Social Work Burnout Essay

Introduction
Problem Significance Social work burnout is an issue for many people; burnout does not just affect the social worker though. If a social work is experiencing burn out then they are less likely going to be able to preform at their best capacities, accordingly the client will suffer from this. Social work burnout is more common than expected. The NASW did a survey and found that roughly 65% of social are experiencing fatigue, 37% are experiencing Psychological problems, and 23% are experiencing sleep disorders. (Arrington, P. 2008) These statistics show that there is an issue with social work burnout. If a social worker is feeling fatigue or did not get enough sleep, their work with their clients will suffer. Nonetheless if a

Many times social workers are so focus on their clients, or on their work that they put their own self-health on the back burner. This is a major problem in the social work community because if social works do not help them selves first they will not be able to help others as well as they could have. “Social workers and their employers must recognize their personal limits and look after themselves first if they are to help others.” (McFadden, P. 2013) It is well know that social works need to help themselves before they can help each other, nonetheless why do so many struggle to do so?
Research Question If a social worker went to a therapist once a week would it help them to feel less burnout and stress at their job? Burnout effects too many social workers, so if there could be a way that they could receive help with their feelings of stress and burnout, it would help them significantly, and then they will be better suited to help their clients. Seeing a therapist will also help them stay mentally healthy, since so many social workers do not take care of their own needs first this might be able to help with that.
Impact to Social Work

If social workers could avoid the negative aspects of being a social worker the opportunities would be limitless. That might even cause more people to become social workers. Right now there is a stigma against social workers. That stigma is that being a social worker is one of the hardest jobs and that there is little reward. If there was a way to take away the negative factors like burnout it could help bring people to the social work field, or at least help get rid of the stigma attacked to them.
Purpose of Study The purpose of this study is to help find a cure to burn out. The word cure is used here because it is an illness. Burnout like many other illness out there has symptoms, as mentioned earlier burnout can cause many issues like physiological problems, sleep disorder and overall feeling of fatigue. Finding a way to end this affliction is key to everyone in the social work field and the ones affected by social workers.