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Source Critique Essay
Due to its emphasis on strengths, empowerment, the individual in their environment, and
social justice, social work as a profession has a special contribution to make in the field of
mental health. Researchers have expressed concerns regarding how well social work programs
prepare students to conduct mental health and addiction assessments in preparation for field
education and practice (Kourgiantakis et al., 2020). In their article, “Social Work Education and
Training in Mental Health, Addictions, and Suicide: A Scoping Review,” authors Toula
Kourgiantakis, Karen M. Sewell, Sandra McNeil, Eunjung Lee, Judith Logan, Dale Kuehl,
Megan McCormick, Keith Adamson, and Anne Kirvan examined the literature on mental health,
addictions, and suicide in social work education and training. Although this article provided
notable results, more research is needed to assess the various initiatives and instructional
strategies used to develop students' competence and capacity in social work.
Article Summary
The article emphasizes the importance of preparing students in social work training and
education programs for the workforce since they play such a crucial role in mental health. The
literature on mental health, addictions, and suicide in social work training and education was
examined in a scoping review. Most articles were empirical studies (studies whose conclusions
are exclusively derived from concrete, verifiable evidence). According to Kourgiantakis et al.
(2020), the research shows a variation in teaching strategies, training formats, the links between
theory and practice, and cultural integration. The article suggests expanding mental health
education in these programs, providing students and instructors with more adequate training, and
evaluating training programs for the best practices in mental health, addictions, and suicide.
