Affirmation of Social Work in Mental Health Centers: A Key Component of Community Mental Health Promotion

Abstract

Social work in the field of healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina has significant potential to develop into a strong pillar of the healthcare system. However, within the current socio-institutional context, its role as a key component in safeguarding the health and social well-being of individuals and the community remains insufficiently recognized and inadequately supported at the system level. This paper examines the need for the systematic promotion and affirmation of social work within mental health centers, with particular emphasis on the role of the media, professional identity, and the credibility of social workers. It also analyzes the perception, professional status, and public visibility of social workers employed in CMZ in the context of mental health care. By presenting findings from an unpublished study conducted in 2017, the paper elaborates social workers’ views on institutional visibility, media representation, and the need for professional affirmation. Qualitative research from 2024 focuses on the challenges social workers face in everyday practice, as well as realistic opportunities to enhance their work within CMZ. Drawing on research carried out in 2025, the paper further analyzes citizens’ views on the availability of professional assistance, trust in the mental health system, and media influence on attitudes toward mental health issues. In this context, the paper highlights the need for a strategic approach to promoting both social work and mental health, destigmatizing psychosocial problems, and strengthening intersectoral cooperation. Through a comparative analysis of data across three time points, it contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the development of social work in healthcare and offers concrete recommendations for improving professional social work practice in this sector.