Resilience of Social Workers in India: Are They Surviving or Thriving?
Dear Editor, As dedicated social workers deeply invest in the wellbeing of individuals and communities in India, authors write to shed light on a critical issue faced in our profession: resilience, or the lack thereof. While resilience is widely acknowledged as a crucial attribute for navigating th...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/20296/73249_CE[Ra1]_F(IS)_QC(SD_IS)_PF1(AG_SS)_PFA_NC(KM)_PN[IS].pdf |
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| Summary: | Dear Editor,
As dedicated social workers deeply invest in the wellbeing of individuals and communities in India, authors write to shed light on a critical issue faced in our profession: resilience, or the lack thereof. While resilience is widely acknowledged as a crucial attribute for navigating the challenges inherent in social work-particularly in a country as diverse and complex as India-it is evident that many social workers in our midst are struggling to uphold this principle in their daily lives. The demands placed on social workers in India are immense, ranging from addressing poverty, inequality, and discrimination to providing support for mental health issues, domestic violence, and child welfare. Yet, amidst these challenges, the concept of selfcare and resilience often takes a backseat, resulting in high levels of burnout, stress, and attrition within the profession (1). When it comes to anxiety, a study from Ireland reported that 30.6% of social workers scored in the mild range, 26.5% in the moderate range, and 10.7% in the severe category (2). Another Indian study on stress and anxiety levels in social work students reported that first-year students who had just been admitted experienced higher levels of stress and anxiety, with moderate levels in second-year students, whereas the highest levels were observed in third-year students (3). Most social workers work for Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) at local, national, or global levels. Workplace policies usually tend to be vague and arbitrary. Low pay scales and frequent employer whims are two major issues regarding employment. Tasks and activities, as opposed to set, preset daily hours, dictate working hours. The job description is frequently vague, and social workers may be expected to carry out duties that fall entirely outside the scope of their training (4). |
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| ISSN: | 2249-782X 0973-709X |