Building mutual aid among young people with emotional and behavioral problems: The experiences of Hong Kong social workers

Among young people with emotional and behavioral problems (EBP), mutual aid is likely to be valuable in their rehabilitation and deserving of social work support. The benefits of mutual aid stem from the possibility that it prolongs the effective contribution of social work service. Given its potential benefits, it is imperative to clarify the ways in which social work service maximizes these benefits. Such clarification is necessary both to verify untested theories about social work inputs to mutual aid and because the research literature on mutual aid among young people is particularly lacking. Based on data from three focus groups involving social workers in Hong Kong, this study seeks to demonstrate the relevance of theoretically based group work strategies in the mutual aid and rehabilitation of EBP youth. These strategies include identifying commonalities and setting prioritiese, balancing support with demand, optimizing input between social workers and members, and connecting members with relevant others in the community. The research and service implications of the findings of this study for promoting efficient social work input that contributes to the long-term development of young people are discussed.