Sociological Perspectives on the Role of Social Work In Mental Health Services

Social workers are employed in a range of mental health settings, spanning community services to statutory and inpatient roles. Studies from a variety of national contexts have identified distinctive contributions of the profession to mental health services, particularly through practice that is alert to the social causalities of mental distress and the holding of expertise relating to mental health law. There remains, however, evidence of significant tensions facing social workers in mental health settings, including interprofessional hierarchies, the dominance of medicalised approaches to mental health, and unclear roles for social work.

This panel will bring together presentations that explore the contributions of social workers to mental health services, drawing on sociological approaches to issues of mental health, power, professional identity, and social justice.

The session welcomes a range of paper formats, including international research and research into specific national contexts. Theoretical papers and literature reviews that engage in sociological considerations will also be considered.