Contextualizing Psychopharmacological Issues in Social Work Education

Abstract

There is growing recognition about the importance of psychotropic medication in the lives of many social work clients. Teaching on what, how, and when to address issues around medication to social work students, however, has had limited attention in literature. Psychopharmacological education in social work should be understood as a great learning moment for students to develop a deeper understanding of clients' sufferings in life and their own reactions to medication and relevant multiple contextual themes rather than learning only about medication information. Using classroom examples, we explore contextual themes outside and within the profession of social work and integrate the psychopharmacological education with students' professional self-development.

Keywords::

• Psychopharmacology
• social work education
• mental health
• interprofessional collaboration
• professional self-development

NOTE

Notes

1. All names and potential identifying information in the classroom vignettes are disguised for confidentiality.