Many social workers suffer from depression and would prefer to serve young people rather than the elderly, two surveys have found.
The surveys' release coincides with tomorrow's Social Work Day, the organising committee of which interviewed about 500 social workers in February to study job satisfaction. The findings showed a quarter intended to change jobs within a year.
The committee, formed by social workers, student organisations and training institutes, also found that social workers who served in community and youth settings were more satisfied than those who worked with families and the elderly.
Meanwhile, the social work branch of the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants' Association, which interviewed 79 medical social workers from the Social Welfare Department with an average of 10 years' experience, found 48 per cent felt depressed and anxious.
Twelve respondents had considered suicide. Over 60 per cent said they had considered quitting because of pressure and 42 per cent said they had to ease their stress by smoking, drinking or shopping.
Nana Chan, a Queen Elizabeth Hospital social worker, said: 'We cannot relax when we have holidays. We dream about our clients and colleagues. We just cannot let go of our work, because we are good social workers who are given too much work.'