Photo credit: BigStockPhoto/Ivelin Radkov
by Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD
As the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) celebrates Social Work Month 2025 with the theme “Compassion + Action,” it’s worth reflecting on the meaning of compassion. Interestingly, the word compassion is not explicitly mentioned in the NASW Code of Ethics. Still, its essence is deeply embedded in our core values, including service, social justice, and respect for the dignity and worth of all people. Compassion may be defined as not only having empathy for the lives, situations, and suffering of others, but also taking action to help others, demonstrating care, promoting their well-being, and alleviating suffering.
Social work has long been recognized as a helping profession—one built on meaningful connections, deep listening, collaboration, and action. In a world increasingly marked by disconnection, division, and misunderstanding, the need for both compassion and action is vital.
When we think of compassion, we often focus on compassion for others. We also need to embrace compassion for ourselves. Although social workers are deeply invested in the well-being of others, the principles of self-compassion and self-care remind us that we, too, need attention, self-nurturing, and restoration. Caring for ourselves not only ensures our own welfare, but also enables us to better serve our clients, organizations, and communities.
As we celebrate Social Work Month, let’s honor our commitment to compassion and action—for others and for ourselves.
Allan Barsky, PhD, JD, MSW
Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD, is Professor of Social Work at Florida Atlantic University and author of Social Work Values and Ethics (Oxford University Press).
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of any of the organizations to which the author is affiliated, or the views of The New Social Worker magazine or White Hat Communications.