Navigating the holistic conceptualizations of mental health issue in social work: a cross-cultural study of practitioner perspectives.

Abstract

Holistic approaches, such as the Biopsychosocial model, have become mainstream frameworks for organizing mental health services in recent decades. However, little research has explored how frontline social workers embrace and synthesize the different dimensions within this holistic approach. This paper uses semi-structured interviews to investigate diverse conceptualizations of mental health issues among frontline social workers. Fourteen social workers from Hong Kong and twelve from Sydney were interviewed. Three prevalent positions were identified: prioritizing chemical imbalance, questioning the concept of illness, and refusing a fixed understanding of mental health issues. The analysis also reveals how these understandings influence frontline social work practice, uncovers broader socio-cultural influences through s cross-cultural lens, and highlights implications for social work education for navigating the inclusivity of holistic approaches.