Welfare Reform on the Web (May 2012): Mental health services - overseas

Social workers' role in the Canadian mental health care system

A.M. Towns and K. Schwartz

Research on Social Work Practice, vol. 22, 2012, p. 214-218

This study analysed data from the Canadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 1.2, Mental Health and Wellbeing, to determine the role of social workers in the mental health system in Canada. Social workers are the third most commonly accessed professional for mental health care, showing that the role is an important one. However the research also showed that certain groups are under-served, especially older people, males, those with a postgraduate degree, and low earners. Social workers need to adjust services to attract these excluded groups.