Spring 2025 Issue

Letters to the Editor
Social Work Today
Vol. 25 No. 2 P. 6

To the Editor:

Mental health issues are rising across all demographics, yet our current approach to addressing them often emphasizes reaction rather than prevention. This is where early intervention and evidence-based practices in mental health can play a transformative role.

Research has consistently shown that early identification of mental health challenges—especially in children and adolescents—can prevent those issues from escalating into severe disorders later in life. Programs grounded in evidence-based practices, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and family support interventions, have proven to be effective in improving outcomes and reducing long-term societal costs.

However, implementing these practices requires prioritizing mental health funding and policies at both the state and federal levels. By investing in training mental health professionals, increasing access to evidence-based therapies, and integrating mental health services into schools and community centers, we can ensure that help is available when it is most needed.

I urge our policymakers and community leaders to support initiatives that promote early intervention and evidence-based mental health practices. These efforts not only alleviate individual suffering but also contribute to stronger, more resilient communities.

Let us commit to a future where seeking mental health support is normalized, accessible, and effective for all.

Sincerely,
Tamara Olson

Dear Editor,

I would like to express my gratitude to the author, Richard Jones, PhD, for highlighting the advantages of social workers learning about and using AI. A curious and experimental mindset can help social workers try out AI to reduce the administrative burdens we face and inspire new strategies with clients.

Personally, I’ve found an AI note-writing assistant incredibly useful, often capturing details from sessions missed or forgotten. The speed and note quality, especially with accuracy and even nuanced understanding, enhanced my note-taking process and also deepened my comprehension of clients and our ongoing work.

An aspect of AI in our field worth considering that wasn’t covered in the article is the use of AI by clients in between sessions. Some clients have shared that they use AI to cope with feelings of anxiety, depression, or loneliness, seeking advice and comfort. Sometimes, I’ve noticed that AI’s suggestions don’t always align with best practices. While I haven’t yet cautioned clients to stop using AI, I wonder about its effectiveness. Is it helpful, harmful, or simply neutral?

My main concern is that clients might start seeing AI as a replacement for real human interaction. The essential ingredients of healing like empathy, listening, and being cared for can only occur in the context of human-to-human interaction. Sure, many of us find comfort chatting with a pet, a photo, or even ourselves now and then. Yet it’s nothing like the experience of opening up to another person, with all the risk involved, and then feeling genuinely understood. There’s something irreplaceable about laughing with someone, celebrating together, or sharing a good cry. A chatbot may mimic the right words, though it can’t grasp the depth of those moments because connection, intimacy, and shared insight are beyond language. They are something bigger, something almost transcendent. And that’s why, no matter how advanced AI gets, I don’t see it ever replacing the human relationships that make therapy so powerful.

Thank you again for shedding light on this topic.

Sincerely,
Barry Granek