Mental health of social workers during the Covid pandemic

Mentalno zdravlje pomagača u koje spadaju i socijalni radnici tek je odnedavno pobudilo veće zanimanje istraživača. Rad se bavi temom profesionalnog stresa, uzroka koji dovodi do sindroma sagorijevanja na poslu kao jednog od bitnih čimbenika koji utječe na mentalno zdravlje s posebnim naglaskom kontekst rada u vrijeme pandemije. U radu su prikazane dosadašnje spoznaje o utjecaju Covid pandemije na mentalno zdravlje te utjecaje iste na profesiju socijalnog rada te pristupi zaštiti i očuvanju mentalnog zdravlja u vrijeme covid pandemije. Socijalni radnici se za vrijeme covid pandemije susreću s raznim izazovima, povećanja radnih obaveza, smanjenim kapacitetom radne snage, smanjenjem timske podrške i stručnog nadzora, udaljeni kontakt s korisnicima, teža identifikacija problema te izraženije etičke dileme. Iskazala se potreba za većom fleksibilnošću, prilagodljivošću te dodatnim edukacijama. Socijalni rad ima značajnu ulogu tijekom pandemije, a imati će i nakon pandemije, s obzirom da je pandemija dovela do porasta socijalnih problema i rizika kao što su depresija, stres, anksioznost, siromaštvo, nezaposlenost, nasilje, beskućništvo. Da bi socijalni radnici mogli kvalitetno i pravilno obavljati svoj posao, potrebno je osvještavanje o važnosti brige za mentalno zdravlje socijalnih radnika, veća ulaganja u edukaciju socijalnih radnika i razvoj stručnih kompetencija te usmjerenost na organizacijsku klimu.The mental health of professional helpers, including social workers, has only recently aroused greater interest among researchers. The paper deals with the topic of occupational stress which is the cause that leads to burnout syndrome at work as one of the essential factors influencing mental health. The paper presents the current knowledge on the impact of the Covid pandemic on mental health and its impact on the social work profession, as well as approaches to the protection and preservation of mental health during the covid pandemic. During the Covid pandemic, social workers face various challenges, increased work commitments, reduced labour capacity, reduction of team support and professional supervision, remote contact with users, more difficult identification of problems and more pronounced ethical dilemmas. The need for greater flexibility, adaptability and additional education was expressed. Social work plays a significant role during the pandemic as it will after the pandemic, as the pandemic has led to an increase in social problems and risks such as depression, stress, anxiety, poverty, unemployment, violence, homelessness. In order for social workers to be able to perform their work well and correctly, it is necessary to raise awareness of the importance of caring for the mental health of social workers, greater investment in the education of social workers and the development of professional competencies