Mental Health – What’s in it for me?

For the approximately 43.8 million people a year in the U.S who suffer from some form mental illness, every day has the potential to be filled with pain and difficult challenges to overcome. With staggering statistics like that, it’s not hard to understand why qualified, compassionate mental health professionals are consistently in high demand and the field of mental health technology is growing.

At the same time, it’s also hard to imagine a more rewarding career. Helping people takes many forms and there is an entire healthcare industry that, in essence, revolves around helping people in one capacity or another. But the ability to help someone find their way out of the pain of mental illness is something that can impact a life in immeasurable ways and could be described as one of the most rewarding careers out there.

If you’re intrigued, explore some of the ins and outs of the world of mental health technology with us and you might just agree that this is the career path for you!

What does a Mental Health Technologist really do?

Mental Health Technologists work hand in hand with psychiatrists and doctors, providing essential support during the care and treatment of patients suffering from mental illness. You’ll be assisting with assessing and monitoring patients to determine their needs and the kind of mental healthcare services they may need, escorting patients to various areas in the facility, coordinating care and keeping records and a variety of other duties. The most important thing you’ll be doing, however, is listening and showing compassion to patients in need.

Why Choose to Become a Mental Health Technologist?

We covered the tangible reward of being on the team that helps heal people in pain that cannot be fixed with bandages or stitches. There is also the fact that the industry is growing and expected to continue to grow by as much as 6% by the year 2026. And the average annual income for a mental health technologist was $31,670 in 2017, making it a solid choice for earning a living. It’s also a career that is definitely one of the more exciting ones to work in. Let’s face it, literally getting inside the mind of the people you are trying to help is never going to be dull!

Most medical and mental health professionals would likely agree with the expression: “Caring for the mind is as important as caring for the body. One cannot be healthy without the other.” The dedicated individuals working in the mental health industry today are doing critically important work helping the elderly, people with substance abuse addictions and a growing homeless population in need of compassionate care. If you’re ready to join the heroic professionals on the front lines of mental healthcare, check out the Mental Health Technology Program at City College’s Gainesville campus. City College is helping students get the hands-on training they need, to join a profession focused on helping people find their way back from the darkest places. Contact City College today to learn more, or to schedule a tour of the Gainesville campus.

 

https://www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-by-the-numbers