The Impact of Shortages on Social Workers’ Mental Health among the Vulnerable Population in Nigeria

Abstract

A severe lack of social workers in Nigeria exacerbates the vulnerabilities of underprivileged groups in the face of long-standing political, social, and economic difficulties. People's resilience and adaptive responses to adversity are greatly impacted by their mental health, an important but frequently disregarded aspect of vulnerability. In order to show how the lack of professional support results in increased psychosocial distress, exclusion, and systemic neglect, this study examines the effects of social worker shortages on a variety of vulnerable groups, including women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, internally displaced people, people with mental health conditions, substance users, and incarcerated populations. In order to determine the underlying reasons for workforce shortages, such as inadequate educational investment, a lack of regulatory frameworks, and poor institutional integration, the research takes a qualitative analytical method, combining literature, policy evaluations, and institutional assessments. With less than 150 psychiatric social workers servicing a population of over 200 million, key findings show that mental health support services are severely underdeveloped, which leads to social alienation, untreated trauma, and pervasive stigma. This study emphasizes the necessity of immediate legislative change, more funding for social work education and workforce development, and the systemic integration of social workers into Nigeria's legal, social protection, and healthcare systems. It highlights that reducing long-term social exclusion and enhancing national wellbeing require closing the gap between vulnerable populations and responsive care systems. To promote the mental, social, and economic rehabilitation of Nigeria's most vulnerable individuals, the findings call for a concerted national strategy to grow and professionalize the social work field.