CONTRIBUTION OF SELF-COMPASSION TO COMPETENCE AND MENTAL HEALTH IN SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS

2009 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Wen Ying
2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 2002-2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Kotera ◽  
P Green ◽  
D Sheffield

Abstract Despite high shame about mental health symptoms among UK social work students, positive psychological approaches to their mental health have not been investigated in depth. Emotional resilience has been a core skill in social work practice; however, its relationship with mental health is still unclear. Therefore, the primary purposes of this cross-sectional study were to (i) examine the relationships between mental health and positive psychological constructs, namely resilience, self-compassion, motivation and engagement and (ii) determine predictors of mental health in UK social work students. An opportunity sampling of 116 UK social work students (102 females, 14 males; 96 undergraduates, 20 postgraduates) completed 5 measures about these constructs. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted. Mental health was associated with resilience, self-compassion and engagement. Self-compassion was a negative predictor, and intrinsic motivation was a positive predictor of mental health symptoms. Resilience did not predict mental health symptoms. The findings highlight the importance of self-compassion to the challenging mental health of UK social work students; they caution against the overuse and misunderstanding of resilience in the social work field.


Author(s):  
Yasuhiro Kotera ◽  
Freya Tsuda-McCaie ◽  
Ann-Marie Edwards ◽  
Divya Bhandari ◽  
Geraldine Maughan

Self-compassion recognises a meaning of life’s suffering, aligning with existential positive psychology. Although this construct is known to protect our mental health, how to augment self-compassion remains to be evaluated. Social work students suffer from high rates of mental health problems; however, research into self-compassion in this population remains to be developed. This study aimed to evaluate (i) relationships between self-compassion and more traditional positive constructs—resilience, engagement and motivation, and (ii) differences of these constructs between the levels of studies to inform how self-compassion can be enhanced in social work students. A total of 129 Irish social work students completed self-report scales regarding self-compassion, resilience, engagement and motivation. Correlation, regression and one-way MANOVA were conducted. Self-compassion was associated with gender, age, resilience, engagement and intrinsic motivation. Resilience and intrinsic motivation were significant predictors of self-compassion. There was no significant difference in the levels of these constructs between the levels of studies. Findings suggest that social work educators across different levels can strengthen students’ resilience and intrinsic motivation to cultivate the students’ self-compassion. Moreover, the close relationships between self-compassion, resilience and intrinsic motivation indicate that orienting students to the meaning of the studies helps their mental health.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s18-s18
Author(s):  
M.U. Farchi

The Tel Hai college Department of Social Work established this program as part of its community commitment to ensure that persons with skills in emergency mental health / trauma intervention will be available to the community as first responders when needed. The main goal of the STSP: Training Social work students As First Responders with Very High Professional Standards of Emergency as well as Long Term Mental Health Interventions Qualifications. This program enables the students to integrate between theory and hands-on basic and advanced skills in stress & trauma interventions – from the help to a single traumatized person to mass disasters involving more complex interventions. In addition, program underlines and empowers the students self efficacy and resilience. The studies are carried out in 4 main channels: A. Academic studies and advanced professional workshops. B. Outdoor drills with other help and rescue units: MDA (EMS), IDF, Police, Israel fire and rescue services, local and national rescue units) C. Volunteering in community trauma / first responder units D. Emergency mental health interventions during real time events (Last one: Emergency interventions among the evacuated families during the mount Carmel bushfire) Student's Skills Acquired During the STSP • Theoretical & practical knowledge of the stress & trauma development process. • Differentional diagnosis of the trauma stages (From ASR to C-PTSD). • Identifying all sources of resilience and coping strategies. • Basic & advanced crisis and disaster intervention methods. • Crisis & disaster management & command • Professional self confidence, Independency & Creativity, leadership and leading capabilities. The program, its benefits and latest drills and real time intervention will be discussed as well as demonstrated with videos.


10.18060/119 ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael N. Kane ◽  
Debra Lacey ◽  
Diane Green

The study investigated social work students’ perceptions of elders as depressed and suffering (N= 156). Four predictor variables were identified from a standard regression analysis that account for 32% of the model’s adjusted variance: (a) perceptions of elders as vulnerable, (b) perceptions about elders as oppressed. Overall, respondents perceived elders as being depressed, vulnerable, members of an oppressed group, abusive of substances, and only moderately resilient in response to mental health services. Implications are discussed for social work education.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theda Rose ◽  
Judith Leitch ◽  
Kathryn S. Collins ◽  
Jodi J. Frey ◽  
Philip J. Osteen

Purpose: Adolescent mental health is a public health priority. Considered an early intervention approach, Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) trains adults to provide initial assistance to adolescents experiencing a mental health problem or crisis. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the U.S. version of YMHFA (YMHFA-USA) among graduate social work students. Method: A quasi-experimental design ( N = 73; intervention, n = 39; comparison, n = 34), using the Mental Health Beliefs and Literacy Scale, assessed the effectiveness of YMHFA-USA. Outcomes were measured at pretest, posttest, and 5 months in the intervention group. Differences between groups were compared at 5 months. Results: Statistically significant improvements in attitudes, beliefs, self-confidence, and knowledge were observed among intervention group students. At 5 months, these students had significantly better attitudes and greater knowledge and self-confidence than the comparison group. Conclusion: Results indicate YMHFA-USA may improve factors related to master’s level social work students’ abilities to engage with youth experiencing mental health problems.


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