| Not many people fall into social work, and if they do | | | | become emotionally involved in the particular case they |
| they either take to it or get out fast. It is often thought | | | | are handling. In this respect they never switch off from |
| of as a vocation. For people that enjoy the work it | | | | work. The issues they are facing often can't be |
| gives them an enormous sense of fulfillment and | | | | switched off or locked up at the end of the day. The |
| achievement. However, this and a host of other | | | | issues affect a persons life 24 hours a day. |
| factors can lead to stress both acute and chronic. This | | | | This means the social worker is probably thinking about |
| can lead to burnout and ultimately ill health. This article | | | | these problems constantly. This could interfere with |
| will examine some of the causes of stress in social | | | | their sleeping patterns and cause them to lose sleep. |
| work. | | | | They can interfere with the social worker's ability to |
| The definition of Social work taken from the | | | | have a social life and keep their own life harmonious. |
| International Federation of Social Workers is | | | | So becoming too emotionally involved is the number |
| "The social work profession promotes social change, | | | | one cause of stress in a social workers life. |
| problem solving in human relationships and the | | | | Another cause of stress for social workers is closely |
| empowerment and liberation of people to enhance | | | | related to the first. Often they will be caused to go |
| well-being. | | | | above and beyond their skill set because they feel |
| Utilizing theories of human behavior and social systems, | | | | responsible for the person they are working with. |
| social work intervenes at the points where people | | | | Often they are not adequately trained for the job they |
| interact with their environments. | | | | are doing or the organization they work for has not |
| Principles of human rights and social justice are | | | | defined the boundaries of the work clearly enough. If |
| fundamental to social work." | | | | there is a shortage of staff (and there always is) |
| So in effect this is all encompassing work. It deals with | | | | clearly defined roles are blurred and social workers |
| human social cooperation and relationships from | | | | have to do more than one job. This can lead to stress |
| children to old age. It deals with child welfare, domestic | | | | through overworking and meeting impossible deadlines. |
| issues of violence to women, physical and mental | | | | The final point is that many social work jobs will entail |
| disabilities and equality and old age welfare and dignity | | | | dealing with a degree of grief. Some cases may end |
| to name just a few. | | | | tragically and some cases will end without any |
| Many people do this work because they relate to the | | | | resolution. This can lead to the social worker having to |
| problems that people are facing. Either they have a | | | | deal with strong feelings of sadness or frustration. If |
| relative or friend that has faced this problem or they | | | | they do not deal with these emotions they could |
| are facing the problem themselves. Whatever the | | | | compound on each other and cause chronic stress. |
| case may be, they often find it very hard not to | | | | This could lead to burnout and ill health. |