Social Work Education and Training in Mental Health, Addictions, and Suicide: A Scoping Review

ABSTRACT

Social workers have an important role in the field of mental health, and social work programs have a responsibility to prepare students for practice in the field. This scoping review mapped and synthesized the literature on mental health, addictions, and suicide in social work education and training. We found 51 articles that examined social work education in addictions (n=23), suicide (n=17), and mental health (n=7), and some articles (n=4) focused on more than one area. Most articles were empirical studies that used quantitative methods, and only one article did not examine social work education in the United States. The studies showed variability in teaching methods, format of training programs, extent to which theory and practice were linked, and the integration of culture and diversity in the programs. The articles contained recommendations to increase teaching students about mental health, addictions, and suicide in all social work programs. Studies also recommended training for faculty and field instructors, using simulation-based learning methods, including competencies in training programs that target knowledge, skills, values, and beliefs; identifying a theoretical framework; integrating culture and diversity; and evaluating training programs. The article discusses implications for best practices in social work education in mental health, addictions, and suicide.

Supplementary material

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Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ontario Association of Social Workers (Accelerator Grant 2018).

Notes on contributors

Toula Kourgiantakis

Toula Kourgiantakis, PhD, RSW, CCFT, is an assistant professor, teaching stream, with the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Karen Sewell, PhD, MSW, RSW, is an assistant professor with the School of Social Work at Carleton University. Sandra McNeil, MSW, RSW, is a doctoral candidate, research assistant, and course instructor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Eunjung Lee, PhD, MSW, RSW, is an associate professor and endowed chair in mental health and health at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto. Judith Logan is the assistant head of user services at the Robarts Library, University of Toronto. Dale Kuehl, MSW, RSW, is a registered social worker and advanced practice clinical leader at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Megan McCormick, MSW, RSW, is a registered social worker and advanced practice clinical leader at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Keith Adamson, PhD, RSW, is an assistant professor, teaching stream, with the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Anne Kirvan, MSW, RSW, is a doctoral student at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto.