title: Practice with people with severe mental illness: rewards, challenges, burdens.
abstract: The authors surveyed a random sample of 1,200 NASW members in post-master's practice in mental health to identify their attitudes toward practice with people with severe mental illness. Contrary to the literature that claims social workers have abandoned vulnerable populations or have negative attitudes toward this population, the authors found that the majority practice with this clientele and find their practice rewarding. Most of the respondents' frustration and obstacles in practice were related to systemic problems, not client-related problems. Respondents' recommendations for education of future practitioners are presented.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. Newhill@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Christina E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Newhill
authors.forename: Wynne S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Korr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012949:Social Work, Psychiatric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires