MSW (Medical & Psychiatric Social Work)

Medical and Psychiatric Social Work:

Medical and Psychiatric Social Work Specialisation (MPSW), is an important specialisation in MSW studies. MPSW students are placed in different health settings for field training and are involved in clinical Social Work Practice. The students of this specialisation are trained to equip themselves with the knowledge, skills and values necessary for effective practice towards promoting holistic health (physical & Mental) which includes Preventive, Promotive and Curative areas. It facilitates students to gain knowledge and skills as a team to promote comprehensive health care and training to find solutions to a range of psycho-social problems associated with patient’s illness. Our students get training in individual and group counselling and family therapy in hospital and community health settings. They conduct Case Work, Group Work with patients and family members. They also conduct awareness programmes through Lectures, role plays, skits etc in schools and communities. They are also exposed to various extension Lectures and skills workshop on important topics in college and field settings.

.

This specialisation offers papers like Working with Children and families, Therapeutic Counselling, Medical Social Work, Psychiatric Social Work and concurrent Field Work Practicum.

Job Opportunities in Medical & Psychiatric Social Work

-      As Counsellors/Social workers /Programme co-ordinators in India and abroad

•      Hospital and clinical Settings

•      Educational Settings-School Counselling

•      Career and vocational counselling& Guidance

•      Counseling to Diverse Population

•      Disaster Management areas

•      Family and Marriage

•      Child, adolescents and special groups

•      Drug Abuse and disability

•      Palliative care

•      HIV/AIDS

•      Geriatric Social Work

•      Industrial Social Work

•      Mental Health and Community Counselling

•      Counselling women

•      Research & Documentation officers in the field of Health

•      Counselling to culture and ethnic groups

•      Government departments –as Counsellors /Social workers/health officers in Correctional Institutions, Women & child Welfare departments, Social welfare departments ,Health departments and Government Hospitals

•      In National and International funding agencies like UNICEF,UNESCO,ILO & WHO

There is also scope for Higher education i.e. MPhil, PhD, and teaching in Social work institutes or clinical work cum teaching in Medical College Hospitals.

Medical and Psychiatric Social Work specialisation, has a Vibrant Forum called “Human Wellness Forum” where students conduct various activities like seminars, workshops, Guest Lectures, community programmes, etc relevant to their specialisation. This is not only a platform for learning experience to students but they also develop skills of planning, organising, co-ordinating and evaluation of their own activities.
These activities help them to integrate and apply theory in various health related fields. It also creates opportunity to organize preventive and promotive health related activities namely Life skills education programmes, health & Hygiene, Stress Management skills in schools, awareness programmes on Dementia, Mental Health and other related areas.

In order to prepare the students to become effective counsellors they are also given training into participatory counselling skills programmes. Annual study tours organised every year students get exposed to different therapeutic interventions in the field of child and women welfare, Physical and Mental health areas etc. Annual seminar is also organised on relevant topics essential for professional practise. Students are also encouraged to take up small research studies in Medical and Psychiatric areas.

Today Drug abuse is gaining momentum among student community. Students are young population who are attracted to modern world and its temptations. Keeping this view the Anti-Addiction cell was introduced by the MSW Department of St. Aloysius College, Mangalore which was started as part of the decennial celebration of the department. Anti- addiction cell has been promoting a positive role in preventing drug abuse and helps young generation to look into alternative habits other than drugs, where the students strive towards organizing preventive programmes for adolescents on Substance Abuse Prevention. They conduct participatory workshops for High School Students. The objective is to create awareness on addiction among adolescent students and to motivate and sensitize adolescents to take a firm decision to say “NO” to drugs and spread this message to others through participatory learning activities. The cell also collaborates with a de-addiction centre in conducting recreational and educational activities for the addicts and their family members.