Date of Conferral
2020
Degree
Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
School
Social Work
Advisor
Kenneth Larimore
Abstract
Active duty service members, veterans, and their family members are faced with a myriad of problems including mental health issues, substance abuse issues, traumatic brain injury, suicide, family integration issues, and family distress. Understanding the organizational, environmental, and person-centered factors that affect the delivery of mental health care treatment to active duty service members, veterans, and their families is urgent to this unique population for social work practitioners (licensed master, advanced, & clinical). This project explored the experiences and challenges that social work practitioners (licensed master, advanced, & clinical) have in providing effective services for mental health care treatment to transitioning and postmilitary service members and their families in San Antonio, Texas. The research question explores the experiences and challenges that social workers perceive when working with transitioning and postmilitary service members with mental illness, the barriers influencing the continuity of care, and postmilitary reluctance to access mental health care. A qualitative research methodology was used to analyze the experiences of 6 licensed social workers. The findings identified military cultural competency as necessary to establish rapport with transitional and post-military service members, and that stigma is a barrier for service members to seek mental health services. The findings from this study may be used by social workers to improve services to post military service members and their families.
Recommended Citation
Hewitt, Joyce M., "Experiences and Challenges of Social Workers Working With Transitioning and Postmilitary Service Members Who Have Mental Health Issues" (2020). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 8907.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/8907
