This study is conducted to find ways to improve the recent revision of the mental health law along with the past 20 years of mental health social worker training process.
This study used purposive sampling to select 32 mental health social workers (14 Level 1 and 16 Level 2 social workers), conducted five focus group interviews, and analyzed the data using the constant comparison method to deduce five categories and 16 concepts.
The analysis results showed that the number of projects in the first category ‘training projects,’ and medical modelization of psychological assessment. The second category ‘treatment of supervises’ yielded concepts such as decreased commitment to training education due to overwork, asking for insufficient pay. The third category ‘supervision’ yielded the lack of supervisions and the need for strengthening supervisors’ capabilities.
The fourth category ‘theoretical education’ showed the need for theoretical education that is appropriate for group education and environmental change. The fifth category ‘training management’ provided the need for a window for resolving unfairness and the need for quality control of training institutions. Based on the results of this qualitative research, this study provides for concrete measures and basic reference materials for improving the training process of mental health social workers.