Stress among social workers has reached chronic proportions and better systems are needed to help them deal with traumatic cases, Unison has warned.
The union said social workers are increasingly seeking its support as they struggle to cope amid cutbacks in staff and services.
Social workers are also having to make life-changing judgments about children and vulnerable adults after spending very little time on individual cases.
Helga Pile, Unison national officer for social work, said: "Workloads have spiralled out of control and staffing levels in social work departments are woefully inadequate."
She added that long-term counselling should be made available to all social workers who need it.
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