Mental health and physical health are deeply connected—and across Northern Light Health, social workers play a vital role in supporting both.
Social workers are embedded throughout our system, including behavioral health, primary care, home care and hospice, emergency care, dialysis, and even school-based settings. No matter where they serve, their focus is the same: helping patients navigate care, access resources, and feel supported during some of life’s most challenging moments.
“The field of social work is vast, but at its core, it’s about helping people,” says Jamilyn Murphy-Hughes, LCSW, AVP of Community Services at Northern Light Acadia Hospital. “Across Northern Light Health, social workers provide advocacy, understanding, and a listening ear to patients in a variety of settings.”
That support often bridges the gap between mental and physical health.
“We are an important part of healthcare,” says Jennifer Turner, LCSW, Northern Light Primary Care – Unity. “You can’t have good physical health without mental health. Our job is to meet patients where they are. We listen, support, and work together to find the best path forward.”
From helping patients manage anxiety or life stressors to coordinating complex care needs, social workers take a whole-person approach.
“We think broadly about all aspects of a patient’s situation to help achieve the best outcome,” says Amy Banks, MSW, care manager at Northern Light Mayo Hospital. “Sometimes that means finding resources, sometimes it’s helping ease a burden. It always starts with understanding the full picture.”
Social workers are also key members of Northern Light Health’s behavioral health services, including inpatient and outpatient care, school-based counseling, emergency assessments, and addiction treatment. Many also serve in leadership roles, helping shape the future of care across the system.
“Social work allows us to help people through some of their hardest moments and rebuild hope,” says Bobbie Jo Benjamin, LMSW-CC, Northern Light Acadia Hospital. “We provide a safe space for patients and families to cope, heal, and find support.”
That same approach carries into home care and hospice, where social workers support patients and families through end-of-life care. “We meet people where they are during some of the most vulnerable times in their lives,” says Amy Wescott, LCSW, Northern Light Home Care & Hospice. “Whether it’s emotional support or connecting them to essential resources, our role is to help reduce stress and ensure patients feel heard and respected.”
At every stage of care, social workers help connect the dots between services, between challenges, and between mental and physical health.
“Everyone needs compassion, empathy, and validation at some point in life,” Turner adds. “We’re here to provide that support.”
Your mental health matters.
Care options:
- Contact your primary care provider for a referral.
- For mental health or substance use treatment, visit northernlighthealth.org/Acadia-Hospital or call 207.973.6100.
- For hospice services, call Northern Light Home Care & Hospice at 1.800.757.3326