Mental Health Social Work and Nursing in the USA and the UK: Divergent Paths Coming Together?

Abstract

Background: When the mental health systems of the UK and the USA are compared, one of the most striking differences is that social workers are the largest professional group in the USA and community nurses the largest in the UK. Aim and Method: This paper examines the history of the development of both professional groups in both countries, and their education and training. Results: Demand, supply and economic factors are important influences and reasons for these differences. Conclusions: Both professions have critical future workforce roles, but further consideration needs to be given to the extent to which their skills and values overlap in order to inform future workforce planning, and to reduce the extent to which the workforce pattern in both countries risks being over-determined by supply issues.