Highlighting Social Worker Week at SMH
March 06, 2025
At Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH), social workers play a crucial role in supporting patients through some of life’s most challenging moments. As part of the hospital’s crisis team, Zechariah Chappell and Jessica Farber work tirelessly to provide mental health support, advocacy, and guidance to individuals in need. Their work goes beyond the emergency room, creating lasting impacts on patients and the broader community.
Jessica Farber: Advocacy, Empowerment, and Mental Health Support
Jessica’s work at SMH centers around advocacy and empowerment, helping individuals manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Her role spans the emergency department, inpatient care, and outpatient programs.
“I started with a passion for policy and drive to address issues like oppression, discrimination and poverty,” she explains. “When I finished school, I stumbled into healthcare working in ER, inpatient and research before I came to SMH. While mental health is health, the current healthcare system is not equipped to meet the needs of individuals with mental illness, and social workers in hospitals work with community partners to help those individuals navigate the mental healthcare system and hopefully, reduce the use of emergency services.”
Jessica values the collaborative environment at SMH. “I really like our small-but-mighty hospital because of how we work together to help individuals in crisis, and I think we do pretty incredible work. I also love that my work goes well beyond the ER, and we can continue to work with individuals in the community and see the progress they’re making.”
For Jessica, the most fulfilling moments come when a patient feels truly safe. “The moment someone takes that deep breath, you know, the really deep kind. The kind that says relief, that they feel safe, heard and validated.”
She also wants people to understand the complexity of social work. “People underestimate the power of words, and social workers aren’t soft. We ask the hard questions, and nothing you can tell us about your life scares us away, we’ll do the hard work right there with you.”
Maintaining boundaries is critical in her profession. “I had a practicum supervisor dramatically shut the door and walk away to make exactly that point – shut the door. I don’t talk about my work at home. I have done a lot of work with first responders and vicarious trauma, and I am always on alert for signs of burnout in myself and my peers.”
Jessica finds balance in nature, often escaping to the trees and mountains or paddling in her canoe. “I also make a point to slow down and enjoy my coffee every day. It’s in the small things."
Zechariah Chappell: A Passion for Helping Others
As a member of the crisis team, Zechariah focuses on mental health interventions during critical moments. Whether supporting patients through high-risk situations, assisting with admissions, or providing outpatient follow-up, his goal is to offer stability and connection to essential resources.
“I worked security in a hospital previous to being a social worker,” Zechariah shares. “Being able to observe their mental health team and the positive impact they could have was inspiring. I did not have much support in my journey with mental health struggles and had to figure a lot out on my own. This is what keeps me passionate about what I do.”
Each day brings new challenges, but the unpredictability is what Zechariah enjoys most. “Every day is different. Every person that I interact with is different,” he says. “I also have incredibly supportive coworkers across the hospital, in pretty well every department, which helps with feeling great about coming in to work every day.”
For Zechariah, the most rewarding part of his job is knowing that even small actions can make a big difference. “Knowing that no matter how small, I can have an impact on every person who comes through the crisis office door or comes into the ER seeking support.”
He emphasizes that effective communication is essential in his role, and being able to adapt to the needs of each person is critical. “Listening is the other side of this and is equally as important,” he says. “I have found being a sponge for information and stories has been incredibly helpful in developing connections, as people are perceptive and can tell when someone is listening to absorb and understand instead of listening to respond.”
When it comes to self-care, Zechariah is mindful of separating work from his personal life. “When I leave the office to begin my long drive home, I take a moment in my car before I start driving to reduce tension and remind myself that work needs to stay at work. When I’m off from work, I focus on my partner, my dog, and things I enjoy.”
The Importance of Social Work in Healthcare
Both Zechariah and Jessica emphasize that social work in hospitals is about more than just immediate crisis support—it’s about guiding individuals through the mental health system, which can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate.
“Our work isn’t medical—we don’t diagnose or prescribe medication,” Jessica explains. “People experiencing symptoms of a mental illness are vulnerable, and hospitals can be overwhelming…Social workers support individuals through these transitions and following discharge. We’re always working to break down barriers and create pathways to access services.”
Zechariah adds that collaboration is key. “We are fortunate enough to have fairly intimate connections with many of the other services within the region and beyond. A large part of our collaboration comes from the situation table where we gather once a week to share updates, discuss cases, and so on, which helps with bringing supports together in an effective way.”
A Career of Purpose and Passion
For those considering a career in social work, Zechariah and Jessica offer valuable advice. “Find what works for you as a clinician, counselor, or advocate,” Zechariah says. “And know your limits—we can stretch ourselves thin in working to support others and forget that we have our own needs to attend to or limitations in what we can offer.”
Jessica encourages future social workers to connect with professionals in the field. “Talk to social workers, understand what they do. This will help you figure out what kind of social work you want to do. Also, go to counselling. You’ll be a better clinician when you do your own work too.”
At Stevenson Memorial Hospital, Zechariah and Jessica exemplify the profound impact social workers have on individuals and the community. Their dedication to mental health, advocacy, and patient support makes them invaluable members of the hospital team, ensuring that no one has to navigate their struggles alone.