(Newswire.net — July 22, 2019) — Now that the focus on mental health has created a more open and intellectual dialogue, it’s a career that is also becoming more appealing to those interested in working in healthcare. Whether you want to be a counselor, a psychologist working in a ward with a focus on mental health, it’s an incredibly challenging but rewarding job. Helping people through the worst period of their mental health and guiding them to a healthier mind-set can fundamentally change someone’s life for the better. If this is a career you have considered, here’s what you need to know before enrolling on any courses.
You need to be a people person
While you may not always be able to empathize with someone’s fears, anxieties and problems, you need to have the sympathetic awareness of someone who is socially apt. You will be working with patients who may have a traumatic past or have a complex set of experiences behind them, and so tact and helpfulness should be key personality features. In fact, being a people person and having strong interpersonal skills is incredibly valuable in this sector.
And understanding and knowledge of mental health problems
This may sound like common sense, but approaching the world of mental health nursing requires knowledge and awareness. This interest and consideration for those who are experiencing mental health difficulties will show an interest and sense of compassion. For example, in the UK’s National Health Service, these are key requirements for the job. They ask for those who have an interest in working in mental health to have the capacity to offer advice, sound judgment, and the ability to problem solve. Regardless of which country you live in, these qualities are necessary. Those who are experiencing anxiety or depression for the first time will need sound advice from a trusted professional. When it comes down to it, that trusted professional is you.
Education
As previously mentioned, working in mental health requires fundamental knowledge. However, to work as a qualified professional, you will need a degree or qualification in mental health. This will not only give you the tools to gain a full understanding and be able to service patients appropriately, but also some future insight. The way we treat and aid those with mental health problems is constantly changing. A degree will teach you about the research that’s ongoing and focuses on how we will treat psychological issues in the future. If you work full or part-time, you may need to find an alternative method of studying. Online courses are ideal for those who have children or still need to fund their day-to-day living. This allows you to work comfortably and flexibly with your day-to-day life. An SCU Online degree for a Master in Mental Health is one of the easiest ways to do this.
Ability to overcome challenges
Depending on which sector of mental health, you ultimately end up working in, some of the challenges you face could be quite severe. You could be working with patients who are at the peak of their symptoms, and knowing how to tackle these effectively is paramount for both your safety and theirs. Overcoming challenges can be simply described as ‘problem-solving.’ The problems you may encounter will often be entirely personal, and so you will have to be a problem-solver with tact. Knowing when to do the right thing and how will partly come with experience on the job, but having a ‘can-do’ attitude is always a good place to start.
Excellent communication
When it comes to working with those who are seeking advice and reassurance, your communication skills are at the forefront of your day-to-day job. This is why being articulate and being able to accurately express advice and understanding is crucial. Excellent communication also means that patients will receive the standard care requirement that they deserve. As you progress through your career your communication skills will inevitably improve and become more sophisticated. It’s the base level of understanding and expression, however, which is needed to help you hit the ground running in your career.
Why do you want the job?
This is perhaps one of the most clichéd interview questions – the fundamental reason why you will want to turn up day after day. Working in the public sector isn’t an easy task. Aside from the obvious financial benefits, you will need to explain to your employer why you wanted to work in mental health in the first place. This question should bring to light all of your reasons for wanting to help others and invest yourself in this particular sector. Before you start applying for jobs or educational courses, it might be wise to make note of all of your reasons for wanting to work in this area of healthcare. The more honestly you can answer this question, the more genuine a candidate you will appear.
Be able to invite trust
A lot of the characteristics mentioned revolve around having self-awareness: knowing when to say the right thing, being able to listen and being able to communicate compassionately. This self-awareness should also extend to being a trustworthy individual. Of course, you will run into safeguarding issues from time-to-time with your patients, however, they must be fundamentally able to trust you. When you go to work, you should do your utmost to uphold confidential information, but a safe and caring individual and be mindful of what patients are telling you. The more that patients and employees trust you, the more valued you will become as an employee.
If you are planning on working in mental health, you should know that you will be entering an incredibly rewarding industry. Your help could change people’s lives for the better and put them on a path to recovery. Reminding yourself why you want to join this sector is also very important. As well as the education you’ll need to undertake; you will also need to ensure you are the right person for the job.