Challenges and Countermeasures of Mental Health Social Work in Shanghai in Post-Epidemic Era

ABSTRACT

This paper summarized three developing conditions and five service modes of mental health social work in Shanghai by reading literature and investigating and interviewing the social work service of mental health medical institutions in Shanghai. Three challenges to mental health social work after COVID-19 were identifiedfirstly, the reduction of direct services led to a decrease in the number of service beneficiaries, and the effectiveness of services could not be guaranteed;secondly, the application of social work methods was forced to adjust, which challenges the service ability of social workers;thirdly, the expansion or increase of the scope of service objects and the insufficient number of social workers led to difficulties in service response. In view of the above challenges and problems, countermeasures are proposedensure the continuity of professional relationship and service effectiveness through flexible and diversified service methods;knit for social work online working ability training, increasing network service experience;the scope of service objects expanding gradually and multi-sectoral cooperation to prevent psychological problems in key groups;set up a volunteer team to serve mental health. © 2022, Editorial department of Chinese Medical Ethics. All rights reserved.