Health Social Work

Abstract

Health social work has been historically associated with environmental, sociopolitical, and economic context of the society. With the industrialization, urbanization, and global warming, health social workers are combating poverty, environmental degradation, natural disasters, and health inequity. Health social work in this article is defined as a subcategory of social work profession that includes medical social work and public health social work. Health social workers serve to humanize the health and social care system, emphasizing the importance of the holistic psycho-social-spiritual needs of individuals and groups when they experience distresses of illness, trauma, death, or disabilities across the life span. Health social workers practice in hospitals, communities, health departments, nongovernmental organizations, and international bodies. Advocacy, self-help, psychosocial education, and community organization are commonly adopted strategies of patient empowerment for health social workers. International organizations are active in promoting reform in the global environment so as to make the world a better place.