News Article Puts Social Work on Top 10 Depressing Jobs List
Social work was rated as one of the 10 most depressing careers, according to this article running on CBS News, Health.com, Forbes and other Web sites.
“Because social workers work with people who are so needy, it can be hard to not sacrifice too much to the job,” said Christopher Willard, a clinical psychologist at Tufts University. ” I see that happen a lot with social workers and other caring professions, and they get really burned out pretty quickly.”
Q: What advice would you give other social workers to avoid stress and depression on the job?
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Can’t help but put in a plug here for a DVD I produced in collaboration with the Syracuse University School of Social Work about the challenges and rewards of social work — entitled WORKING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. It is intended to attract new people to the field as well as invigorate and energize individuals who have been in the field for many years. Check it out on my website (www.photosynthesisproductions.com) or at Amazon.com.
It would a great thing to share with co-workers or students.
I would advise self care which would include turning off work when you leave the office if you can. This is not easy. Yoga is one way to balance yourself especially when your job subjects you to Secondary Post Traumatic Stress and Compassion Fatigue.
Another way to help yourself is to join a supervision group so that you can discuss issues that you tend to carry around unresolved.
Turn off the news when you are home…watch it only once a day as it is much of the same news just from a different perspective.
Work your eight hours or whatever you are scheduled to work and then leave work…do not work overtime unless you really have to and for sure do not work overtime for no pay. This is really hard for social workers and nurses as well as other professions but it is the short cut to burn out and then you will not be able to help anyone not even yourself.
Self-care is the key to fending off depression and compassion fatigue. I find quiet time alone and time with friends that does not involve problem solving to be most helpful. However, many nonprofit and social service agencies do not allow for such. They frequently require long hours with additional on call availability. They require appearances at special events, sometimes for fundraising purposes and sometimes for client support. The never ending demand of needs to be met is grueling. With the current state of the economy, nonprofits are increasingly forced to do more with less. This is running the front-line workers into the ground…and the employers don’t care because there’s always a line of new graduates waiting for a job…someone willing to work for less and willing to work more to establish themselves.
i dont agree – – its only an impression of a psychologist – – i have been a Social Worker for almost 28 years and have never felt burned out – – probably because I am at the supervisory level. I think a lot and provide direction to my staff.
First of all a Federal or State level social work professional standard board should be created to appropriate reward for peoples who works in this field.Some fields are extremely busy and difficult so that should be rewarded,and may motivate this professionals from misery.
It’s all about perception and frame of reference. I am proud to be a Social Worker and know that if I can make a small difference in someone’s life, I have been successful.