March is National Social Work Month, and here at the Hogg Foundation, we see firsthand the major role social workers play in the upkeep of mental health.
We are joined today by Catherine Wilsnack, a doctoral candidate at The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work. Catherine earned her B.S. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her M.S.W. from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice. Prior to pursuing social work, she worked as a mental health clinician. She discusses the unique perspective that social workers have on mental health and the collaboration between academic researchers and practitioners at the heart of the field.
When Recovery Meets Social Entrepreneurship
“How do we empower the voice of lived experience to help shape policy and programming?” Jason Howell asks. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines recovery as a “process of change through which individuals improve their health...
How to Build a Healthy City
“People are part of many different communities,” Dr. Clay Johnston says. “Not just their physical community, but also the communities in which they work, and in which they share religion and other cultural commonalities.” The notion that individual well-being can be a...
Relieving Holiday Stress and Hurricane Trauma
“When a hurricane hits, you can’t stop it,” Edna Brinkley says. “What you have to do is deal with the aftermath, which means regaining that sense of control, that stability. You rebuild your home, and you reach out to your friends and family.” Edna Brinkley, Ph.D., is...
A Peer Perspective on Health and the Holidays
“We can’t give that which sustains us,” John King says. “We have to be very, very mindful of practicing self-care.” As the peak of the holiday season approaches, our time and energy reserves can often stretch thin. Here to discuss ways we can take care of...
Mental Health in a Border Town: It’s About Being Connected
“I always look at an individual and say, how can we improve this individual’s quality of life?” Richard Salcido says. “It doesn’t take money. It takes being connected to the community.” A shift in strategic focus to communities and collaboration is underway at the...
Deportation Anxiety for Today’s Young Adults
“DACA youth are in between worrying about their parents, worrying about themselves, and worrying about their little brothers and sisters,” says Dr. Luis Zayas. Congress is set to take action on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program on March 5,...