The Role of a Social Worker in Epilepsy Care | Holly O’Neill, Social Worker at Epilepsy Southwestern Ontario
March is #SocialWorkMonth in Canada; in recognition we’re celebrating the critical role of social workers in epilepsy care and in the ECHO Epilepsy knowledge translation model and community of practice. We’re privileged to profile Holly O’Neill, RSW, RECE – Social Worker and Director of Client Services at Epilepsy Southwestern Ontario, who is also a member of our Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario hub leadership team delivering our Foundational and Advanced Programs for Epilepsy in Children & Youth.
What inspired you to enter the field of social work?
I was previously working in child care for more than a decade and some of the families that I was working with were struggling in ways that I wasn’t able to support in that role. I was inspired to go into social work to be able to make more of a systemic change and to help families find the supports that they need.
What population do you work with (children, youth, adult) and what challenges/rewards do you experience in this profession?
I work with people of all ages and find that they each have their own challenges and rewards. I love working with children and youth because they are still figuring things out, but are often optimistic about life and everything that it holds for them. I enjoy their excitement and unique perspectives.
Adults with epilepsy are brave and resilient, but they often struggle with the lack of resources that are available after turning 18 and this is definitely a challenge in trying to support them.
I really enjoy being a small part of people’s lives changing for the better.
What is one thing you wish people knew about your role as a social worker in epilepsy?
I wish that people knew that social workers do so many different things and that they don’t need to be actively struggling to be able to reach out for additional support or answers. Sometimes life just needs a tune up and there are ways that things can improve that you might not be considering.
The interdisciplinary make-up of ECHO is a key aspect of its education and support model. What’s one key thing that you’ve learned in being part of this interdisciplinary team, regarding supporting/treating people living with epilepsy?
It’s been very beneficial to me to be a part of the ECHO team because I am only one part of the whole when it comes to supporting people with epilepsy. It’s important to know how and when to draw upon the expertise of other professionals to be able to help people access all the resources that they need to thrive.
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