Celebrating Our Dedicated Professionals During National Social Work Month
There has never been a more appropriate time to honor the country’s social workers. Each March, the National Association of Social Workers celebrates this group of dedicated professionals. This year’s theme is “Social Workers are Essential.”
The U.S. has 700,000 social workers tackling mental health challenges to improve the well-being of individuals, families, groups, and entire communities every day.
With our country in the grips of a global pandemic and at a time when racial tensions are high, trauma and mental challenges are especially prevalent. Isolation, fear, and economic concerns are pervasive throughout Hawaii and the entire nation. The need for social workers, who are among the frontline workers addressing these problems, has never been greater.
A recently released survey taken by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of 5,470 adults in June 2020 found that 40.9% of respondents reported an adverse behavioral or mental health condition. This is substantially higher than reported in 2019.
Also, a CDC review of data on hospitals in 47 states found that, since last April, hospital emergency rooms across the United States saw a sustained surge in visits related to the mental health of school-aged kids.
Mahalo to the social workers of Hale Kipa and the entire country who help promote resilience and mental health to allow people to thrive and live to their fullest potential.