in the same health care settings. Additionally, where traditional mental health or primary care settings already exist, support and resources will be provided so they can work toward an integrated approach to care and better serve people with mental illness.

There are many ways that social workers can help to create a combination mental health/primary care experience. Both mental health and primary care settings need to have comprehensive integrated biopsychosocial screening and assessment processes. Social workers can help to develop these screenings and assessments in settings where they don’t exist, or they can help update and implement them in settings where they do. These assessments should include questions related to mental health, substance abuse, trauma and primary health care concerns and problems.

Social workers can provide further assistance in this process by observing and taking part in the assessment of patients and in the planning and implementation of care in primary care settings. They can participate in case conferences and rounds and provide a unique perspective from those of the primary care field.

In mental health care settings, social workers can help to integrate and implement primary health care education. They can provide wellness education centered around proper nutrition, exercise, quitting smoking and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. They can also provide specific education about how to self manage common health conditions among people with mental illness, such as diabetes, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Another common challenge for people with mental illness is navigating the health care system; social workers can assist their clients with this complicated system and help the client get necessary treatment. When appropriate, the social worker can work with the client’s family to help them understand how to support their family member and help them carry out their integrated health care plan.

Social workers who are not specifically working in either of these health care sectors can also play a role in health care integration by advocating for the complete health care of their clients, no matter what the setting. Integrated health care is an important step forward for the health care system. It will benefit all people, not just those suffering from mental illnesses. Social workers can play an important role in making integrated care a reality.

Social work and health care have always been intertwined, and it has often been an uphill battle to advocate for clients without insurance and without access to many of the benefits that come with higher socioeconomic status. But with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, 30 million uninsured Americans received the promise of health care, which will undoubtedly also affect social workers across the country. Here are a few of the changes social workers should expect from the Affordable Care Act:

More Professional Opportunities

One of the biggest changes directly affecting social workers is the increase of jobs available now that there are more people able to access the health care system. Hospitals, clinics and many organizations that work directly with the previously uninsured are now hiring more social workers to not only keep up with the influx of new clients, but to aid them in successfully navigating all of the intricacies of the Affordable Care Act. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the employment of social workers is expected to increase by 25 percent from 2010 to 2020.

More Resources for Clients

Another change directly affecting social workers is the availability of affordable mental health care for their clients. As of January 1, 2014, insurance companies will have to cover mental health services, substance abuse programs and behavioral health treatments on par with physical health services. Various provisions will require benefit packages that also include prescription drugs, rehabilitative programs and wellness services. The Affordable Care Act will also expand access to prevention services, including annual wellness visits and outreach/educational campaigns. In addition, grants will be available to create, evaluate and spread community prevention strategies. This major change will pave the way for not only an expansion of mental health services, but hopefully the breakdown of stigmas associated with mental illness and therapy as more Americans begin to gain access to these services.

Better Coverage for Pre-existing Conditions

Under the Affordable Care Act, pre-existing conditions will no longer prevent someone from being able to access health care. This incredibly important update in policy will change the way social workers find services for many of their clients, but especially for those with HIV/AIDS. Previously, clients who had these diagnoses had to be registered under HIV/AIDS-specific health contracts (like Ryan White) in order to be treated. The Affordable Care Act, however, will allow children with HIV/AIDS (or other pre-existing conditions) to access the same health care as clients without these diagnoses (like Medicaid), and it will provide “pre-existing condition insurance” for adults with these diagnoses.

Because Ryan White is a “payer of last resort” program, those patients who will have access to the new programs must use them first. However, since each state will have significant leeway in creating the new programs, some clients may end up with insufficient benefits, inadequate access to medications or possibly even less than adequate access to care. It will then be up to social workers to see if programs like Ryan White may be able to aid in supplementing some of these costs.

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The Affordable Care Act is a major change for the U.S. health care system. Without social workers, who are able to understand these changes and make the transition as smooth as possible, the previously uninsured will be unable to take full advantage of their new benefits. It is for this reason that it is important for social workers to educate themselves on the health care system and on the best ways to advocate for their clients.

Today, social and economic conditions are threatening the safety net that Americans have come to rely upon, and professional social workers are coming under increased pressure to bring their skills and expertise to the populations that they serve. But how can social workers serve their communities without the resources critical to providing the most effective solutions?

One way is the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act, federal legislation designed to optimize the vital support services provided by social workers serving individuals, families, communities and our nation. Sponsored by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, the Social Work Reinvestment Act is the most comprehensive piece of national legislation ever aimed at addressing the significant workforce challenges facing the social work profession. Working with the NASW, congressman and fellow social worker Edolphus Towns (D-NY) originally introduced H.R. 5447 on February 14, 2008, and Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) introduced the Senate companion bill, S. 2858, on World Social Work Day, April 15, 2008. Though the bill has yet to pass, it was reintroduced by Towns and Mikulski on World Social Work Day in 2011.

What will the Social Work Reinvestment Act do?

Establish a Social Work Reinvestment Commission

According to the Social Work Reinvestment website, the commission will review current trends within the academic and professional social work communities and develop long-term recommendations for improving the ability of America’s social workers to serve individuals, families and communities. The comprehensive analysis will study:

• Fair market compensation
• High social work educational debt
• Social work workforce trends
• Translating social work research to practice
• Social work safety
• The lack of diversity in the social work profession
• State-level social work licensure

Address the Current State of the Social Work Profession

Competitive grants will fund programs seeking to address the real-world experiences of professional social workers. Priority will be given to programs focusing on workplace improvements and research, education and training in both the private and public sectors, and the post-doctoral research community at universities and colleges and in communities where social workers practice. The aim is to invest in efforts to establish the most effective social work solutions.

Establish a National Coordinating Center and Grant Programs

Grant programs will be managed by a coordinating center working with universities, research entities and social work practice settings to identify key research areas to be pursued, select fellows and organize appropriate mentorship and professional development efforts.

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If you would like to get involved in supporting this legislation or simply want to learn more, visit the Social Work Reinvestment Act’s website.

March is Social Work Month and a time to join social work professionals and students in celebrating how the country’s 650,000 social workers are fortifying families, communities and our nation. Social workers know how to make a difference firsthand, as they help their clients reach for a better future, strengthen the fabric of society, provide safety nets and cultivate positive futures for those they serve. Social Work Month is when we tell their stories.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) sponsors Social Work Month, which began in the 1960s. Robert Cohen, a pioneer of the movement, sees Social Work Month as celebrating the value of the profession. He defined the purpose of the month as “[combatting] the widespread notion that social work was something anyone can do; or that it just involved people who were good Samaritans trying to help others.”

The first Social Work Month theme — “Support Social Work Education in Your State” — was introduced in 1966. Nearly half a century later, the intent of Social Work month is unchanged although the themes have evolved along with the profession. Some past themes include: “Doing Good Isn’t Bad — It Isn’t Easy Either” (1973), “Give the Profession a Facelift” (1983), “National Health Care: Vital Signs of a Healthy Nation” (1993) and “Preserving Rights, Strengthening Voices
” (2003).

This year’s theme is “Weaving Threads of Resilience and Advocacy,” and NASW highlights these three underlying concepts:

1. A Nation’s Fabric and Diversity: Our national fabric is vibrant and strong because it has been woven from the stories of people from every continent into a compelling narrative of struggle, renewal and success.
2. Stronger Safety Nets: Resilience and determination alone cannot overcome all crises, but weaving those strengths with targeted advocacy often can. The social work profession has a distinguished history of not only providing social safety nets to the most vulnerable, but also challenging systems that impede social mobility.
3. Positive Futures: Stories of hope in the face of tragedy share a common theme: better times are ahead. Illness, loss, abuse and poverty shape our lives in profound ways, but how we learn to deal with each circumstance can determine how much those experiences define our limitations — or our opportunities.

How Can You Get Involved?

The power of Social Worker Month rests with each individual who makes the effort to participate. Social workers are significant influencers in their communities and act as role models and advocates. The work they do embodies this year’s theme.

If you are a social worker, you are essential in furthering the public’s understanding about social work. For example, social work professionals can host a leadership roundtable with educators, advocates and employers; sponsor a student; and identify themselves first as a professional social worker. Social work researchers can study a problem, develop multidisciplinary collaborations or watch a TED talk. Students might develop a career day presentation or send profiles of outstanding social work college students to the media.

The NASW website lists ways to get involved that include suggestions for reaching out to partners, media and social networks, and how to plan events and entertainment. Here are just some of the recommendations for advocacy (but check out the website for all 100 ideas):

1. Attend a NASW Chapter Lobby Day event.
2. Present social work issues to the state legislature.
3. Invite elected officials to speak to a social work group.
4. Send a letter to national lawmakers through SocialWorkers.org.
5. Advocate for the passage of the Social Work Reinvestment Act.

Professional social workers help their clients find strength despite personal and systemic barriers to success. Throughout Social Work Month, social workers collaborating together can deliver effective personal and public advocacy to move our society forward.

SWLM Newsletter:

Recent tragedies have reignited an ongoing dialogue about the influencing factors that lead individuals to commit acts of violence. While many U.S. citizens and advocacy groups blame the prevalence of violent crime in American on the easy availability of assault weapons, some have speculated that child and adolescent exposure to violent media is responsible for an increase in aggressive behavior. In particular, video games, which have been an extremely popular source of entertainment for more than 30 years, cause concern as they continue to grow increasingly violent, realistic and interactive. But there is also another side of this conversation that claims violent media is a safe outlet for aggression. While there are no easy answers and the issue is forever complex, we aim here to provide a cursory glance of both sides of this debate.

Hearing Both Arguments

In the field of behavioral psychology, researchers have sought to prove the hypothesis that children learn and behave from what they see (observational learning). In the classic “Bobo Doll” experiment conducted by famed behavioral psychologist Albert Bandura in 1961, he observed that children were much more likely to violently attack a doll if they had witnessed their parents do the same. Does contemporary psychology support Bandura’s initial theory? In a study conducted in 2006 by developmental psychologists L. Huesmann and Laramie D. Taylor of the University of Michigan, researchers were able to conduct a study of violent media exposure’s effect on both child and adult behavior. They concluded that “media violence poses a threat to public health inasmuch as it leads to real-world violence and aggression.”

Specifically, their data showed strong evidence that short-term exposure to media violence in younger viewers stimulates immediate aggressive behavior with their peers at school. Long-term exposure was significantly correlated with destructive behavior beyond childhood and into adulthood. Their conclusion was in accord with Bandura’s initial theory in that the researchers concluded the portrayal of “justified” violent behavior allows children to consider their own violent behaviors appropriate. The researchers agreed that media exposure is not the only factor that contributes to violent behavior, but asserted that it is an important one.

Numerous similar studies have been conducted and the psychological community overwhelmingly supports the notion that violent media exposure is harmful. The American Psychological Association suggests careful monitoring of media consumption in early childhood to avoid future destructive behavior.

While many developmental psychologists would disagree, there is a formative counter movement that states violent media does not cause violent behavior. Video-game-enthusiasts-turned-advocates argue that most gamers, no matter their age, have the emotional intelligence to discern between reality and virtual reality. Many argue that those who play violent video games experience a form of catharsis that enables them to reduce their level of aggression by engaging in role-playing. James C. Klagge, an associate professor of philosophy at Virginia Tech, suggests that exposure media—even violent media—plays an important role in young people’s lives in that it allows young people to viscerally release negative and angry emotions without harming others.

In addition, some psychologists attest that there is not a strong enough connection between violent media and destructive behavior to warrant concern. Dr. Cheryl Olson, cofounder of the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Mental Health and Media, conducted a study in 2004 on 1,254 public school students in South Carolina. She observed children playing in a schoolyard and then examined their exposure to violent games. While Dr. Olson noted a correlation between playing violent games and what he called “delinquent behavior,” this was only true in a small percentage of children who already exhibited aggressive traits. The study concluded that violent media exposure has a merely correlative relationship with aggression and that there was not sufficient evidence to support a causal relationship between violent media and violent behavior.

Moving Forward

Despite the heated debate over the effects of media exposure on children, there is no clear answer as to how we can curb violent crime. As researchers continue to study the influences that contribute to destructive behavior, many continue to hope that we can bring about effective change that will end tragic instances of violent crime.

Traditionally, social workers work in the areas of foster care, adoption, mental health and poverty as counselors and advocates and are often employed either by government agencies or nonprofit organizations. Social workers are experts in navigating social systems and in advising their clients on their rights within these systems. Social workers also help their clients about get access to basic needs such as food, housing and health care. But historically, social workers have also done even more.

The mission of social work, according to the National Association of Social Workers, is “to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic needs of all people, with particular attention to the necessities and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed and living in poverty.” This broad mandate has frequently shifted the focus of social workers from their individual clients to broader civil rights movements that seek to ensure the well being of large populations. Understanding this important historic role that social work has played in the battle for civil rights can not only provide inspiration for social workers, but it also illuminates the influence social work has had on society as a whole.

The Shift from Private to Public

Historically, social workers have played a radical role in the battle for civil rights. Before the Great Depression of the 1930s, welfare for the poor was provided by private charities. When the Great Depression hit, however, it became clear that welfare was a public concern that must be the responsibility of the federal government. During this shift, many social workers moved from working for private charities to public service. When New York’s unemployment rate topped 40 percent, Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt surrounded himself with a group of talented social workers, and, together, they created public work and unemployment programs that were then mimicked throughout the country. Later, when he became president, Roosevelt instituted these types of programs nationwide to create the New Deal, which played a huge role in ending the Depression.

Social Workers in the ‘60s Civil Rights Movements

Social workers continued playing an important role throughout the 1940s and 1950s, and during the 1960s, social workers were involved both professionally and personally in the fight for civil rights. Ralph Fertig, a clinical professor at the USC School of Social Work, was one of a group of activists that formed the Freedom Rides in 1961 to protest segregation and racial inequality. Freedom Rides on public transportation into the southern states became pivotal in drawing attention to the fight for racial equality and exposing the rampant violence against such peaceful protests.

Social Work and Civil Rights Intertwined

The nature of social work is such that it attracts men and women who are activists not only at heart, but in their personal lives as well. It is not a career that one pursues without the desire to change systems that are already established. It is also perhaps one of the most mentally and emotionally challenging occupations insofar as that change does not often happen quickly. If, however, history proves anything, it is that social work is also one of the most rewarding, most influential careers one can pursue.

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#workforchange tweet chat on Thursday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m. PST/ 9 p.m. EST.

Join the University of Southern California School of Social Work and its online MSW@USC program for a tweet chat to kick off National Social Work Month! Meet us at #workforchange on Thursday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m. PST/ 9 p.m. EST.

We will provide a forum that encourages social workers and social justice advocates to discuss the importance of dedicating your life to social change. We encourage you to share your stories of what inspires and motivates you to work for change. You will have the opportunity to ask questions, engage with one another and learn from fellow social workers.

Join us for what promises to be an educational and inspirational conversation with an active community of social workers online. Participants will be entered in to a drawing to win one of four copies of “Three Little Words: A Memoir“ by MSW@USC graduate Ashley Rhodes-Courter, who turned a foster-care childhood into fuel for child welfare advocacy.You must RSVP for a chance to win!

Consider using the following platforms to engage in the conversation*:
• Twitter.com
• Tweetchat.com
• Hootsuite.com
• Tweetdeck.com

*you must have a Twitter account to participate in the tweet chat.