Wurzweiler’s Joan Beder Studies the Effect on Social Workers Treating Returning Veterans When Dr. Joan Beder saw the film, “Alive Day” – James Galdolfini’s HBO documentary about soldiers returning from battle in Iraq – she began to think about the dearth of national studies on the effects of social workers who treat these recent war veterans. “I was watching the very powerful images that were being shown in the film with two hats – as a civilian and as a professional social worker,” recalled Beder, a professor at Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work. “My immediate reaction was one of horror - seeing what these young people go through in war, and right after that I started wondering how a social worker is affected by treating these soldiers, many of whom are often missing limbs and suffering great emotional trauma.” Her next step was to undertake an extensive study of these social workers – and the effects they experience as a result – and speak to Sheldon Gelman, the dean at Wurzweiler. In spring 2007, with support from Gelman and W After extensive interviews and observation, Beder found that social workers who treat these returning soldiers suffer compassion fatigue and burnout at a higher rate than other social workers. urzweiler, Beder began the long and often tedious process of wading through bureaucratic red tape to contribute valuable research to the field. “Not much research has been done on social workers treating veterans of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Beder. To begin the process, Beder had to undergo what she called “the most intensive and rigorous security process that I’ve ever gone through for a study.” When Beder was finally cleared to begin, however, she realized that she was both an educator and a student. “I was a civilian in government territory, and there was a whole new language to learn,” she said. After extensive interviews and observation, Beder found that social workers who treat these returning soldiers suffer compassion fatigue and burnout at a higher rate than other social workers. Symptoms of compassion fatigue include feelings of anxiety and depression and issues of safety, trust and self-esteem. But not everything that Beder learned was disheartening. “One other thing I was surprised about was the enduring love these social workers had for their jobs,” said Beder. “Many said they left their politics in the parking lot and only focused on the fact that the people they were treating needed their help. That was actually surprising to me, as I thought differences in politics may not be able to transcend fully unbiased care.” Beder’s findings were published in the journal, Military Medicine, last May, and she has designed a course for Wurzweiler students focusing on social workers who treat veterans. She is also the guest editor for an upcoming issue of Social Work in Health Care, devoted to soldier and veteran issues designed to help educate civilian social workers on the pressing needs of those who return. “Everything that has to do with soldiers, veterans and the social workers who treat them is extremely compelling to me,” said Beder. “Social work is my life’s mission, and I feel very grateful that I have the resources and support I need to continue both teaching and working in the field.”