Abstract
The present study is an examination of the relationship between social workers and mothers who experience maternal depression, with particular focus on the relationship’s key tenets and challenges. Through qualitative interviews with six social workers who engaged in this work, the present author sought to learn how they viewed and understood the challenges they faced, and the strategies employed to mitigate those challenges. Five main themes emerged: social support is integral in treatment, clients and social workers face many barriers, screening and identification needs to occur early, strengths help clients toward various successes, and a varied range of social work practices are used. Due to social work’s focus on social justice and its biopsychosocial perspective, social workers are uniquely positioned and qualified to engage with women, especially women of marginalized communities, experiencing maternal depression. The present author hopes to encourage the increased participation of social workers in serving women experiencing maternal depression.