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The Relationships between Stress, Burnout, Mental Health and Well-Being in Social Workers

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Alan Maddock, The Relationships between Stress, Burnout, Mental Health and Well-Being in Social Workers, The British Journal of Social Work , Volume 54, Issue 2, March 2024, Pages 668–686, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcad232

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Stress and burnout can have several negative effects on the individual social worker’s work performance, along with their mental health and well-being. We are still unclear on how these negative effects play out, as no studies have examined what the relationships are between stress, burnout, anxiety, depression and well-being in social workers. This cross-sectional study attempted to identify the rates and correlates of stress, burnout, anxiety, depression and mental well-being of 121 social workers, using bivariate and multiple regression analyses. This study highlighted a significant proportion of social workers who reported mild to severe issues in anxiety, depression and mental well-being. This study highlighted that perceived stress is likely to be a universal risk factor for anxiety, depression, and mental well-being in social workers. Emotional exhaustion was also identified as a potential risk factor for anxiety, with personal accomplishment being a potential protective factor against depression and for positive mental well-being. This study provides promising preliminary evidence that if social workers who are experiencing issues with anxiety, depression and mental well-being are supported to reduce feelings of stress, emotional exhaustion, and increase feelings of personal accomplishment, they are likely to experience improvements in their mental health and job performance.

The negative effects of stress and burnout on social workers have been known for several decades ( Daley, 1979 ). Stress occurs when a person appraises that the perceived demands of their job exceeds their internal and external resources ( Lazarus and Folkman, 1984 ). Burnout is a psychological condition that develops through the build-up of chronic, uncontrolled stress ( Maslach et al. , 2001 ). Maslach and Jackson (1981) defined burnout as being made up of three components: emotional exhaustion, negative perceptions of and feelings towards service users (depersonalisation), and reduced feelings of personal accomplishment. Social work is a rewarding profession; however, it generally contains very high job demands, for example, attending to client trauma and oppression ( Rantonen et al. , 2017 ). These demands can require sustained physical, emotional and psychological strain, which if not attended to and reflected on, can lead to the build-up of associated physiological, emotional and psychological costs, such feelings of pressure, stress and burnout ( Hu et al. , 2011 ; Maddock, 2023 ). The negative effects of ongoing stress, or unresolved feelings of burnout, are well documented, these include; poorer job performance ( Smeds et al. , 2020 ), lower productivity ( Bui et al. , 2021 ), reduced organisational commitment ( Savaya et al. , 2021 ), absenteeism ( Hakanen and Schaufeli, 2012 ), presenteeism ( Bartlett et al. , 2019 ), compassion fatigue, increased risk of secondary traumatisation ( Kinman et al. , 2020 ; Miller and Grise-Owens, 2022 ; Maddock, 2023 ), higher rates of employee turnover and increased training costs and disruption of services ( Ravalier et al. , 2021 ).

We are less clear on what the relationships are between stress, burnout and social worker mental health and well-being, even though deficits in mental health and well-being have also emerged as threats to health and social care worker performance ( Bui et al. , 2021 ). This is somewhat surprising considering that even before the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the risk of developing a common mental health disorder, such as anxiety and depression, was particularly high amongst social workers ( Rantonen et al. , 2017 ). Wieclaw et al. (2005) found that the risk of developing stress-related and affect disorders was 1.5–2.5 times higher in social work than in non-health and social care roles. Rantonen et al. (2017) analysed the trends in sickness absence, disability pensions and mental health diagnoses of 25,000 social workers in Finland and Sweden from 2005 to 2012, and found, that compared to psychologists, special education and preschool teachers, social workers had a much higher risk of mental health disorder diagnosis and work-place disability in comparison to all three professions in Sweden, and when compared to preschool teachers in Finland. The Covid-19 pandemic is likely to have increased the risk of social workers developing mental health issues and disorders, with recent reports highlighting the negative effects of working during the pandemic on the emotional and psychological health of social workers, across all sectors, with newly qualified social workers reporting lower levels of morale and poorer mental health ( Social Work England, 2022 ). Many social workers have reported that ‘ the most important emerging issue facing social work’ in the next 2 years, post-pandemic, was related to staff stress, burnout and mental health ( UNISON, 2022 , p. 20). A failure to address these issues, and provide appropriate supports to social workers, could led to increased employee absences, and turnover, substantially impeding the capacity of social work organisations to perform their job role and support their service users ( Bui et al. , 2021 ). To effectively address these issues, we need to know more about the relationships between stress, burnout, anxiety, depression and well-being in social workers, to develop a deeper understanding of how to support social workers to practice sustainable over the longer term ( Maddock et al. , 2022 , 2023a ).

Chronic stress and burnout have been characterised as negative job-related psychological outcomes ( Hobfoll, 1998 ). Anxiety, depression and poor well-being are negative mental health outcomes, which are generalised to all aspects of one’s life ( Hakanen and Schaufeli, 2012 ). The literature indicates that chronic stress and burnout spill over into a person’s personal life, causing a mental health problem ( Hobfoll, 1998 ). Chronic stress and burnout lead to long term-threats to, and loss of one’s physical, emotional and psychological energy resources, which can then lead to loss spirals, for example, losses to other resources, such as feelings of self-efficacy, and/or the use of maladaptive coping strategies, which can then result in anxiety and depressive symptoms, and deficits in well-being ( Hakanen and Schaufeli, 2012 ; Maddock, 2023 ). This theoretical process is supported by Stanley et al. (2007) , who in a qualitative study with fifty social workers suffering from depression, found that high job demands and a lack of control over the size of their workload, or the distressing aspects of their work, lead to high levels of stress and pressure, which the social workers in this study identified as being the key determinants in the development of their depression. This process is further supported by Rantonen et al. (2017) , who highlighted that social workers commonly report a number of work-related risk factors for poor mental health and well-being, including high job demands, job strain, effort-reward imbalance, role conflicts, emotional exhaustion and a lack of social support.

The available empirical evidence highlights how stress and burnout have been associated with increased anxiety and depression and poorer well-being in the general workforce, and in other health and social care professions. In a longitudinal study of 685 Finnish workers, stress and emotional exhaustion were found to have a strong effect on Covid-19 anxiety, which the development of coping/self-regulation skills and social support being found to be key determinants of anxiety ( Oksanen et al. , 2022 ). In a study of 645 US general surgery residents, Smeds et al. (2020) found that both perceived stress and burnout were associated with depression. Hou et al. (2022) found that work stress predicted the anxiety levels of 798 Chinese medical workers during Covid-19. In a study of 323 professionals who directly supported persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the USA, Gray-Stanley et al. (2010) found that work stress predicted depression. Epidemic job-related stress predicted the anxiety and depression in a sample of healthcare workers ( N  = 3477) from twenty-two hospitals in China ( Zhou et al. , 2022 ). Burnout was found to predict depression in disability support workers ( Mutkins et al. , 2011 ), and in medical students ( West et al. , 2016 ). In a three-wave 7-year prospective longitudinal study examining the health and well-being of Finnish Dentists ( N  = 10,178), Hakanen and Schaufeli (2012) found that burnout (emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation) predicted depression, and that burnout had long-term effects on depression, highlighting the potential long-term spillover effect that this outcome can have on a social worker’s life, particularly if supportive interventions are not put in place within their working context. We still have very limited empirical evidence about relationships between stress, burnout and mental health and well-being in social work. Gur et al. (2022) in a cross-sectional study of 478 Israeli social workers found that perceived stress predicted well-being amongst social workers during Covid-19.

The aim of this study is to provide a greater understanding of the potential relationships between stress, burnout (emotion exhaustion, depersonalisation, and personal accomplishment), anxiety, depression and well-being in social workers. In order to achieve this aim, this study has two objectives:

Identify the rates of stress, burnout, anxiety, depression and well-being of social workers from a sample of social workers in Northern Ireland.

To examine the relationships between stress, burnout (emotion exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal accomplishment) and anxiety, depression and mental well-being in a group of social workers in Northern Ireland.

Participants and procedure

A cross-sectional study design was employed. A purposive and convenience sample of social workers were recruited from participants who enrolled in two randomised controlled trials examining the effects of the Mindfulness-based Social work and Self-care programme (MBSWSC) on stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, and well-being of social workers ( Maddock et al. , 2023a ; b ). This study conforms to internationally accepted ethical guidelines, all participants provided written consent, and the Research Ethics Committee of the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen’s University Belfast (REF_204_2021) granted ethical approval for this study. The inclusion criteria for this study were: being a Northern Irish social worker, senior social worker, social work manager or service manager who had service user contact as part of their role. All participants received detailed written information about the study, what participation would entail, and were provided with several opportunities to ask questions before they provided written consent.

The participants were asked to provide demographic information and to fill in self-report measures. The reliabilities of each self-report measure were calculated based on the responses given by the participants.

The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS: Cohen et al., 1983 ): The PSS is a ten-item, five-point Likert scale (0 = never; 4 = very often), measure of perceived stress, which is used widely in the research literature on stress ( Cohen et al. , 1983 ). A study conducted amongst university teachers highlighted the adequate concurrent validity and good reliability of the PSS ( Reis et al. , 2010 ). A previous study conducted with social workers found that the PSS had acceptable levels of internal consistency ( α = 0.88) ( Maddock et al. , 2023a ). Higher perceived stress is indicated by higher scores. The reliability of the PSS in this study was also deemed to be acceptable (Cronbach’s α = 0.87).

The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI: Maslach et al., 1996) : The MBI is the most widely used occupational burnout measure ( Crowder and Sears, 2017 ). It is a valid and reliable measure, with its discriminant and convergent validity confirmed with a range of populations ( Maslach et al. , 1996 , 2001 ). The MBI has twenty-two items, each scored on a seven-point Likert scale (0 = never; 6 = everyday) and contains three subscales measuring emotional exhaustion (MBI-EE), depersonalisation/loss of empathy (MBI-DEP) and personal accomplishment (MBI-PA). In a study with social workers, Maddock et al. (2023a) confirmed the moderate-to-high reliability of the each MBI subscale reporting Cronbach’s alphas of 0.91, 0.69 and 0.75 for emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal accomplishment, respectively. The Cronbach’s alphas for emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal accomplishment in this study were 0.91, 0.66 and 0.76 respectively.

The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS: Zigmond and Snaith, 1983 , ): The HADS-Anxiety subscale (HADS-A) contains seven-items on a four-point Likert scale. The HADS-Depression (HADS-D) subscale contains seven-items on a four-point Likert scale. The HADS-A and HADS-D are reliable and valid measures of anxiety and depression, which are widely used in mental health research literature ( Sanne et al. , 2003 ). The good to very good convergent validity of the HADS-A and HADS-D and their reliabilities have been highlighted in several studies, with reported ranges from 0.68 to 0.93 ( Bjelland et al. , 2002 ). Subscale scores of 0–7 are considered to be in the normal range, whilst scores of 8-10 are indicative of mild issues with anxiety and depression on both the HADS-A or HADS-D, 11–14 of moderate issues, and scores of 15+ classified as being indicative of severe issues on both the HADS-A and HADS-D ( Stern, 2014 ). The Cronbach’s alphas for this study were 0.75 and 0.83 for the HADS-D and HADS-A respectively.

Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS: Tennant et al., 2007 ): The WEMWBS is a valid and reliable fourteen-item, five-point Likert scale, measure of mental well-being ( Tennant et al. , 2007 ). The scale’s good content validity and high test–retest reliability of 0.83 was confirmed by Tennant et al. (2007) . Higher levels of mental well-being are indicated by higher scores. The acceptable internal consistency of the WEMWBS was confirmed in this study with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.89.

Data analyses

Correlation and regression analyses were performed using SPSS 27.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY). Correlation and regression analyses were performed rather than structural equation modelling due to: (1) the aims of the study and (2) the fact that this study is somewhat exploratory in nature, as the potential predictors and outcomes being tested were generated from a review of the literature, rather than from a theoretical framework. Missing values and potential outliers in the data were screened. The very limited missing data were replaced using the expectation–maximisation method. The interquartile rule was used to measure potential outliers ( Hoaglin et al. , 1986 ), using whisker and plots. No outliers were found. Separate correlation and then multiple regression analyses were conducted using perceived stress, emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal accomplishment as predictor variables and anxiety, depression and mental well-being as outcomes. All regression assumptions were met. Scatterplot diagrams indicted linear relationships between each predictor variable and outcome. The Durbin–Watson statistic was used to assess independence of residuals ( Durbin and Watson, 1971 ). A value of approximately two on the Durbin–Watson statistic (which ranges from zero to four) indicates no correlation between residuals ( Durbin and Watson, 1971 ). There was independence of residuals, as demonstrated by a Durbin–Watson statistic of 1.98 for the regression on anxiety, 1.86 for the regression on depression and 2.1 for the regression on mental well-being. The plot of standardised residuals versus the standardised predicted values was visually inspected to assess homoscedasticity. A normal probability plot indicated that these residuals were normally distributed. No multicollinearity was found in the data; all variance inflation factor values were less than 10, and all tolerance values were >0.1 ( Hair et al. , 1995 ). The Q – Q plots were visually inspected, and it was found that the assumption of normality of residuals was met.

One hundred and eight female (89 per cent) and thirteen male (11 per cent) social workers completed the study’s measures. This is consistent with the gender profile of Northern Irish social workers ( Hughes, 2022 ). The ages of the sample ranged from 24 to 69 years ( M  = 46.47; SD = 9.94). The sample (see Table 1 ) were experiencing, on average, moderate levels of stress, emotional exhaustion (score between 18 and 29), depersonalisation (score between 6 and 11) and high levels of personal accomplishment (score ≤ 33) ( Maslach et al. , 1996 ). The proportion of social workers reporting low-level emotional exhaustion was 45.55 per cent (≤ 17 on the emotional exhaustion scale), with 39.6 per cent reporting moderate levels of emotional exhaustion and 14.9 per cent reporting high levels of emotional exhaustion (score ≥30). The proportion of social workers reporting low-level depersonalisation was 29.8 per cent (≤5 on the depersonalisation subscale), with 33.8 per cent reporting moderate levels of depersonalisation and 36.4 per cent reporting high levels of depersonalisation (score ≥12). The proportion of social workers reporting low-level personal accomplishment was 23.3 per cent (≥40 on the personal accomplishment subscale), with 25 per cent reporting moderate levels of personal accomplishment and 51.7 per cent reporting high levels of personal accomplishment (score ≤33). In total, 30.6 per cent ( N  =   37) of the social workers scored in the mild range for anxiety, with 26.5 per cent ( N  = 32) scoring in the moderate range, with 10.7 per cent ( N = 13) of the social workers scoring in the severe range for anxiety on the HADS-A. In total, 16.6 per cent ( N  =   20) of the social workers reported experiencing mild symptoms of depression, with 7.4 per cent ( N  =   9) scoring in the moderate to severe depression range on the HADS-D. The average sample score was in normal range on the WEMWBS (a score between 42 and 60) ( Tennant et al. , 2007 ), however, only one social worker (0.8 per cent) reported high levels of well-being, with 22.3 per cent ( N  = 26) reporting low levels of well-being (<42).

Means and standard deviations for each scale score

Results of the Pearson correlation indicated a significant positive association between perceived stress ( r (121) = 0.67, p  < 0.001) and anxiety, emotional exhaustion ( r (121) = 0.55, p  < 0.001) and anxiety, depersonalisation ( r (121) = 0.5, p  < 0.001) and anxiety and a significant negative association between personal accomplishment ( r (121) = −0.2, p  = 0.03) and anxiety.

Multiple linear regression analysis was used to test if perceived stress, emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and personal accomplishment significantly predicted anxiety. A significant regression was found ( F (4, 115) = 27.26, p  < 0.001, R 2  = 0.49). The individual predictors were further examined and indicated that perceived stress ( b  = 0.33, t  = 5.8, p  < 0.001) and emotional exhaustion ( b  = 0.08, t  = 2.1, p  = 0.04) were significant predictors in the model. Personal accomplishment ( b  =   −0.003, t  = −0.09, p  = 0.93) and depersonalisation did not significantly predict anxiety ( b  = 0.02, t  = 0.41, p  = 0.68).

Results of the Pearson correlation indicated a significant positive association between perceived stress ( r (121) = 0.57, p  < 0.001) and depression, emotional exhaustion ( r (121) = 0.35, p  < 0.001) and depression, depersonalisation ( r (121) = 0.37, p  < 0.001) and depression and a significant negative association between personal accomplishment ( r (121) = −0.35, p  < 0.001) and depression.

Multiple linear regression analysis was used to test if perceived stress, emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and personal accomplishment significantly predicted depression. A significant regression was found ( F (4, 115) = 16.4, p  < 0.001, R 2  = 0.36). The individual predictors were further examined and indicated that perceived stress ( b  = 0.5, t  = 5, p  < 0.001) and personal accomplishment ( b  =   −0.08, t  = −2.6, p  < 0.01) were significant predictors in the model. Emotional exhaustion ( b  = 0.002, t  = 0.06, p  = 0.96) and depersonalisation did not significantly predict depression ( b  = 0.01, t  = 0.09, p  = 0.95).

Mental well-being

Results of the Pearson correlation indicated a significant negative association between perceived stress ( r (121) = −0.6, p  < 0.001) and mental well-being, emotional exhaustion ( r (121) = −0.4, p  < 0.001) and mental well-being, depersonalisation ( r (121) = −0.43, p  < 0.001) and mental well-being and a significant positive association between personal accomplishment ( r (121) = −0.34, p  < 0.001) and mental well-being.

Multiple linear regression analysis was used to test if perceived stress, emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and personal accomplishment significantly predicted mental well-being. A significant regression was found ( F (4, 115) = 18.8, p  < 0.001, R 2  = 0.4). The individual predictors were further examined and indicated that perceived stress ( b  =   −0.53, t  = −5.1, p  < 0.001) and personal accomplishment ( b  = 0.15, t  = 2.4, p  = 0.02) were significant predictors in the model. Emotional exhaustion ( b  =   −0.02, t  = −0.32, p  = 0.75) and depersonalisation did not significantly predict mental well-being ( b  =   −0.05, t  = 0.54, p  = 0.59).

The key aims of this article were to identify the rates of stress, burnout, anxiety, depression and well-being of a convenience and purposive sample of social workers in Northern Ireland, and to examine the relationships between these work-related and mental health outcomes. This study found that 30.6 per cent of the social workers in this sample had mild levels of anxiety, with 37.2 per cent experiencing moderate to severe anxiety. In total, 16.6 per cent of the social workers in this study were experiencing mild depressive symptoms, with 7.4 per cent experiencing moderate to severe depressive symptoms. This study also found that a significant proportion of the social workers in this study reported low levels of mental well-being (22.3 per cent). This sample of social workers was experiencing moderate levels of stress, emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and high levels of personal accomplishment. Perceived stress was significantly associated with, and predicted the anxiety, depression, and mental well-being of the social workers in this sample. This study also found that each domain of burnout, that is, emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal accomplishment were significantly associated with the anxiety, depression, and mental well-being of the social workers in this study. Emotion exhaustion was found to predict the anxiety levels of this group of social workers, and that levels of personal accomplishment predicted the depression and mental well-being of this sample of social workers.

It is clear from this study that this group of social workers were experiencing very high levels of anxiety, which may help to explain why they came forward to engage in the RCTs examining the effectiveness of the MBSWSC programme. There has been limited research conducted on the rates of anxiety in social workers, but the rates of mild, moderate and severe anxiety are concerningly high, when compared to the limited literature available. In a study of 577 medical social workers in Vietnam during Covid-19, Nam et al. (2022) found that 19.5 per cent of their sample had moderate anxiety levels, with 13.5 per cent reporting severe anxiety levels. In a large survey of 6,112 social workers in the USA, Straussner et al. (2018) found that 28.7 per cent stated that they experienced anxiety during their career, with 17.4 per cent currently experiencing anxiety. The rate of anxiety in this sample was also significantly higher the prevalence of anxiety (21.6 per cent) than the general population of 2025 UK adults during Covid-19 ( Shevlin et al. , 2020 ).

The rates of depression in this study’s sample, though still concerning, appear to be in line with research conducted internationally. Straussner et al. (2018) found 14 per cent of the social workers in their study stated that they were currently experiencing depression, with 29.2 per cent of these social workers having experienced depression during their career. Siebert (2004) found in a study of 822 social workers from North Carolina, who were systematically randomly sampled, that 19 per cent of their sample reported experiencing symptoms of depression. The rates of mild-to-severe depression in this study are also in line with Shevlin et al. (2020) depression prevalence estimate for UK adults during Covid-19 (22.1 per cent).

Even though the overall rates of mental well-being were much lower than the UK population mean (fifty-one points) on the WEMWBS ( Tennant et al. , 2007 ), the finding that the mental well-being of this sample of social workers was in the normal range of the WEMWBS is line with Baldschun et al. (2019) . In a study of 886 Finnish social workers, Baldschun et al. (2019 , p. 54) found that the well-being of the social workers was ‘relatively good’, with approximately half of the participants reporting low and high well-being. However, Baldschun et al. (2019) did not report on the proportions of social workers experiencing mild, moderate or severe well-being issues in their article. This study, in line with Mänttäri‐van der Kuip (2016) , highlighted that a significant proportion of social workers reported severe well-being deficits. These findings, when coupled with the high proportions of social workers experiencing mild-to-severe issues in both anxiety and depression would indicate that though research has found that a significant proportion of social workers continue to function effectively and report high job satisfaction ( Conrad and Kellar-Guenther, 2006 ; Ellett, 2009 ), for example, of 363 US child protection social workers, 50–70 per cent were found to remain without symptoms of burnout or difficulty ( Conrad and Kellar-Guenther, 2006 ), a significant proportion of social workers are likely to be in need of additional mental health support, beyond that which is currently being offered ( Maddock et al. , 2023a ). Without receiving additional support to cope with the job demands contained in different social work roles, it is likely that this high proportion of social workers are likely to eventually experience job burnout, and either leave their role, or the profession entirely. This is supported by Ravalier et al. (2021) , who highlighted, in a large-scale study of UK social workers ( N  = 3,421), that 50 per cent were dissatisfied with their roles (60 per cent in children’s services), with 60 per cent of social workers looking to leave their role.

There has been limited research which has examined the relationships between stress, anxiety, depression and well-being of social workers. This study’s findings are supported by several studies conducted with a range of occupational groups, including health and social care workers, and students. Stress was found to be directly related to the anxiety and depression of 698 male automotive assembly workers in Malaysia ( Rusli et al. , 2008 ). Perceived stress was positively associated with anxiety and depression amongst 588 health care workers in China during the Covid-19 pandemic ( Luo et al. , 2021 ). High perceived stress was found to be significantly associated with depression in 143 first year medical students in India ( Reddy et al. , 2015 ). Psychological well-being and perceived stress were found to be significantly associated in study with 358 Turkish students during Covid-19 ( Aslan et al. , 2020 ). This study’s findings that perceived stress predicted the anxiety, depression and mental well-being of the social workers in this study are also supported by a range of international cross-sectional studies with students, health populations, social workers and nurses. Perceived stress was found to be a significant predictor of anxiety in 914 Polish university students ( Rogowska et al. , 2020 ). Perceived stress was also found to be significantly associated with, and to predict the depressive symptoms of 1,383 African American women during pregnancy ( Giurgescu et al. , 2015 ). This study’s results support Gur et al. (2022) , who in a cross-sectional study of 478 Israeli social workers found that perceived stress predicted well-being amongst social workers during Covid-19. In a systematic review of twelve studies examining resilience, stress, and psychological well-being (a closely related construct to mental well-being) in nursing students, Li and Hasson (2020) found that low stress predicts psychological well-being. This study’s findings highlight that stress is likely to be a universal risk factor for anxiety, depression and deficits in mental well-being in social workers. If social workers are supported to develop stress coping strategies which help to ameliorate their perceived stress, for example, through clinical supervision, increased social support or through embedded self-care interventions such as mindfulness-based programmes, they are likely to experience improvements in their mental health and well-being. A failure to offer such supports to social workers, or through inaction, continuing to allow the perceived stress of social workers to develop into chronic stress and emotional exhaustion, is likely to lead to social workers developing mental health issues and disorders such as anxiety or depression, which are long-term conditions that take much longer to recover from. The development of such conditions are likely to lead to even higher rates of; poor job performance ( Smeds et al. , 2020 ), lower productivity ( Bui et al. , 2021 ), reduced organisational commitment ( Savaya et al. , 2021 ), absenteeism ( Hakanen and Schaufeli, 2012 ), presenteeism ( Bartlett et al. , 2019 ), compassion fatigue, increased risk of secondary traumatisation ( Kinman, Grant and Kelly, 2020 ; Maddock, 2023 ; Miller and Grise-Owens, 2022 ), higher rates of employee turnover, increased training costs and disruption of services ( Ravalier et al. , 2021 ). There is also a risk that a failure to reduce social worker stress and emotional exhaustion might trigger or exacerbate pre-existing mental health issues and disorders that social workers may have experienced before they began their career ( Straussner et al. , 2018 ).

There has also been limited research which has examined the relationships between burnout, anxiety, depression and mental well-being of social workers. This study’s findings suggest that emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and personal accomplishment are all significantly associated with anxiety, depression, and mental well-being of social workers. These findings are supported by several studies with a range of occupational groups, including health and social care workers internationally. Emotional exhaustion was found to be associated with anxiety and depression of 386 Korean nurses ( Choi et al. , 2018 ). Koutsimani et al. (2019) in systematic review and meta-analysis of 101 studies found that emotional exhaustion was significantly associated with both anxiety and depression. Personal accomplishment, emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation were found to be associated with depression and anxiety of 305 Brazilian medical residents ( Pereira-Lima and Loureiro, 2015 ), the depression levels of 5,575 school teachers ( Bianchi et al. , 2014 ) and 264 extension agents in the USA ( Sears et al. , 2000 ). Personal accomplishment was found to be associated with both the subjective and psychological well-being of 274 German hospital physicians ( Huber et al. , 2020 ) and psychological well-being of 216 US healthcare employees ( Shuck and Reio, 2014 ). The finding that emotional exhaustion significantly predicted anxiety in this sample of social workers is supported by Santa Maria et al. (2018) who found that emotional exhaustion predicted the anxiety levels of German police officers. Ding et al. (2014) found that emotional exhaustion predicted the anxiety symptoms of 1,243 healthcare workers in China. Supporting this study’s findings, low personal accomplishment was found to be a significant predictor of subjective well-being of 250 Chinese nurses ( Qu and Wang, 2015 ). Huarcaya-Victoria and Calle-Gonzáles (2021) also found that personal accomplishment predicted the level of depression symptoms in Peruvian medical residents. It is clear that the social workers in this sample, in line with other studies which have highlighted high levels of stress, burnout and distress experienced by social workers, for example, Evans et al. (2006) and McFadden (2015) , also experienced high levels of personal accomplishment. Social workers tend to have a strong sense of professional identity, commitment to their workplace and values, and this coupled with positive working alliances with their service users have been found to predict levels of personal accomplishment ( Wirth et al. , 2019 ; Levin et al. , 2022 ). It may be that aspects of the social work role itself, perhaps counterintuitively, when one considers the high levels of stress, burnout, mental health, and well-being deficits in the profession, lead to social workers achieving high rates of personal accomplishment, which helps to protect their mental well-being and reduces the risk that they will become depressed. These findings indicate that if social workers are supported to reduce their levels of stress and emotional exhaustion, whilst also improving feelings of personal accomplishment they are likely to experience improvements in anxiety, depression, and mental well-being. To achieve these aims, one supportive programme, which social workers would likely benefit from is the MBSWSC programme. MBSWSC has been found to improve all these job-related and mental health outcomes. Maddock et al. (2023a) found that the MBSWSC programme improved stress, emotional exhaustion, anxiety and depression versus an active control group. MBSWSC programme participants also experienced within group significant changes in mental well-being ( Maddock et al. , 2023a ). In a replication RCT of MBSWSC, with a wider range of social work professionals, MBSWSC was also found to improve mental well-being versus the active control group, and the MBSWSC group also experienced significant within group improvements in personal accomplishment ( Maddock et al. , 2023b ).

Limitations and future research

The nature of the limitations of this study means that the results should be considered preliminary. The use of purposive and convenience sampling limits the generalisability of these findings to a wider population of social workers ( Grinnell and Unrau, 2010 ). The use of one data collection point also means that conclusions about causality between stress, emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment, anxiety, depression and mental well-being cannot be asserted ( Kazdin, 2007 ). To overcome this limitation, future research on the mental health and well-being of social workers should use longitudinal designs to examine changes in stress, burnout, anxiety, depression and mental well-being over time.

This study identified the rates of stress, burnout, anxiety, depression and well-being of a group of social workers who came forward looking for support on how to cope with their social work role. This study provides preliminary evidence that perceived stress is a universal risk factor for deficits in depression, anxiety and mental well-being in this group of social workers. The study also highlights the potentially protective role that personal accomplishment could play in supporting mental well-being, and reducing depressive symptoms in social workers, and the risks that emotional exhaustion could play in the development of, or recurrence of anxiety.

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Research Ethics Committee, School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen’s University Belfast (REF_167_2122). Consent to Participate Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

This work was supported by the Office of Social Services, within the Department of Health, Northern Ireland.

The data associated with this article are available upon reasonable request.

None declared.

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Mental Health Dissertation Topics

Published by Carmen Troy at January 9th, 2023 , Revised On August 16, 2023

Introduction

You probably found your way here looking for mental health topics for your final year research project. Look no further, we have drafted a list of issues, and their research aims to help you when you are brainstorming for dissertation or thesis topics on mental health in 2020.

PhD-qualified writers of our team have developed these topics, so you can trust to use these topics for drafting your dissertation.

You may also want to start your dissertation by requesting a brief research proposal or full dissertation service from our writers on any of these topics, which includes an introduction to the topic, research question , aim and objectives, literature review , and the proposed research methodology to be conducted. Let us know if you need any help in getting started.

Check our dissertation examples to understand how to structure your dissertation .

Latest Mental Health Dissertation Topics for 2023

Review the step-by-step guide on how to write your dissertation here .

• Topic 1: Assessing the Influence of Parents’ Divorce or Separation on Adolescent Children regarding long-term psychological impact.
• Topic 2: Investigating the impact of Trauma and Health-related quality of life on a child’s Mental health and self-worth.

Topic 3: Assessing the effect of Psychological training on males suffering from Post-Surgery Anxiety in the UK.

• Topic 4: Investigating the Relationship between Mental Illness and Suicides- A case study of UK’s Young Adults.

Topic 5: Examining the behaviour of Mental Health Nurses taking care of Schizophrenia Patients in the UK.

Topic 1: an assessment of the influence of parents' divorce or separation on adolescent children in terms of long-term psychological impact..

Research Aim: This study aims to investigate the level of traumas experienced by the children of divorced or separated parents. The principal aim of this study is to explore the long-term psychological impacts of parents’ divorce on the life of children regardless of their gender and age in terms of mental wellbeing, academic performance, and self-worth.

Topic 2: An investigation of the impact of Trauma and Health-related quality of life on the Mental health and Self-worth of a child.

Research Aim: This study aims to assess the long-term impacts of the trauma children face in their early years of life on their overall mental health. Also, numerous studies have emphasized improving the quality of life for children who tend to experience multiple traumas and take them along in adulthood. Therefore, this study also proposed the impacts of traumatic childhood experiences on self-worth, mental health, and vitality of implementing firm intervention before the child reaches adulthood.

Research Aim: Postoperative problems may occur as a result of surgical stress. This study aims to examine different approaches to control post-surgical anxiety and improve patients’ lives in the short and long term, focusing on male patients in the UK. It will also give us an understanding of how psychological training and interventions affect anxiety in male patients and help them overcome this through a systematic review.

Topic 4: Investigating the Relationship between Mental illness and Suicides- A case study of UK's Young Adults.

Research Aim: This study aims to find the relationship between mental illness and suicides and risk factors in the UK. This study will specifically focus on young adults. It will examine different mental disorders and how they have led to suicide and will analyse further studies of people who had died by suicide and find evidence of the presence or absence of mental illness.

Research Aim: Negative behaviours and discrimination have been usually reported as a reason for the inconvenience in the treatment of mentally ill or schizophrenia patients, which negatively impacts the patient’s results. Health care professionals’ attitudes have been regarded as being more negative than the general public, which lowers the outlook for patients suffering from mental illness. This study will examine the behaviour of mental health nurses regarding schizophrenia patients in the UK and also focus on the characteristics associated with nurses’ attitudes.

COVID-19 Mental Health Research Topics

Topic1: impacts of the coronavirus on the mental health of various age groups.

Research Aim: This study will reveal the impacts of coronavirus on the mental health of various age groups

Topic 2: Mental health and psychological resilience during COVID-19

Research Aim: Social distancing has made people isolated and affected their mental health. This study will highlight various measures to overcome the stress and mental health of people during coronavirus.

Topic 3: The mental health of children and families during COVID-19

Research Aim: This study will address the challenging situations faced by children and families during lockdown due to COVID-19. It will also discuss various ways to overcome the fear of disease and stay positive.

Topic 4: Mental wellbeing of patients during the Coronavirus pandemic

Research Aim: This study will focus on the measures taken by the hospital management, government, and families to ensure patients’ mental well-being, especially COVID-19 patients.

Best Mental Health Topics for Your Dissertation in the Year 2021

Topic 1: kids and their relatives with cancer: psychological challenges.

Research Aim: In cancer diagnoses and therapies, children often don’t know what happens. Many have psychosocial problems, including rage, terror, depression, disturbing their sleep, inexpiable guilt, and panic. Therefore, this study is designed to identify and treat the child and its family members’ psychological issues.

Topic 2: Hematopoietic device reaction in ophthalmology patient’s radiation therapy

Research Aim: This research is based on the analysis of hematopoietic devices’ reactions to ophthalmology’s radiation.

Topic 3: Psychological effects of cyberbullying Vs. physical bullying: A counter study

Research Aim: This research will focus on the effects of cyberbullying and physical bullying and their consequences on the victim’s mental health. The most significant part is the counter effects on our society’s environment and human behaviour, particularly youth.

Topic 4: Whether or not predictive processing is a theory of perceptual consciousness?

Research Aim: This research aims to identify: whether or not predictive processing is a theory of perceptual consciousness?

Topic 5: Importance of communication in a relationship

Research Aim: This research aims to address the importance of communication in relationships and the communication gap consequences.

Topic 6: Eating and personality disorders

Research Aim: This research aims to focus on eating and personality disorders

Topic 7: Analysis of teaching, assessment, and evaluation of students and learning differences

Research Aim: This research aims to analyse teaching methods, assessment, and evaluation systems of students and their learning differences

Topic 8: Social and psychological effects of virtual networks

Research Aim: This research aims to study the social and psychological effects of virtual networks

Topic 9: The role of media in provoking aggression

Research Aim: This research aims to address the role of media and in provoking aggression among people

Best Mental Health Topics for Your Dissertation in the Year 2020

Topic 1: what is the impact of social media platforms on the mental wellbeing of adults.

Research Aim: the current study aims to investigate the impact social media platforms tend to have on adults’ mental well-being with a particular focus on the United Kingdom. While many studies have been carried out to gauge the impact of social media platforms on teenagers’ mental well-being, little to no research has been performed to investigate how the health of adults might be affected by the same and how social media platforms like Facebook impact them.

Topic 2: The contemporary practical management approach to treating personality disorders

Research Aim: This research will discuss the contemporary practical management approach for treating personality disorders in mental health patients. In the previous days, much of the personality disorder treatments were based on medicines and drugs. Therefore, this research will address contemporary and practical ways to manage how personality disorders affect the mental state of the individuals who have the disease.

Topic 3: How is Prozac being used in the modern-day to treat self-diagnosed depression?

Research Aim: In the current day and age, besides people suffering from clinical depression, many of the teens and the adults across have started to suffer from self-diagnosed depression. To treat their self-diagnosed depression, individuals take Prozac through all the wrong means, which harms their mental state even more. Therefore, the current study aims to shed light on how Prozac is being used in the modern age and the adverse effects of misinformed use on the patients.

Topic 4: Are women more prone to suffer from mental disorders than men: Comparative analysis

Research Aim: There have been several arguments regarding whether women are more likely to suffer from mental disorders than men. Much of the research carried out provides evidence that women are more prone to suffer from mental disorders. This research study aims to conduct a comparative analysis to determine whether it’s more likely for men or women to suffer from mental disorders and what role biological and societal factors play in determining the trend.

Topic 5: The impact of breakups on the mental health of men?

Research Aim: Several studies have been carried out to discuss how women are affected more by a breakup than men. However, little research material is available in support of the impact the end of a relationship can have on men’s mental health. Therefore, this research study will fill out the gap in research to determine the impact of a breakup on men’s mental health and stability.

Topic 6: A theoretical analysis of the Impact of emotional attachment on mental health?

Research Aim: This research aims to analyse the theories developed around emotional attachment to address how emotional attachment can harm individuals’ mental health across the globe. Several theories discuss the role that emotional attachment tends to play in the mind of a healthy being, and how emotional attachment can often negatively affect mental well-being.

Topic 7: How do social media friendships contribute to poor mental health?

Research Aim: This research idea aims to address how social media friendships and networking can often lead to a lack of self-acceptance, self-loathing, self-pity, self-comparison, and depression due to the different mindsets that are present in today’s world.

Topic 8: What role do parents play in ensuring the mental well-being of their children?

Research Aim: It is assumed that parents tend to stop playing a role in ensuring that the mental health and well-being of their children are being maintained after a certain age. Therefore, this study will aim to put forward the idea that even after the children pass the age of 18, activities and their relationship with their parents would always play a role in the way their mental health is being transformed.

Topic 9: A study on the mental health of soldiers returning from Iraq?

Research Aim: This topic idea puts forward the aim that the mental health of soldiers who return from war-struck areas is always a subject of interest, as each of the soldiers carries a mental burden. Therefore, it is vital to understand the soldiers’ mental health returning from Iraq, focusing on what causes their mental health to deteriorate during the war and suggestions of what to do or who to call if they do become unwell.

Topic 10: How the contemporary media practices in the UK are leading to mental health problems?

Research Aim: The media is known to have control and influence over people’s mindsets who are connected to it. Many of the contemporary media practices developed in the UK can negatively impact the mental well-being of individuals, which makes it necessary to analyse how they are contributing to the mental health problems among the UK population.

Topic 11: What is the impact of television advertising on the mental development of children in the UK?

Research Aim: This topic would aim to address how television advertising can negatively impact children’s mental development in the United Kingdom, as it has been observed in many studies that television advertising is detrimental to the mental health of children.

Topic 12: How deteriorating mental health can have an Impact on physical health?

Research Aim: This research aims to address the side-effects of deteriorating mental health on the physical health of individuals in the society, as it is believed that the majority of the physical ailments in the modern-day and age are due to the deteriorating mental health of individuals. The study can address the treatments for many ailments in our society due to deteriorating mental health and well-being.

Topic 13: The relationship between unemployment and mental health

Research Aim: How unemployment relates to concepts, such as a declining economy or lack of social skills and education, has been frequently explored by many researchers in the past. However, not many have discussed the relationship between unemployment and the mental health of unemployed individuals. Therefore, this topic will help address the problems faced by individuals due to unemployment because of the mental blocks they are likely to develop and experience. In the future, it would lead to fewer people being depressed due to unemployment when further research is carried out.

Topic 14: The mental health problems of prisoners in the United Kingdom

Research Aim: While prisoners across the globe are criticised and studied for the negativity that goes on in their mindsets, one would rarely research the mental health problems they tend to develop when they become a prisoner for committing any crime. It is often assumed that it is the life inside the prison walls that impacts the prisoners’ mental health in a way that leads to them committing more crimes. Therefore, this research topic has been developed to study prison’s impact on prisoners’ mental well-being in the United Kingdom to eventually decrease the number of crimes that occur due to the negative environment inside the prisons.

Topic 15: Mental well-being of industry workers in China

Research Aim: While many research studies have been carried out regarding the conditions that the workers in China tend to be exposed to, there is very little supporting evidence regarding the impact such working conditions have on the mindset and mental health of the workers. Therefore, this study aims to address the challenges faced by industry workers in China and the impact that such challenges can have on their mental well-being.

Topic 16: Is the provision of mental health care services in the United Kingdom effective?

Research Aim: Many people have made different assumptions regarding the mental health care services provided across the globe. However, it seems that little to no research has been carried out regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of the provision of mental health care services in the United Kingdom. Therefore, this study aims to put forward research into the mental health care services provided in well-developed countries like the United Kingdom to gauge the awareness and importance of mental health in the region.

Topic 17: What are the mental health problems the minorities in the United Kingdom face?

Research Aim: It is believed that the minorities in the United Kingdom are likely to experience physical abuse, societal abuse and are often exposed to discrimination and unfair acts at the workplace and in their social circle. The study investigates the range of mental problems faced by minorities in the UK, which need to be addressed to have equality, diversity, and harmony.

Topic 18: The impact the Coronavirus has had on the mental health of the Chinese people

Research Aim: The spread of the deadly Coronavirus has led to many deaths in the region of China, and many of those who have been suspected of the virus are being put in isolation and quarantine. Such conditions tend to have hurt the mental health of those who have suffered from the disease and those who have watched people suffer from it. Therefore, the current study aims to address how the Coronavirus has impacted the mental health of the Chinese people.

Topic 19: How to create change in mental health organisations in China?

Research Aim: Research suggests little awareness about mental health in many Asian countries. As mental health problems are on the rise across the globe, it is necessary to change mental health organisations. Therefore, the study aims to discuss how to create change in mental health organisations in the Asian region using China’s example.

Topic 20: Addressing the mental health concerns of the Syrian refugees in the UK

Research Aim: This research project would address the concerns in terms of the refugees’ mental health and well-being, using an example of the Syrian refugees who had been allowed entry into the United Kingdom. This idea aims to put forward the negative effects that migration can have on the refugees and how further research is required to combat such issues not just in the United Kingdom but worldwide.

How Can ResearchProspect Help?

ResearchProspect writers can send several custom topic ideas to your email address. Once you have chosen a topic that suits your needs and interests, you can order for our dissertation outline service which will include a brief introduction to the topic, research questions , literature review , methodology , expected results , and conclusion . The dissertation outline will enable you to review the quality of our work before placing the order for our full dissertation writing service!

Important Notes:

As a mental health student looking to get good grades, it is essential to develop new ideas and experiment on existing mental health theories – i.e., to add value and interest in the topic of your research.

Mental health is vast and interrelated to so many other academic disciplines like civil engineering ,  construction ,  project management , engineering management , healthcare , finance and accounting , artificial intelligence , tourism , physiotherapy , sociology , management , project management , and nursing . That is why it is imperative to create a project management dissertation topic that is articular, sound, and actually solves a practical problem that may be rampant in the field.

We can’t stress how important it is to develop a logical research topic based on your entire research. There are several significant downfalls to getting your topic wrong; your supervisor may not be interested in working on it, the topic has no academic creditability, the research may not make logical sense, there is a possibility that the study is not viable.

This impacts your time and efforts in writing your dissertation as you may end up in the cycle of rejection at the initial stage of the dissertation. That is why we recommend reviewing existing research to develop a topic, taking advice from your supervisor, and even asking for help in this particular stage of your dissertation.

While developing a research topic, keeping our advice in mind will allow you to pick one of the best mental health dissertation topics that fulfill your requirement of writing a research paper and add to the body of knowledge.

Therefore, it is recommended that when finalizing your dissertation topic, you read recently published literature to identify gaps in the research that you may help fill.

Remember- dissertation topics need to be unique, solve an identified problem, be logical, and be practically implemented. Please look at some of our sample mental health dissertation topics to get an idea for your own dissertation.

How to Structure your Mental Health Dissertation

A well-structured dissertation can help students to achieve a high overall academic grade.

• A Title Page
• Acknowledgements
• Declaration
• Abstract: A summary of the research completed
• Table of Contents
• Introduction : This chapter includes the project rationale, research background, key research aims and objectives, and the research problems. An outline of the structure of a dissertation can also be added to this chapter.
• Literature Review : This chapter presents relevant theories and frameworks by analysing published and unpublished literature available on the chosen research topic to address research questions . The purpose is to highlight and discuss the selected research area’s relative weaknesses and strengths whilst identifying any research gaps. Break down the topic, and key terms that can positively impact your dissertation and your tutor.
• Methodology : The data collection and analysis methods and techniques employed by the researcher are presented in the Methodology chapter which usually includes research design , research philosophy, research limitations, code of conduct, ethical consideration, data collection methods, and data analysis strategy .
• Findings and Analysis : Findings of the research are analysed in detail under the Findings and Analysis chapter. All key findings/results are outlined in this chapter without interpreting the data or drawing any conclusions. It can be useful to include graphs, charts, and tables in this chapter to identify meaningful trends and relationships.
• Discussion and Conclusion : The researcher presents his interpretation of results in this chapter, and state whether the research hypothesis has been verified or not. An essential aspect of this section of the paper is to draw a linkage between the results and evidence from the literature. Recommendations with regards to implications of the findings and directions for the future may also be provided. Finally, a summary of the overall research, along with final judgments, opinions, and comments, must be included in the form of suggestions for improvement.
• References : This should be completed following your University’s requirements
• Bibliography
• Appendices : Any additional information, diagrams, and graphs used to complete the dissertation but not part of the dissertation should be included in the Appendices chapter. Essentially, the purpose is to expand the information/data.

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80 Social Work Research Topics

FacebookXEmailWhatsAppRedditPinterestLinkedInAre you a student searching for captivating research topics in the field of social work? Look no further. Whether you’re pursuing an undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral degree, finding the right research topic is essential for a successful dissertation. Social work is a multidisciplinary field that addresses societal issues and promotes social change, making it an […]

Are you a student searching for captivating research topics in the field of social work? Look no further. Whether you’re pursuing an undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral degree, finding the right research topic is essential for a successful dissertation.

Social work is a multidisciplinary field that addresses societal issues and promotes social change, making it an excellent area to explore for your research. Our comprehensive list of social work research topics covers a wide range of areas, including mental health, child welfare, community development, social justice, and more.

By selecting a topic that aligns with your interests and career goals, you can contribute to the advancement of the field and make a positive impact on individuals and communities. Utilize available resources, such as research articles, case studies, and ethical guidelines, to support your study. With dedication and a passion for social work, your research can make a significant difference in the lives of those in need.

A List Of Potential Research Topics In Social Work:

• What are the long-term effects of social isolation and loneliness on the well-being of older adults during and after the COVID-19 pandemic?
• Addressing the mental health needs of children and adolescents in foster care: Strategies for social work practice.
• How has the shift to remote and virtual service delivery impacted the effectiveness of social work interventions?
• Assessing the impact of social work interventions on improving outcomes for children in care in the UK.
• The role of social work in promoting and supporting mental health among diverse communities in the UK.
• The impact of social work research and evidence-based practice on improving service quality and outcomes in the UK.
• Exploring the role of social work in promoting inclusive education and supporting students with special educational needs in the UK.
• Assessing the effectiveness of social work interventions in supporting individuals with disabilities to live independently in the UK.
• The impact of school-based social work programs on student academic success and well-being.
• How has the pandemic affected the provision of social services to homeless populations, and what strategies can social workers employ to address homelessness?
• How has the pandemic exacerbated existing health disparities and inequities, and what role can social work play in addressing these issues?
• Exploring the effectiveness of early intervention programs in reducing child poverty and improving child well-being in the UK.
• Assessing the effectiveness of social work interventions in addressing domestic violence and abuse in the UK.
• Exploring the role of social workers in addressing homelessness and housing insecurity.
• Examining the impact of social work interventions on improving outcomes for children in foster care.
• How has the pandemic affected the prevalence and dynamics of domestic violence and child abuse, and how can social workers respond effectively?
• The impact of digital technology on social work practice and service delivery in the UK.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of mentoring programs for at-risk youth in promoting positive outcomes.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of restorative justice practices in reducing recidivism rates among juvenile offenders.
• The effectiveness of trauma-informed care in supporting survivors of domestic violence.
• Addressing the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on long-term well-being: A social work perspective.
• The impact of social work interventions on mental health outcomes in low-income communities.
• Assessing the effectiveness of social work interventions in promoting rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders in the UK.
• Exploring the role of social workers in supporting individuals with substance use disorders in recovery.
• Evaluating the impact of school social work programs on student attendance and engagement.
• The role of social workers in supporting older adults in aging-in-place and long-term care decision-making.
• The role of social work in addressing poverty and income inequality in the UK.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of school-based bullying prevention programs in promoting safe learning environments.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of family preservation programs in preventing child removals.
• Addressing racial disparities in the child welfare system: Strategies for social work practice.
• Exploring the experiences of social workers in rural and underserved areas: Challenges and opportunities.
• Exploring the experiences of social workers in crisis and disaster response.
• Examining the impact of social work interventions on reducing child abuse and neglect.
• The role of social workers in supporting individuals and families affected by addiction.
• Exploring the experiences of social workers working in rural communities in the UK and the unique challenges they face.
• The impact of social work interventions on reducing substance abuse among adolescents.
• Exploring the role of social workers in supporting individuals with disabilities in transition to adulthood.
• Exploring the role of social workers in promoting social justice and advocacy for marginalized communities.
• What are the impacts of the pandemic on community organizing efforts and collective action for social change?
• Examining the experiences of social workers in child protection services: Ethical dilemmas and decision-making.
• Exploring the intersection of social work and technology: Opportunities and challenges.
• Exploring the experiences of immigrant and refugee populations in accessing social services.
• Assessing the effectiveness of restorative justice approaches in the criminal justice system in the UK and the role of social work in facilitating the process.
• Evaluating the impact of community organizing efforts on social change and empowerment.
• Examining the impact of social work interventions on reducing school dropout rates.
• What are the impacts of school closures and remote learning on the well-being and educational outcomes of children and adolescents, and how can social workers support them?
• How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health outcomes and access to mental health services among vulnerable populations?
• Addressing the mental health needs of frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A social work perspective.
• Exploring the experiences of social workers working in child protection and safeguarding in the UK.
• Examining the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth in the foster care system and strategies for improving support.
• The experiences and challenges faced by social workers in addressing the needs of older adults in the UK.
• Exploring the experiences of social workers in supporting individuals with chronic illnesses.
• The impact of Brexit on the rights and well-being of migrant populations in the UK and the role of social work in advocating for their rights.
• How has the pandemic affected access to healthcare services for marginalized populations, and how can social workers promote equitable healthcare access?
• Addressing the mental health needs of veterans: Insights from social work practice.
• The impact of austerity measures on social work practice and service delivery in the UK.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of community-based mental health services in reducing hospitalization rates.
• The effectiveness of group therapy interventions in promoting mental health and well-being.
• How has the pandemic affected access to food security and nutrition, and how can social workers address food insecurity in their communities?
• How has the pandemic influenced the provision of services for individuals with disabilities, and what strategies can social workers employ to promote inclusivity?
• What are the emerging challenges and opportunities for social work practice in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic?
• How has the pandemic affected social work practice with immigrant and refugee populations, and how can social workers address their unique needs?
• Examining the impact of social work interventions on reducing recidivism rates among adult offenders.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of community-based programs in reducing elder abuse.
• What are the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic for social work practice and preparedness in future crises?
• The role of social workers in supporting individuals with disabilities in accessing employment and inclusive workplaces.
• Addressing mental health stigma in culturally diverse communities: Strategies for social work practice.
• The role of social work in addressing substance abuse and addiction issues in the UK.
• Evaluating the impact of community-based interventions on reducing substance abuse and addiction.
• What are the best practices for social workers in addressing the mental health needs of healthcare workers during and after the COVID-19 pandemic?
• What are the emerging ethical considerations for social workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic?
• How has the pandemic affected the prevalence and management of substance abuse and addiction, and what interventions are effective in supporting recovery?
• Exploring the role of social workers in addressing human trafficking and modern slavery.
• What are the unique challenges faced by social workers in providing telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic?
• Addressing the mental health needs of refugees and asylum seekers: Challenges and best practices.
• Exploring the experiences of social workers in engaging with and supporting diverse religious and ethnic communities in the UK.
• What are the impacts of the pandemic on child welfare services and foster care systems, and how can social workers ensure the safety and well-being of children?
• What are the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and well-being of frontline workers, such as social workers and healthcare professionals?
• Exploring the experiences of social workers working with LGBTQ+ individuals and communities in the UK.
• The role of social work in addressing homelessness and supporting individuals and families in accessing suitable housing in the UK.

In conclusion, we have presented a diverse range of social work research topics tailored for students at various degree levels who are searching for captivating ideas for their dissertation research. Social work plays a critical role in addressing societal challenges, promoting well-being, and advocating for social justice. Whether you are an undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral student, our comprehensive list of topics offers a wide array of research opportunities to explore current issues, examine interventions, and contribute to the advancement of the field.

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185 Social Work Dissertation Topics: Creative List

If you are a student of social work, then there are so many subjects that you can write about in your dissertation topic. Social work, in simple terms, is a set of functions that allow you to improve the lives of others. Social workers help adults and children cope with everyday issues, relationship troubles, personal issues and family issues. Given the scope of work of a social worker, finding the right social work dissertation topics can be challenging as there are so many pressing issues to cover.

In order to write a good paper and choose a topic that interests you, here are a few things that you should consider:

Choose a topic that is close to your heart : If you have chosen social work as your field of study, then there must be some area of work that intrigues you. This could be related to child care, women’s rights or health. To write a good paper, choose a subject that is of interest to you and will help you in your line of work going forward. Make sure your topic is supported by data : Choose topics that have enough data to present strong arguments and discussions. The paper should be thought provoking : Once you have got an approval on your proposed social work dissertation topics, use as much information that is relatable. The readers should take back some ideas from your paper and also have questions about how the system can be improved to fulfill the purpose of social work. This means that you need to find loopholes in the system and address them in your paper effectively.

Now that you know what a good social work dissertation paper entails, here is a list of topics to help you start your journey. However if you have more interesting things to do, remember you have an opportunity to buy dissertation and get the best result.

Social Work Dissertation Ideas

These are good dissertation topics for social work students at all academic levels:

• Write an in-depth paper on the perception and attitude of oppression between the community and healthcare professionals.
• Write about the inherent perceptions related to social work among different cultures.
• A comprehensive review of different approaches to strengthen users of social services.
• The role of social workers in end-of-life decisions.
• Is evidence based learning an excellent way of learning for social workers?
• What are your views on the law of reflection and its role in social work?
• What are the challenges faced by social workers with respect to inter-professional practices?
• Is tutoring an integral part of social work training? Write your views.
• Social work and government policies: Write a detailed review.
• How social work interventions can protect vulnerable adults.
• The common security issues faced by personal social workers.
• Transitioning from employment to social work: Challenges and advantages.
• Substance abuse among young adults. The role of social workers in prevention and management.
• A review on why women choose to remain in abusive relationships.
• The contribution of social services in helping families cope with a member with dementia.
• The relationship between social work and communities of faith.
• The role of social workers in promoting ethnic minorities.
• The best ways in which social workers can improve the life of the elderly.
• Does social work impact the quality of life of senior citizens?
• Disparities in the society that can be resolved to improve the lives of ethnic minorities.
• The importance of being gender sensitive in addressing the issues faced by the LGBTQ community.
• Is rehabilitation of young offenders the new way of ensuring restorative justice?
• Laws that allow the representation of marginalized societies in the government.
• Can prohibition of alcohol preserve law and order in a community?
• The role of drug addiction in increasing relationship problems within families.
• The primary factors contributing to juvenile delinquency.
• Does imposing a curfew on minors lead to increased chances of premarital sex?
• The role of the media in determining the electoral process of any country.
• Provide great examples of good governance with respect to the recovery of a city or locality after being affected by a natural calamity.
• Provide a social work perspective on the growing popularity of political figures and icons.
• How does education contribute to the ability of leaders to shape the social and political structure of a country?
• Can reactivating the death penalty change the rate of crime in our society?
• Do individuals who are in illicit relationships perceive the norms of a marriage differently?
• Experiences with healthcare of people who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
• Culture-based activism and its impact on the lives of Native Americans.

Easy Social Work Research Topics

These social work research topics cover a range of relatable and controversial subjects for you to write about.

• How can survivors of domestic violence get better employment opportunities?
• A study of women with sexual addiction.
• Reintegration of individuals who have survived abuse into the society.
• The primary causes and the best ways to prevent juveni;e recidivism.
• Examples of great women leaders in our community.
• Should immigrants be given health services?
• What are the best housing options to support young people?
• Medical care for the elderly: The challenges.
• A detailed study of the relationships of HIV positive individuals.
• Is customer satisfaction the most important goal for a business?
• The barriers in social work with respect to climate change.
• The experience of a home care worker in a caring relationship.
• Are voluntary tourism communities in Chile an example of social development?
• Why do we still hesitate to talk about sex?
• How does organizational culture contribute to marginalism?
• The role of leadership practices in eliminating new forms of marginalism.
• Graduate students and the attitude towards couples therapy.
• Review the employment services for domestic violence survivors in your region/ country.
• Evaluate eviction risks based on social and cultural perceptions.
• Write about the experiences of women who are in a relationship with an individual who is sexually addicted.
• Provide a qualitative study of resilience and risk associated with young people.
• How does health affect the employment of refugee and immigrant women?
• Does encouraging traveling among women promote community leadership?
• Humanities and the relationship with citizenship.
• The perspectives of youth and service providers on the impact of housing options for young adults.
• The role of arts in boosting healing processes.
• How has dance impacted society?
• How to improve medical facilities in rural areas?
• The experiences of rural individuals with social workers.
• How do the concepts of our society affect the lives of individuals with HIV and AIDs?
• Improving care for individuals with HIV and AIDS.
• Explore the nature of collaboration between individuals who suffer from poverty and various organizations in regions that are at a high economic and social risk.
• The importance of sexual health education for immigrant women.
• The social risks of gender identity.
• How can the theory of dynamic systems be applied to countries that are in a war situation?

Child Protection Dissertation Ideas

Here are some good dissertation topics for social work students who are interested in childcare services:

• The impact of agencies in protecting children: Provide a review of literature based on real practices.
• Will children who experience or witness abuse and violence within the family perpetuate the same type of behavior?
• Impact of family support and protection in child protection intervention by social workers.
• The health problems of adults who have survived child sexual abuse.
• The contribution of social workers in carrying out effective interventions for survivors of child sexual abuse.
• Factors that contribute to adopted children seeking out their biological parents.
• The impact of domestic violence on children and the resulting consequences for a social worker.
• Review the educational achievements with respect to childcare in your region.
• Review of literature of education and childcare in California and what the world can learn from it.
• The effect of gambling on the lives of children.
• The common factors that affect the socio-economic requirements of children.
• How can social workers aid the emotional growth of children?
• The impact of pornography in increasing the rate of crime and violence against chidlren.
• The views of sexual abuse victims on pedophilia.
• How do the physical changes during puberty affect the psyche of a child?
• The risks associated with child welfare decisions.
• How can education prevent violence against children?
• An analysis of the maternal experiences of victims of child sexual abuse.
• The experience of new social workers in child welfare.
• Secondary traumatic stress between young counselors and children.
• The best ways to protect a child in custody.
• Support strategies to prevent child poverty in your country.
• A study of resilience in individuals when building a strong future after emerging from a difficult childhood. Provide examples.
• Immigrant families and adolescent development.
• Is gender neutral upbringing overrated or is it the need of the hour?
• How does the environment in the school impact the self esteem of children?
• A case study to review the challenges of children with learning disabilities.
• The benefits of studying child development in improving the contributions of social services.
• The reason for the ignorance of child development for several years in history.
• Write a detailed paper on the formation of ego with respect to different stages of development.
• The effect of an absent parent on the developing years of a child.
• How does domestic violence affect the concept of self in a child?
• Child education and the impact of single parenting.
• Factors that contribute to the retention of employees in childcare.
• The causes and best strategies for the protection of runaway children.
• The role of gender differences in shaping the outlook of children.
• Why is play an important educational tool?
• The best policies to promote the rights of children.
• Factors that influence the quality of food in child care centers.
• The risk factors and effects of bullying.
• The best ways to reduce behavioral issues in children in foster care.
• The relationship between disability and the chances of a child ending up in foster care.
• The lack of child support and the effects on child care.
• How does group therapy help children in foster care?
• The impact of constant changes of family in orphaned toddlers.
• How does homelessness impact the psyche of a child?
• Recurring displacement and the effects on homeless children.
• Factors that contribute to an antisocial lifestyle in children in foster care.
• The effects of substance abuse on the lives of children.
• The trauma of child-parent separation on the lifestyle and health of children.

Social Work Dissertation Topics Mental Health

Mental health contributes to some of the most important dissertation topics for social work students.

• Why do individuals with obsessive compulsive disorders struggle to cope with society?
• The effects of living with bipolar parents on the health and lifestyle of a child.
• Why should we socially interrogate the stigma associated with mental health?
• The role of social workers in improving support for individuals with mental health issues.
• The occurrence of suicidal tendencies in military units and the best ways to address them.
• The impact of death on the collective well-being of any family unit.
• The positive impact of sponsors on the lives of recovering addicts.
• Provide a clinical study on the current anti-depressants and their effectiveness.
• How to stop social elimination of children suffering from Down Syndrome.
• The role of a family in exacerbating depression.
• The impact of alcoholism on personal lifestyle, family and society.
• Provide a detailed analysis of the similarities and differences between ADHD and Dyslexia.
• The best ways to improve awareness on degenerative mental health issues like Dementia.
• The need for more awareness among educators about learning disabilities.
• The most effective learning tools for children who suffer from ADHD, dyslexia and other learning disorders.
• A detailed evaluation of socio-sexual education programs for individuals with developmental disorders.
• Evaluation on the impact of developmental disabilities in the life events of an individual.
• Life with a spouse who has memory loss.
• Provide an exploratory study of different aids available to the primary caregivers of children with autism.
• The meaning of well-being based on the cultural and ethic backgrounds of individuals.
• Building resilience towards traumatic incidents using the mind-body connection of yoga.
• Is the stigma against mental health disorders greater for women? Conduct a comparative study.
• The perspectives of a woman living with mental illness and receiving assistance from community services.
• Investigate how smoking gives individuals with depression a sense of belonging or acceptance.
• Are mental health services equally accessible to minorities and other oppressed groups?
• Do mental health service providers avoid detention of young males in their psychiatric units?
• The relationship between government policies and effective mental health assistance.
• Common behavioral issues of children in dysfunctional families.
• The impact of foster care on the mental health of teenagers.
• The effect of poverty and scarcity on the psyche of young children.

Social Work Masters Dissertation Topics

If you are writing a dissertation paper for your master’s degree, here are some interesting topics for you to choose from:

• How is the lifestyle of a metropolitan city failed by the criminal justice system?
• What are some sure shot signs of trauma in the workplace?
• The effects of racial disparity on our society.
• The best ways to control substance abuse and addiction.
• How can the facilities at nursing homes for the elderly be improved?
• The negative impact of food banks.
• Government policies that have improved welfare conditions.
• The impact of homophobia on our community.
• Primary factors contributing to violence in a family.
• The effects of unemployment on society.
• Stigma and social issues faced by welfare mothers.
• Experiences of women who live in shelter homes.
• The inherent challenges of transracial adoption.
• How to make wellness therapy more sustainable?
• The impact of first-time menstrual experience on teenage girls living in foster homes.

Common Dissertation Topics For Social Work Students

If you wish to get top grades, here are some topics that give you a lot of literature and data to review.

• Birth control laws and their negative impact.
• The challenges of increasing housing costs on the youth.
• Workplace abuse and the relationship with paid labor.
• The impact of cultural belief on relationships.
• The negative impact of teenage pregnancy.
• Low income neighborhoods and the increasing cases of substance abuse.
• The hazards of confinement and why they need our attention.
• The need for therapy of poorly represented groups.
• Misdiagnosis of mental health issues and its impact.
• How can empathy improve social services?
• The need for qualitative examination of foster homes.
• The contributing factors for violence in correctional systems.
• Do therapists need therapy?
• How trafficking impacts societal well-being.
• The reasons for unreported abuse cases.
• The hidden trauma of survivors of natural calamities.
• Traumatic experiences of children in foster homes. A clinical study with measures to prevent them.
• Growing in a war zone and the psychological impact.
• Common myths about child services and foster care.
• Is there a disability disparity among social workers?

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• Research article
• Open access
• Published: 22 July 2016

Social capital – a mixed blessing for women? A cross-sectional study of different forms of social relations and self-rated depression in Moscow

• Sara Ferlander 1 ,
• Andrew Stickley 1 , 2 , 3 ,
• Olga Kislitsyna 4 ,
• Tanya Jukkala 1 ,
• Per Carlson 5 &
• Ilkka Henrik Mäkinen 6  

BMC Psychology volume  4 , Article number:  37 ( 2016 ) Cite this article

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An Erratum to this article was published on 19 June 2017

Depression is a major health problem worldwide, especially among women. The condition has been related to a number of factors, such as alcohol consumption, economic situation and, more recently, to social capital. However, there have been relatively few studies about the social capital-depression relationship in Eastern Europe. This paper aims to fill this gap by examining the association between different forms of social capital and self-rated depression in Moscow. Differences between men and women will also be examined, with a special focus on women.

Data was obtained from the Moscow Health Survey, which was conducted in 2004 with 1190 Muscovites aged 18 years or above. For depression, a single-item self-reported measure was used. Social capital was operationalised through five questions about different forms of social relations. Logistic regression analysis was undertaken to estimate the association between social capital and self-rated depression, separately for men and women.

More women (48 %) than men (36 %) reported that they had felt depressed during the last year. An association was found between social capital and reported depression only among women. Women who were divorced or widowed or who had little contact with relatives had higher odds of reporting depression than those with more family contact. Women who regularly engaged with people from different age groups outside of their families were also more likely to report depression than those with less regular contact.

Conclusions

Social capital can be a mixed blessing for women. Different forms of social relations can lead to different health outcomes, both positive and negative. Although the family is important for women’s mental health in Moscow, extra-familial relations across age groups can be mentally distressing. This suggests that even though social capital can be a valuable resource for mental health, some of its forms can be mentally deleterious to maintain, especially for women. More research is needed on both sides to social capital. A special focus should be placed on bridging social relations among women in order to better understand the complex association between social capital and depression in Russia and elsewhere.

Peer Review reports

Depression is a common mental disorder that is characterised by “sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings of tiredness, and poor concentration” [ 1 ]. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) [ 2 ], depression is the third leading contributor to the global burden of disease and is anticipated to become the highest contributing factor by 2030. Nevertheless, for women, depression is already the leading cause of disease worldwide [ 2 ]. Significant gender differences have been found in many countries, with depression being about twice as common among women than among men [ 3 , 4 ].

In low- and middle-income countries, among which most Eastern European countries are included, depression is also the leading cause of the global disease burden [ 2 ]. In their study of 23 countries, Van de Velde et al. [ 4 ] found that the prevalence of depression was highest in the Eastern and Central European countries. In Russia, however, relatively little is known about depression [ 5 ]. Nonetheless, some studies have shown that levels of depression are high in Russia [ 6 ], and especially among women [ 7 ]. For example, in a study in Novosibirsk in 1999–2000, depression was reported by 23 % of men and 44 % of women [ 8 ]. During the same years, in Arkhangelsk, depression, anxiety and/or sleeping disorders affected 33 % of men and 69 % of women [ 9 ]. Consequently, there is a significant gender difference in depression in Russia.

Depression has been related to a number of factors, such as alcohol consumption [ 10 ], economic situation [ 8 ] and social capital [ 11 ]. However, as recently stated by Levecque and Van Rossem: “Although depression is widespread, the complex mechanisms causing depression are still not clearly understood” ([ 12 ], p. 50). Among the causes of depression, social capital may be of particular importance [ 13 ]. The association between social capital and depression is often traced back to the work of Emile Durkheim, who found a link between social integration and suicide rates in different societies [ 14 ]. In the WHO report Promoting Mental Health , social capital is suggested as one of the factors that might promote better mental health [ 15 ]. Unfortunately, despite the potential importance of the social capital-mental health relationship, relatively few studies have been conducted on this topic in Eastern Europe [ 16 ]. Although there have been reports on the prevalence of depression in Russia, few studies have examined how this disorder affects each gender [ 5 , 17 ]. Women have generally been overlooked in health studies in Russia, as men have suffered the heaviest burden of mortality [ 18 ]. The aim of this article therefore is to fill these research gaps by studying the association between different forms of social capital and self-rated depression in Moscow. Women and men will be analysed separately, with a special focus on women.

Social capital

Social capital is often described as a valuable resource accessed through social relations. Bourdieu defines it as “the actual or potential resources which are linked to possession of a durable network of more or less institutionalised relationships of mutual acquaintances and recognition – or in other words, to membership of a group” ([ 19 ], p. 248). Putnam writes that “the core idea of social capital is that social networks have a value” ([ 20 ], p. 18). Coleman also views social capital as a valuable resource, but acknowledges that “a given form of social capital that is valuable in facilitating certain actions may be useless or even harmful for others” ([ 21 ], p. 98). This argument supports the view that there can be a negative side to social capital [ 22 ].

Different forms of social capital

Although social capital has been defined in various ways, most definitions include two aspects: one structural and the other cognitive, i.e. the social relations themselves and their more qualitative aspects, such as trust and reciprocity. Structural social capital is often divided into informal and formal forms [ 21 , 23 ]. The former comprises casual relations with family and friends, whereas the latter involves more rule-bound networks, such as voluntary associations. Among informal contacts, a further distinction can be made between relations within and outside of one’s family. Family is often viewed as the main form of social capital [ 24 , 25 ], i.e. family-based social capital. Family has been defined as both immediate family and extended family (the latter e.g. relatives) [ 26 ]. As put by Astone et al.: “Family behaviours, including marriage and childrearing, remain the classic examples of investment in social capital” ([ 27 ], p. 18). More recent sociological research has also stressed the importance of family as social capital [ 28 ]. In contemporary society, however, social relations often extend beyond family. People have access to a variety of relationships: a few family relations and perhaps hundreds of peripheral ones [ 29 ].

Whereas Bourdieu and Coleman focused on strong familial ties, Putnam, especially in his early work, focused on the weaker, more formal ties outside the family that, for instance, can be accessed via voluntary associations [ 23 ]. Weak ties refer to relations among people who are distant from each other, such as acquaintances [ 30 ]. A more recent distinction is the one between bonding and bridging social capital [ 31 ]. Bonding relations are homogenous in terms of certain social characteristics, such as age or educational level, whereas bridging relations are heterogeneous and link people across different groups, such as intergenerational relations. Although these distinctions are related, they are not synonymous. Strong ties exist between people who are emotionally close, bonding ties between people who are similar. Weak ties unite emotionally distant people, whereas bridging ties connect people who are different from each other. For a more detailed discussion of the different forms of social capital, see Ferlander [ 32 ].

Social capital and mental health

There is consistent evidence linking social capital to physical health, but fewer studies have linked social capital with mental health [ 33 ]. Though they may not have used the term social capital, many earlier studies found a positive link between strong family ties and mental health [ 34 , 35 ]. It has been shown, for example, that married individuals exhibit fewer depressive symptoms than non-married individuals [ 36 ]. Marriage generally has a positive effect on well-being through the exchange of emotional support and increased economic well-being [ 37 ]. More extended family, i.e. relatives, play an important role in terms of social support [ 38 ]. Marriage and other family relations are vital buffers against stress [ 39 ]. Strong and bonding relations, however, can also be a source of strain, leading to feelings of obligation and poor health [ 22 , 40 ].

In a study in a low-income area of the US, Mitchell and LaGory found that bonding social capital increased mental distress, whereas bridging contacts decreased it [ 41 ]. The authors concluded that the obligations of bonding social capital might be a burden and a source of stress for people living in economically deprived areas. Similarly Caughy and colleagues [ 42 ] found that higher levels of social capital among parents were related to higher levels of depression among children in poor areas. In wealthy areas, however, higher parental social capital was associated with better mental health in children. Thus, the social capital-mental health link varies not only between different forms of social capital, but also between different groups. In relation to this, many scholars have stressed the importance of comparing different groups when studying the association between social capital and health [ 43 ]. Vyncke et al. ([ 44 ], p. 960), for instance, recently wrote that: “Future studies should seek to identify subgroups for whom social capital might be particularly influential, by transcending ‘simple’ dyads such as ‘men versus women’”.

Social capital, gender and mental health

Gender differences have received relatively little attention in social capital research [ 44 ]. It has been found, though, that women tend to be more family-oriented, often occupying the role of “kin-keeper” in the family [ 45 ]. Spending more time performing this role, women might socialise less outside the family, as shown by the observation that women belong to fewer voluntary associations than men [ 46 ]. However, women tend to bear the cost of creating social capital, while deriving fewer benefits from it than men [ 45 ]. Although generally ignoring gender issues in relation to social capital, Bourdieu argues that women enable men to accumulate social capital through social activities, such as the exchange of gifts and telephone calls [ 47 ]. A recent study in Russia gives an example of this by showing that women spend more time providing unpaid assistance than men, even though they face a greater risk of nonreciprocation [ 48 ].

It has also been claimed that women do not receive the same health benefits from their contacts as their male counterparts. A number of studies have found a positive link between social capital and self-rated health among men, but not among women [e.g.  49 , 50 ]. Pertaining to depression, nevertheless, social relations seem to have a stronger effect on women [ 33 , 51 ]. In their classic work, Brown and Harris found that women with a close confidant were less likely to become depressed during traumatic life events [ 52 ]. There is also some evidence that the effect of divorce in terms of depression is greater for women than for men [ 53 ]. Similar findings have also been reported for Eastern Europe, for instance in Ukraine where it was recently shown that divorce and widowhood are associated with female depression [ 54 ].

In contrast, social relations may also increase levels of mental illness among women with fewer economic resources. Kawachi and Berkman argue that differences in gender support may partly account for the higher prevalence of psychological distress among women compared to men, particularly if social relations involve strain associated with obligations to provide support for others [ 55 ]. In two different studies of mothers in low-income settings, social capital was associated with a higher risk of mental health problems [ 56 , 57 ]. The authors hypothesised that participating in many social activities may have placed an additional burden on already overextended mothers. Similar effects have been found among mothers in Russia [ 58 , 59 ].

Social capital in Russia

Russia is often described as being characterised by a weak civil society and low levels of institutional trust [ 60 , 61 ]. As a large number of the social safety nets that were available in the Soviet period, such as childcare and maternity benefits, either weakened or disappeared after the collapse of communism [ 62 , 63 ], many Russians, particularly women, have turned to their informal contacts for social and emotional support [ 64 ]. Family and friends are argued to be vital forms of social capital in Eastern Europe [ 65 ], and in Russia, it has been suggested that the “family may be the only island of stability in the boundless ocean of uncertainty” ([ 66 ], p. 367).

In most Russian families, the link between generations is strong. For instance, studies have shown that relations between daughters and mothers in Russia are very amicable [ 67 ]. Women’s family relations often involve exchanges of emotional support across generations, but they can also be fraught with hierarchical and internal power relations, particularly between women of different ages [ 58 , 59 ]. This ambivalence towards intergenerational relations is also shown by Minnigaleeva and her colleagues, who found that the general view of the elderly outside one’s family in Russia is negative—they are often described as poor, passive and unable to adapt to modern life [ 68 ]. However, when people speak about the elderly within their family, the image is more positive, with the elderly being described as “active, kind, wise and caring” ([ 68 ], p. 64–65).

In Russia, family may be even more important for women than for men, as women tend to be more economically dependent than men [ 69 ]. Although the high levels of female employment present during the Soviet period have persisted, women’s position in the labour market has deteriorated as a result of gender discrimination [ 70 ]. For example, a recent national report showed that the ratio of female to male earnings was 65 % [ 71 ]. Single women are thus at risk of living in poverty [ 17 ]. Moreover, conservative attitudes suggesting that women should return to their ‘traditional’ role in the home have re-emerged [ 58 ]. Gender roles are highly traditional in Russia, with women undertaking most of the domestic and child-caring duties [ 63 , 72 ]. In trying to balance home with work, the ‘double burden’ is heavy for many Russian women [ 17 ].

There has been a trend towards smaller families in Russia with decreasing rates of marriage and increasing divorce rates [ 59 , 66 ]. Attitudes are also beginning to change in Russia, especially among the young and highly educated, who have more liberal attitudes towards gender roles [ 73 ]. It has also been argued that there has been an increase in detached relations, i.e. relations with low levels of emotional closeness, among Russian women [ 67 ]. Among divorced Muscovites, there is a high prevalence of loneliness, and more women than men report that they often feel lonely [ 74 ]. This might have negative health effects, as in a society with weak social safety nets, the most exposed groups are probably those without strong ties. Indeed, it has been hypothesised that social capital might be particularly strongly related to mental health in these types of societies [ 33 ]. The need for more studies on the social capital-depression link in low- and middle-income countries, such as Russia, has also recently been emphasised [ 13 ].

The data used in this study came from the Moscow Health Survey, which was conducted in 2004. The survey aimed to study self-rated health in Moscow in relation to social and economic factors. As earlier research had indicated that social capital might be an important factor in the health of Russians [ 75 ], the survey explicitly incorporated a range of social capital measures. The use of this dataset in the current study thus makes it possible to explore the association between different forms of social capital and self-reported depression in a representative sample of the population in the largest city in Eastern Europe - where social capital might be especially important given the social and economic turmoil that has characterised post-Soviet Russia for a long period [ 60 – 64 ]. Indeed, according to Rose [ 75 ], Russia is especially suitable for studying social capital and health, as the collapse of the Soviet Union was far more pervasive in its effects than the social crisis Durkheim, in his time, referred to as causing anomie and suicide [ 14 ].

A gender- and age-stratified random sampling method was used across the 125 municipal districts of Greater Moscow, where the city telephone network formed the sampling frame (nearly all of Moscow’s flats had a telephone in 2004). Face-to-face interviews were done by trained interviewers with Muscovites aged 18 and above based upon a structured questionnaire. The final sample consisted of 1190 individuals with a response rate of 47 %. Fifty-seven percent of the respondents were women. The average age of the sample was 47 years. More than half of the respondents (53 %) had a high level of education, whereas one-fifth (19 %) had a low educational level. Thirty-six percent of the sample had many (2 or more) economic problems. Except for an over-representation of the highly educated, the sample was generally representative of Moscow’s population. The gender and age distributions closely mirrored those of Greater Moscow as a whole. For a more detailed discussion of the survey methodology, see Vågerö and colleagues [ 76 ].

Information on self-rated depression, the dependent variable, was obtained by asking: ‘During the last 12 months, have you had any of the following health problems? If yes, were they severe or mild?’ One of the response categories was ‘nervous disorders, depression.’ The answers were then dichotomised into ‘depression‘ (severe or mild) and ‘no depression’ . Single-item measures of self-rated mental health are increasingly being used in health research and population health surveys, as they reduce the burden for the respondents compared to longer scales [ 77 ]. Similar measures of depression have been used previously in Russia [ 9 ] and elsewhere. For example, in a study of 29 countries using World Value Survey data, the question, ‘During the past weeks, did you ever feel… Depressed or very unhappy?’ was used to assess depression [ 3 ].

Five indicators of structural social capital were used as independent variables. Following previous studies, for instance by Coleman [ 25 ], Helliwell and Putnam [ 78 ], and Furstenberg [ 79 ], marital status and the frequency of visiting relatives were used as indicators of family-based social capital. Marital status was divided into three categories: ‘married or cohabiting’, ‘divorced or widowed’ and ‘never married’. Contact with relatives was measured by the question, ‘Do you tend to visit relatives?’ There were three response categories—‘often, rarely or never’—which were recoded into two categories: ‘regular’ (often) and ‘little (rarely/never) contact’.

The other social capital indicators focused on extra-familial relations: contacts with friends and acquaintances, age-bridging contacts with people from different age groups and membership in voluntary associations. The first two were measured with the following questions: ‘Do you tend to visit friends and acquaintances?’, which is a common indicator of social capital [ 80 ], and ‘How often do you mix with people from different age groups (outside the family)?’ There were three response categories—‘often, rarely or never’—which were recoded into two categories: ‘regular’ (often) and ‘little (rarely/never) contact’. In addition to measuring social capital outside the family, the first question also measures both strong (friends) and weak (acquaintances) ties [ 30 ], whereas the second, following Mitchell and LaGory’s [ 41 ] study, measures bridging relations in terms of contact with people from different age groups outside the family. In this study, the latter is labelled age-bridging contacts, as age is the cross-cutting factor in focus.

Membership in a voluntary association measures a more formal type of social capital. It is probably the most common indicator of social capital in general including in mental health studies [ 81 ]. Associational membership was measured with the question: ‘Are you a member of any of the following organisations or associations: a) sports club, b) environmental organisation, c) cultural, musical, dance or theatre society, d) women’s organisation, e) temperance organisation, f) local action group, g) political party, h) trade union, i) business or employer’s organisation, j) religious organisation, k) other club or association?’ There were three response categories —‘yes, active member’, ‘yes, ordinary member’ and ‘no’—which were recoded into ‘member’ (active or ordinary member of at least one voluntary association) and ‘non-member’.

As in other studies about social capital and health [ 16 , 49 ], demographic (age) and socioeconomic (educational level and economic situation) variables were included in the analysis. Educational level was divided into three groups: ‘high’ (higher or incomplete higher), ‘medium’ (specialised secondary or vocational technical school) and ‘low’ (common secondary or less). To assess the economic situation, the respondents were asked whether, during the previous twelve months, their family ‘had to rely on outside help to pay regular expenses on time (e.g., rent)’, ‘could not have meat or fish more than once or twice a week’, ‘had to refrain from purchasing necessary clothes or footwear’, and ‘involuntarily had to refrain from taking part in social or cultural activities, such as going to a restaurant, cinema, theatre, etc.?’ The answers were added to create a scale from 0–4, which was further divided into two groups: those experiencing ‘few’ (0–1) and ‘many’ (2 or more) types of economic problem.

Statistical analysis

First, descriptive statistics were calculated to determine the levels of depression and social capital in Moscow (Table  1 ). Women and men were compared using a chi-square analysis. Logistic regression analysis was then undertaken to estimate the association between different forms of social capital and self-rated depression separately for men and women, while controlling for the effects of age, educational level and economic problems (Table  2 ). There were two regression models: in Model 1, the association between each variable and reported depression was separately examined while adjusting only for age; in Model 2, the association was examined while adjusting for all the other variables in the model.

The results of these analyses led to a further analysis of the association between age-bridging contacts outside the family and women’s reported depression (Table  3 ). Logistic regression analyses between these variables were performed for subgroups divided according to age, educational level, economic situation, marital status, presence of small children and the nature of their work, controlling for all other variables. The results are presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) and p -values. The level of statistical significance was set at p  < 0.05, with statistically significant p -values presented with at least one asterisk (*).

To overcome the potential problem of over-representation of the highly educated in the analysis, the data were weighted in order to match the educational distribution given in the All-Russia Population Census 2002 for Moscow city [ 82 ]. Proportional weights were calculated for the three educational groups and separately for men and women. See also the study by Jukkala et al. [ 83 ]. Finally, to examine the validity of the dependent variable, an additional analysis was undertaken where the association between self-rated depression and other aspects of major depressive disorder (i.e. insomnia and problematic weight loss) was examined through a chi-square test.

Descriptive results

Table  1 shows that more than two-fifths (43 %) of the sample reported that they had felt depressed during the last twelve months. Twenty-nine percent reported that they had experienced severe depression. A chi-square analysis showed that the prevalence of self-rated depression (severe and mild) was significantly higher among women (48 %) than among men (36 %). Nearly one-third (32 %) of all women in Moscow reported that they had felt severely depressed.

Regarding family-based social capital (i.e. family relations; Table  1 ), 57 % of the sample was married or cohabiting and more than two-fifths (42 %) visited relatives regularly. In terms of extra-familial relations, almost half (48 %) of the respondents visited friends or acquaintances regularly and more than half (55 %) regularly mixed with people from other age groups outside the family (i.e. age-bridging contacts). A quarter of the sample (25 %) were members of at least one voluntary association. There were also some statistically significant gender differences in social capital. Two-thirds of the men in the sample were married or cohabiting (66 %), compared to only half of the women (50 %). Approximately half of the men (52 %), as compared to less than half of women (46 %), maintained regular contact with friends and acquaintances. Thirty percent of men were members of some form of voluntary association, compared to 22 % of women. No statistically significant gender differences were found in contact with relatives and contact with different age groups outside the family (i.e. age-bridging contacts).

Multivariable results

Table  2 shows that neither age nor educational level was significantly associated with self-rated depression, although economic problems were. In the fully adjusted model, Model 2, the odds of reporting depression among men experiencing many economic problems were more than twice as high compared to those among men with few economic problems (odds ratio (OR) for men = 2.49), whereas the corresponding OR for women was 1.52.

For social capital, a statistically significant association was found between family relations and women’s reported depression in both models. Women who were divorced or widowed had higher odds of reporting depression (OR = 1.49) than those who were married or cohabiting. Women who had little contact with relatives were also more likely to feel depressed than those with more regular contact (OR = 1.57). Concerning extra-familial social relations, there was no association between contact with friends or membership in voluntary associations and self-rated depression for either sex. A statistically significant association was found, however, between age-bridging contacts outside the family and women’s depression in both models. Women who had little contact with people from other age groups outside the family were less likely to feel depressed (OR = 0.72) than those who had more regular contact. Hence, age-bridging social capital outside the family seems to increase the risk of reporting depression among women in Moscow.

To examine the above finding further, the regression analysis between age-bridging contacts and women’s reported depression was repeated for a number of groupings within the sample in Table  3 . The protective effect of having fewer age-bridging contacts was statistically significant in four subgroups: women 18–40 years old, those with a high educational level, those with few economic problems and those with small (0–5 years) children. The latter was the subgroup that had the strongest effect of age-bridging contacts to reported depression, but that had a lower significance level than the others due to the reduced number of cases in that group. Among the variables with a higher significance level (**), age had the strongest effect. Accordingly, young women and women with small children seem to be especially affected by these forms of social relations.

This study examined the association between social capital and self-rated depression in Moscow, with a special focus on women. In accordance with previous studies in Russia, there was a high level of depression in Moscow [ 6 ], especially among women [ 7 ]. There were also gender differences in social capital. Women were less likely to be married, have contact with friends or be members of voluntary associations than men [ 46 ]. Gender differences in the relationship between social capital and depression were also found. A significant association between the two was found only among women, supporting the idea that, in terms of depression, social capital has a stronger effect on women than on men [ 51 ]. For women in Moscow, family relations seem to decrease the risk of depression, whereas contacts across age groups outside the family seem to increase mental distress. In line with previous family studies in Russia [ 58 ], these findings indicate that social capital can constitute a mixed blessing for women in Moscow.

Family relations and women’s depression

Divorced or widowed women and women who had little contact with their relatives had higher odds of reporting depression than those with more family-based social capital. This finding supports theories stressing that the family is a valuable form of social capital [ 24 , 25 ], particularly for women [ 45 ]. It also supports studies that show that in Russia, where civil society is weak and institutional trust is low [ 61 ], the family is a significant form of social capital [ 66 ].

The importance of the family for mental health has been stressed in a number of previous studies, both in Russia and elsewhere [ 52 ]. Marriage and kin relations provide resources in the form of emotional, instrumental and social support [ 37 , 38 ], such as having someone to talk to about problems, which can reduce stress [ 39 ]. In Russia, studies have found that relations between daughters and mothers are very amicable and that most young married women have regular contact with their mothers for emotional support [ 67 ]. The findings are supported by evidence showing that marital status is a stronger predictor of depressive symptoms for women than for men in general [ 53 ], as well as in Eastern Europe [ 54 ]. This might be especially true in Russia, as the collapse of communism created stressful conditions for women, such as losing access to societal support and being at greater risk of living in poverty as single parents [ 17 , 62 ]. Also, women in Moscow may rely more on relatives as they have less social capital than men – being less likely to be married and having fewer contacts outside of immediate family members.

Age-bridging relations and women’s depression

The results of this study also indicate that there can be negative aspects of social capital, as women with regular contacts across age groups outside the family were more likely to report depression than those with less bridging relations. This finding supports arguments that certain forms of social capital might be harmful [ 21 , 22 ], and especially for certain groups [ 42 ]. However, it contradicts more general findings suggesting that bonding social capital is most strongly related to poor mental health [ 41 ]. In this study, bridging relations were related to self-rated depression among women.

These findings might be explained by workplace research in general [ 84 ] and Bourdieu’s argument [ 24 ] that there are generational conflicts over economic and cultural resources. Different work values across generations can lead to conflict. In a study of Russian culture [ 85 ], generational differences were found, with people below the age of forty converging more towards Western social values than older generations. In terms of Russian family relations, although women’s networks across generations often involve an exchange of emotional support, there are also elements of unequal power relations, conflict and tensions [ 58 ]. According to Utrata [ 59 ], who studies Russian single-mother families, there is an intersection between age and gender that produces constraints, with age being the primary organising principle of power. As women in Moscow seem to have less access to social capital than men, it may also be hypothesised that women may have more conflict within the social relations that they have.

If this observation is also mirrored in extra-familial relations, it may help explain our findings, as, through performing their dual role, many women come into contact with numerous extra-familial figures of various ages, through child-care institutions or employers, for example, where inequalities in power can be keenly felt. This inequality might be especially burdening for mothers who are already strained [ 57 – 59 ]. Several studies have found that parents, especially mothers, are more psychologically distressed than non-parents [ 37 ]. In Russia, there is marked gender discrimination in the labour market [ 70 ], with women, and especially mothers [ 86 ], often being discriminated against by employers [ 87 ]. Polls among professional women have shown that what could be labelled sexist at a Western workplace is viewed as normal in Russian work relations [ 88 ]. There is extensive evidence that bullying and job strain, which is more common among women, is related to depression [ 89 ]. Given this, it is possible that many women in Moscow, and elsewhere, experience more mental distress than men due to gender discrimination, conflict and strain from extra-familial ties across generations, leading to feelings of depression.

Other factors and depression

Neither age nor educational level was significantly related to self-rated depression in Moscow, in accordance with various studies indicating that depression affects individuals across the population [ 2 ]. The respondents’ economic situation, though, had a strong link with their reported depression, particularly among men, which confirms findings from previous studies in Russia [ 6 ]. Being unable to meet one’s basic needs increased the odds of reporting depression for both genders. Economic problems may be a source of anxiety and mental distress [ 90 ], especially in Russia, where many of the social safety nets that were available during the Soviet period have weakened or disappeared [ 62 , 63 ]. Despite the importance of economy for depression, however, social capital was statistically significantly associated with women’s reported depression in Moscow.

Methodological limitations

This study has some methodological limitations that should be mentioned. In social research, measurement error is always a possibility. For self-rated depression, as in several other studies [ 3 , 9 , 77 ], a single-item measure was used. Previous research about the reliability and validity of single-item depression measures has found that results can vary between different contexts and populations [ 91 ]. However, there has been relatively little research on these measures in the general adult population. A meta-analysis of studies of primary care patients showed that the single-item test had poor sensitivity, correctly identifying less than one-third with depression [ 92 ]. A more recent study of chronic pain patients, however, has indicated that these measures can correctly identify most depressed patients [ 93 ], while other studies have found high sensitivity but lower specificity [ 94 , 95 ]. The only large-scale (US) general population study we could locate concluded that a single-item question worked well in detecting depressed adults [ 96 ]. However, using previous research to judge the quality of our measure is difficult. Given this, we analysed it in relation to other aspects of major depressive disorder [ 97 ]. This showed that respondents who were depressed were also significantly more likely to report suffering from insomnia and problematic weight loss in the past year compared to those who were not depressed (chi-square test, p  < 0.01). Although caution should be exercised given that our question on depression was not formally validated, the clustering of depressive symptoms among the same individuals suggests that our single-item measure can be used as an adequate measure of depression.

Measuring social capital is also a complex task. One of the most serious criticisms in relation to social capital is that measurements do not match the theory. Although social capital is a multi-dimensional concept, many studies rely on one-dimensional measures [ 98 ]. Few existing instruments measure the various forms of social capital. There is also a lack of consistency among studies. For instance, Mitchell and LaGory [ 41 ] measured bonding social capital via associational membership, whereas others [ 99 ] have used the same measure as an indicator of bridging social capital. The value of separating the level of family that exists within social capital has recently been stressed [ 79 ]. In this article, an attempt has been made to measure different forms of social relations, distinguishing mainly between social capital within and outside the family. This may be especially important in Russia where forms other than associational membership are important [ 65 , 66 ]. Although these forms are conceptually different, in reality there is, of course, much overlap between the different forms of social capital [ 32 ]. Further, due to the cross-sectional nature of the study, it was not possible to determine the direction of causality. Feeling depressed might be a cause rather than an effect of differences in social capital. A recent study has shown, for example, that the social capital-health relationship is bidirectional: while high levels of social capital promote better health, social capital also depends on health [ 100 ]. Based on previous studies and theoretical explanations, however, it is widely recognised and theoretically plausible that social capital has an impact on mental health [ 16 ]. A final limitation of this study concerns the regression analyses between age-bridging extra-familial contacts and women’s self-rated depression. Due to the reduced number of cases in the subgroups, the results should be interpreted with some caution. However, the results do give an indication of the groups within which the effects of this kind of social capital are larger (i.e. young women and women with small children). Although intersectional studies are being conducted more frequently to reveal power relations, much work remains to be done, especially in relation to age [ 59 ]. Consequently, this topic is important and requires further investigation.

Social capital can be a mixed blessing for women. Different forms of social relations can lead to different health outcomes, both positive and negative. Family is an important resource promoting women’s mental health in Moscow, whereas extra-familial relations across age groups can be mentally distressing. Socialising among women within families often involves an exchange of support, but maintaining ties across age groups outside the family can be stressful due to value disparity, conflict and discrimination. These findings constitute an important contribution from a theoretical perspective because even though the downside of social capital is increasingly being discussed in the literature, it has, until now, rarely been shown empirically. Consequently, this study adds to the few studies on the social capital-depression association that provide empirical evidence for negative mental health aspects of social capital. In conclusion, although social capital can be seen as a valuable resource for mental health, some of its forms can be mentally deleterious to maintain, especially among women.

More research, both quantitative and qualitative, is needed about both sides to social capital – the positive and the negative health aspects of social capital. In relation to this, future research should examine how the social capital-depression association varies by different forms of social relations and by different groups. It is important to continue distinguishing between different forms of social capital, as they imply different resources and constraints. Researchers should try to identify the forms of social relations that are most valuable as well as most burdening for various groups. When studying social capital and depression, as noted by Vyncke et al. [ 44 ], a combination of dimensions, such as gender and age, should be analysed. A special focus should be placed on bridging social relations among women, particularly mothers with small children, to better understand the complex association between social capital, gender and depression in Russia and elsewhere.

Abbreviations

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank our colleagues at the Institute for Social and Economic Studies of Population (ISESP), at the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) in Moscow, especially Natalia Rimachevskaya and Ludmila Migranova, who helped to set up the study. Many thanks also to the 30 interviewers and all the respondents in Moscow who answered our questions. Special thanks to Kristina Abiala, Alireza Behtoui, Abbas Emami, Mall Leinsalu, Apostolis Papakostas and Katharina Wesolowski at Södertörn University for their valuable comments on earlier drafts of this paper. Finally, we want to thank the reviewers for their helpful comments.

This research was funded by the Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies.

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Data will not be made publically available in order to protect the participants’ identities. Nevertheless, the authors will consider individual requests for the use of the data.

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Authors’ contribution

SF had the idea for the study. She drafted and wrote most of the manuscript. PC, SF and OK was involved in the survey design and the data collection. SF analysed and interpreted the data together with PC, TJ and IHM. AS contributed to the critical revision. All authors commented on the manuscript and provided input for its content. They also read and approved the final version.

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Ethical approval for the study was provided by the Institute for Social and Economic Studies of Population at the Russian Academy of Sciences. The study was conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration and local ethical guidelines with all participants providing their informed consent for participation.

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Ferlander, S., Stickley, A., Kislitsyna, O. et al. Social capital – a mixed blessing for women? A cross-sectional study of different forms of social relations and self-rated depression in Moscow. BMC Psychol 4 , 37 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-016-0144-1

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Los Angeles officials — eager to ease the city’s reliance on police officers for handling nonviolent mental health emergencies — have launched a new pilot program that sends unarmed civilians with training to respond to such calls.

Modeled after a heralded program out of Oregon, city officials said the so-called Unarmed Model of Crisis Response has two teams of mental health practitioners available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for situations that would typically fall to police, such as conducting welfare checks and responding to calls for public intoxication and indecent exposure.

The program, run by the office of the city administrator, is so far operating in three police divisions — Devonshire, Wilshire and Southeast — with plans to evaluate its performance after a year and potentially expand.

City officials unveiled the initiative at a news conference earlier this week, after the program had been up and running for at least a month.

“From welfare check-ins, to nonviolent mental health/drug issues, to minor health crises in encampments and elsewhere, we need more tools in our toolbox to truly help Angelenos in need,” City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield said in a statement. “We can’t keep asking our police officers to also be social workers, mental health clinicians and outreach workers.”

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The program is based on the “Cahoots” model, named for a Eugene, Ore., nonprofit widely considered the gold standard in mobile crisis intervention. The program, started in 1989, today handles about 20% of the mental health calls for the city of around 180,000 by dispatching teams of specialists trained in counseling and de-escalation.

The program’s launch in L.A. comes amid continued public frustration with the city’s handling of the intertwined issues of homelessness, substance abuse and mental health. The LAPD has come under heightened scrutiny after a string of mental health-related shootings and other use-of-force incidents. In 2023 alone, LAPD officers opened fire at least 19 times on people experiencing some form of behavioral crisis, according to a Times database.

Department officials have said repeatedly that, despite increased crisis intervention training and new “less-lethal” weapons designed to incapacitate rather than kill, officers are not always equipped to handle most mental health calls. At the same time, police say, these types of calls have the potential to quickly spiral into violence.

LAPD interim Chief Dominic Choi said during a meeting of the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners that the department “fully supports” the new program.

“It’s taking some of the workload from us and shifting the resources to the appropriate” responders, Choi said.

He said 911 personnel have been trained to divert calls to the program when there are no weapons or threats of violence mentioned.

Similar programs have been around for years, with new efforts springing up since 2020, spurred by a nationwide movement to redirect law enforcement funding following the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.

Los Angeles was among the major U.S. cities that pledged to develop and invest in new emergency responses that use trained specialists to render aid to homeless people and those suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues.

Some initiatives have struggled to bring crisis intervention alternatives to scale. Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Fire Department recommended ending a pilot program after officials said it didn’t actually free up first responders and hospital emergency rooms.

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The Fire Department’s program launched in the fall of 2021 and has cost nearly $4 million. It operated vans staffed with psychiatric mobile response teams that included a psychiatric technician, a peer support specialist and a driver experienced in transporting patients to and from health and mental health facilities.

In New York, officials cited staffing and training issues as reasons why a Cahoots-style pilot fell short of its goal of rerouting at least 50% of mental health calls away from police.

Activists argue that such efforts remain woefully underfunded and, in same cases, are still too closely aligned with law enforcement.

Too often, city officials have undermined such alternative programs by making poor hiring choices, said Eddie Anderson, a pastor at McCarty Memorial Christian Church in Jefferson Park and a recent City Council candidate. He also questioned whether officials would continue to back the effort, given the city’s lingering budget woes.

“We’re really good around funding pilot programs, but not really good at accountability measures and sustainability measures around implementation,” Anderson said.

More to Read

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Libor Jany covers the Los Angeles Police Department. Before joining the Los Angeles Times in 2022, he covered public safety for the Star Tribune in Minneapolis. A St. Paul, Minn., native, Jany studied communications at Mississippi State University.

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