Swedish school social workers problematisation of the child and adolescent psychiatric services in their counselling

Abstract

Mental ill-health is the most common reason for Swedish children to contact school social workers (SSWs). Eight Swedish elementary SSWs were interviewed regarding their experiences of counselling children experiencing mental ill-health and their parents. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Besides primary findings presented in an earlier article, secondary findings showed the SSWs problematisation of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services (CAPS) in terms of collaboration, referrals and waiting times, reflecting broader systemic challenges in supporting children experiencing mental ill-health. The SSWs accounts underscore the need to normalise children’s expressions of distress, clarify professional boundaries, and strengthen collaboration between school-based and specialised services. The findings also highlight a structural tension between expectations of SSWs and their formal training, pointing to the need for systemic adjustments to ensure that children receive safe, equitable, and developmentally appropriate support. The findings unveil several implications regarding policy, practice, and future research: Clearer national and local guidelines, refinement of referral pathways, and access to specialised training in mental health assessment and evidence-based counselling. Further research is needed to explore how schools can support children’s emotional development without defaulting to diagnostic frameworks.

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