Behavioral Health Service Use Among Licensed Social Workers: A Qualitative Inquiry

Jeffrey Steen; S. Lala Straussner; Evan Senreich; Anne Dempsey; Fengtao Huang; Michelle Willoughby

doi:10.1080/19371918.2023.2254752

Behavioral Health Service Use Among Licensed Social Workers: A Qualitative Inquiry

Jeffrey Steen, S. Lala Straussner, Evan Senreich, Anne Dempsey, Fengtao Huang, Michelle Willoughby

Social Work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This paper presents qualitative data collected from 996 licensed social workers in the United States who reported mental health and/or alcohol and other drug problems and indicated the types of services they used to address these issues. Outpatient therapy was the most commonly accessed modality to treat mental health issues. Regarding problems with alcohol and other drugs, self-help groups were the most frequently utilized intervention. Qualitative findings suggest that behavioral health service use has influenced respondents’ work with clients, personal and professional development, and career trajectories. Barriers to service use, such as stigma and limited access to care, were also identified. Implications for social work education and professional practice are discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	345-358
Number of pages	14
Journal	Social Work in Public Health
Volume	38
Issue number	5-8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2023.2254752
State	Published - 2023

Keywords

Behavioral health service use
mental health
professional impairment
qualitative research
social workers
substance misuse

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Health(social science)
Health Policy
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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10.1080/19371918.2023.2254752

Cite this

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abstract = "This paper presents qualitative data collected from 996 licensed social workers in the United States who reported mental health and/or alcohol and other drug problems and indicated the types of services they used to address these issues. Outpatient therapy was the most commonly accessed modality to treat mental health issues. Regarding problems with alcohol and other drugs, self-help groups were the most frequently utilized intervention. Qualitative findings suggest that behavioral health service use has influenced respondents{\textquoteright} work with clients, personal and professional development, and career trajectories. Barriers to service use, such as stigma and limited access to care, were also identified. Implications for social work education and professional practice are discussed.",

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AB - This paper presents qualitative data collected from 996 licensed social workers in the United States who reported mental health and/or alcohol and other drug problems and indicated the types of services they used to address these issues. Outpatient therapy was the most commonly accessed modality to treat mental health issues. Regarding problems with alcohol and other drugs, self-help groups were the most frequently utilized intervention. Qualitative findings suggest that behavioral health service use has influenced respondents’ work with clients, personal and professional development, and career trajectories. Barriers to service use, such as stigma and limited access to care, were also identified. Implications for social work education and professional practice are discussed.

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Behavioral Health Service Use Among Licensed Social Workers: A Qualitative Inquiry

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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