A psychiatric social worker helps people who struggle with mental health issues cope with their problems and obtain important social services. A professional provides counseling to patients and family members, and helps them obtain both financial resources and medical services. He or she might also investigate housing and job placement options for recovering patients. Mental health social workers are employed in many different settings, including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, outpatient mental health centers, prisons, and governmental social service offices.

In most cases, a mentally ill patient at a prison or psychiatric hospital is appointed a psychiatric social worker to help him or her deal with lingering issues. Some people voluntarily seek help from social workers to learn how they can obtain financial, medical, or personal assistance. Many licensed social workers provide interpersonal counseling services, helping patients, family members, and caregivers learn more about mental disorders and the best ways to cope with them. A social worker identifies the specific problems faced by a patient and records detailed information in a formal portfolio.

The main goal of most psychiatric social workers is to help patients live and work in society with the highest degree of independence possible. A professional arranges special living situations in inpatient hospitals, halfway houses, or assisted living facilities. He or she may also contact potential employers to find out about job possibilities and explain a client's situation. In addition, a psychiatric social worker helps patients and their families obtain services and financial assistance from nonprofit community organizations or government offices.

A master's degree and one to two years of supervised experience are usually the minimum requirements to become a psychiatric social worker. In many states and countries, a new psychiatric social worker must pass a written licensing exam before working independently. Licensing tests are designed to ensure that a worker fully understands the fundamentals of the job, legal matters, and the importance of confidential practices. Social workers in psychiatric hospitals usually receive additional training to learn how to best handle violent or severely mentally ill residents.

Many experienced psychiatric social workers are able to become supervisors or administrators. Some professionals become involved in public policy jobs, where they advise government officials on the creation of new programs and facilities to meet the needs of mentally ill people in their community. A professional may decide to pursue a doctoral degree in order to become a professor at an educational institution. Ultimately, psychiatric social workers in all settings provide hope to people who often feel isolated from society at large.