6 Careers If You Want to Contribute to Mental Health

Mental health problems are common all around the world. Recently, mental health has become a field of immense focus and discussion with individuals from all backgrounds and all age groups suffering from some mental condition.

Mental illnesses may vary in severity, ranging from moderate to severe symptoms. These conditions may include anxiety, depression, substance abuse, etc., and require expert care from relevant healthcare providers. 

Mental health practitioners are expert professionals who diagnose and treat various mental health issues and assist individuals, families, and groups build coping skills to boost their mental well-being. Mental health providers employ ideas from science, communication, and sociology to help people with their emotional, psychological, and social well-being. This area of healthcare dictates how people manage stress, make choices, and contribute to the community. Positive mental well-being can also improve physical health, so these practitioners may collaborate with other healthcare providers to develop treatment plans for patients. There are many career options for individuals who want to contribute to mental health and are interested in a career as a mental health practitioner, including;

If you’re a licensed professional counselor (LPC) or licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), we have full-time licensed professional counselor jobs in Denver.

• Marriage and Family Therapist 

Marriage and family therapists are experienced professionals trained in family systems and psychotherapy and licensed to identify and treat mental conditions within the context of couples, marriage, and family systems.

If you want to know how to become a marriage counselor, you would need a bachelor’s in psychology or related domains. Once you graduate, you can acquire a master’s degree in psychology or counseling with a specialization in marriage and family therapy and obtain the required clinical experience and licensure to begin practicing as a therapist. The typical roles of a marriage and family therapist include:

• Helping families and couples learn how to cope with or manage mental health conditions within their relationships.
• Provide psychotherapy
• Provide couples, group, and family therapy

• Substance Abuse Counselor

A substance abuse counselor is a mental health professional who deals with individuals suffering from alcohol or drug abuse problems. They help individuals overcome their addiction through medical intervention or behavioral therapy. Their typical duties include:

• Meeting with patients to assess their overall health and the extent of drug/substance abuse 
• Diagnosing problems and creating treatments plans
• Educating patients with coping mechanisms
• Helping them reestablish their career or search for jobs
• Leading therapy sessions
• Referring patients to support groups
• Creating aftercare plans for clients
• Meeting with the client’s family to provide support and guidance

• Psychologist

Psychology refers to the study of the mind as well as behavior. It involves the study of mental states, cognitive, perceptual, social, and emotional processes, and behavior.

Psychologists are qualified professionals who practice psychology and are responsible for identifying and treating different mental illnesses using evidence-based interventions. They help individuals overcome anxiety, fears, and stress, usually through talk therapy. Their work may include observation, experimentation, and interpretation of how humans relate to each other.

If you opt to become a psychologist, you will probably spend five to seven years learning about mental health (bachelor’s degree, master’s, and doctorate), followed by training and obtaining licensure. You can go for research or counseling, offer psychotherapy, teach in universities or colleges, and conduct personality tests.

• Psychiatrist

If you are a medicine enthusiast and want to contribute to mental health, a career in psychiatry might be a fit. Psychiatry focuses on the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental illnesses.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors with a specialization in mental health. They evaluate patients’ mental health condition, make a diagnosis, create a treatment plan, and communicate with other healthcare professionals and specialists to help a client prevent or recover from mental health issues. Psychiatrists are the only mental health practitioners who can prescribe medication. They can also perform physical exams and lab tests to diagnose and treat mental illness.

You can offer your services as a qualified psychiatrist in many settings, including hospitals, private clinics, community agencies, hospice programs, rehabilitation centers, courts and prisons, university medical centers, and emergency rooms.

• Psychiatric Nurse

Psychiatric nurses are registered nurses (RNs) with a specialization in mental health. They are usually required to gain a master’s degree or a doctorate for advanced positions in the mental health sector.

These nurses provide medical support and care to clients with different mental health conditions. Psychiatric nurses cannot provide treatment for any condition. However, they work with other professionals, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, or social workers, to develop and execute patient care plans. Mental health nurses are responsible for the following:

• Administering medication and supervising it
• Modifying and updating care plans in keeping with the client’s health condition
• Assisting patients and their family members dealing with the mental health challenges
• Handling patients’ challenging behavior due to unstable mental condition

They may work in private clinics, military hospitals, rehabilitation centers, community centers, assisted living facilities, mental health agencies, nursing schools, and inpatient and outpatient psychiatric and general hospitals. Psychiatric nurses may also work with patients’ families to educate them about productive ways to interact with their loved ones.

• Mental Health Social Worker

If you would love to bring about positive social change, help individuals, and contribute to mental health simultaneously, a career as a mental health social worker might be suitable for you. Social workers are trained professionals who help vulnerable individuals and groups cope with different challenges in their lives.

Mental disease can significantly affect an individual’s life, including their relationships and career. Mental health social workers help people suffering from mental illnesses deal with these aspects. These professionals are typically responsible for assessing individuals’ socioeconomic status and finding resources for them, educating patients and their families about mental illness, providing therapy sessions, and improving communication between the patient, family, and health practitioners to foster recovery. 

Conclusion 

A career in mental health can be challenging yet rewarding for individuals who enjoy helping people and want to improve the quality of their mental well-being. If you are interested in pursuing a career in mental healthcare, there are several factors you might want to consider, including educational requirements, responsibilities, and skills for employment in this domain of healthcare. Exploring and learning about some mental health career paths discussed in this blog could help you find a path that suits your skill sets and interests.