A vital link in the first line of care for people challenged by conditions of mental health/emotional stability/developmental disability, Mental Health Aides assist such patients with medication, therapy, meals, transportation, hygiene, education, and recreation in a safe and clean environment. Continue Reading
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Explore Career A vital link in the first line of care for people challenged by conditions of mental health/emotional stability/developmental disability, Mental Health Aides assist such patients with medication, therapy, meals, transportation, hygiene, education, and recreation in a safe and clean environment.
What are the typical responsibilities of a Mental Health Aide?
A Mental Health Aide would typically need to:
Mental Health Aides may work in clinical settings, assisted living/residential facilities, or community settings where they interact closely with the patients under their charge. They usually work as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other mental health professionals. Travel may be part of the job description if they extend their services to patients in different locations.
Full-time Mental Health Aides work around 40 hours per week in shifts, including evenings, weekends, and holidays to meet the needs of their patients. Those employed on a part-time or as-needed basis may have a more flexible schedule but must be willing to report for duty at non-traditional hours.
Research suggests that flexible hours and generous telework policies appeal more than salary to the younger generation. There has been an incremental increase in employers willing to give promising employees a chance to adjust their schedules per the job demands.
Mental Health Aides may choose to be employed by healthcare facilities or work with them on an independent contractor basis. They may also select temporary locum tenens positions offered by practices, hospitals, or healthcare organisations with an unfilled clinical need. They can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting employers directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies. Part-time and contract work is expected.
Mental Health Aides are generally employed by:
Healthcare associations, such as Mental Health First Aid (MFHA) International, provide unparalleled networking and educational opportunities. They offer all the certification courses members will need throughout their professional careers.
Affiliated Mental Health Aides may attend conventions, seminars, and dinners frequented by peers, mentors, and other industry leaders. The events help them keep up with the latest breakthroughs and developments, including plum jobs.
One of the best introductions to a career in mental health is to volunteer at a local hospital, clinic, or nursing home. Mental health facilities in your community may offer valuable internships to interested individuals.
Prior work experience or apprenticeship in a healthcare setting demonstrates an aspiring Mental Health Aide’s interest and dedication to the profession. It allows you to understand what it is like to work around other healthcare professionals and patients.
In addition, exposure to a diverse range of clients helps you understand different behaviours, situations, and problems you may encounter during your practice as a Mental Health Aide.
However, employers may prefer applicants who have worked with people with developmental disabilities or mental health conditions.
Summer internships or short-term paid/voluntary work at mental health facilities or community organisations offer a taste of the profession, give valuable insight into how an institution operates, help build useful contacts and improve one’s prospects of getting a permanent job.
Mental Health Aides will benefit from tasks outside the classroom that align perfectly with lessons inside it. One may hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.
The experience may also help determine whether the public, private or voluntary sector is best suited to realise one’s ambitions. Your educational provider’s career service department can provide information about viable work placement, internship and voluntary work opportunities in diverse sectors.
Even while in high school, you can check with a teacher or counsellor about relevant work-based learning opportunities available in your school or community that can help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.
Join a peer counselling group, start a mental health awareness club, or participate in activities that increase awareness of mental health issues to develop teamwork, listening skills, empathy, and communication with compassion and respect.
Volunteer at local mental health organisations or clinics to gain hands-on experience and learn more about the field. Read about the profession and interview or job shadow mental health experts to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.
Some employers may accept applications from individuals with just a high school diploma or equivalent.
However, most Mental Health Aides find obtaining a bachelor’s degree in mental health tech and crisis intervention, nursing, psychology, counselling, human services, and social work beneficial. An ideal education programme would focus on psychology, sociology, biology, anatomy, and physiology.
An associate degree or certificate from a community college or technical school, including courses in the above-mentioned fields, may help students gain requisite knowledge and skills and show potential employers that they can finish projects and follow a daily routine.
Recommended high school courses include psychology, sociology, and health sciences to gain a foundational understanding of mental health and human behaviour. English and speech classes will help you develop your research, writing, and oral communication skills.
Remember that completing a particular academic course does not guarantee entry into the profession. Be that as it may, professional qualifications and transferable skills may open up more than one door.
Do your homework and look into all available options for education and employment before enrolling in a specific programme. Reliable sources that help you make an educated decision include associations and employers in your field.
While the specific requirements may vary depending on location, some Mental Health Aide positions may require certification or licensure.
Certification demonstrates competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.
Accredited certification in mental health first aid, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), BLS (basic life support), occupational safety and health, and using an AED (automated external defibrillator) from an objective and reputed organisation can help you stand out in a competitive job market and carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 per cent. Some employers may mandate passing a national exam to become certified as a nursing assistant or mental health aide.
Where Mental Health Aides require a licence, individual government entities conduct the licensing process. Typically, licensure requires an application, processing fees, an examination, and relevant experience. Check with local and national mental health organisations. Sometimes, you may need a valid driver’s license to transport clients.
Mental health Aides may also need to undergo an employment background check including but not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history, use of social media, and drug screening.
Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of Mental Health Aides who can aim for higher ranks, such as Lead Mental Health Aide or Programme Coordinator and even executive-level positions, such as Medical Case Manager or Director of Social Services.
Some Mental Health Aides may undergo the requisite training and eventually become licensed mental health professionals.
The desire to accelerate career growth and personal development has an increasing number of millennials choosing to job hop and build a scattershot resume that showcases ambition, motivation, and the desire to learn a broad range of skills.
Studies prove that job hopping, earlier dismissed as “flaky” behaviour, can lead to greater job fulfilment. Employees searching for a positive culture and interesting work are willing to try out various roles and workplaces and learn valuable, transferable skills along the way.
Mental Health Aides with a bachelor’s degree in psychology or mental health, first aid, CPR, AED, and BLS certifications, up-to-date training in restraint/control, excellent physical stamina, patience, compassion, and interpersonal and observational skills have the best job prospects.
Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential for public well-being and career progression in the healthcare sector. It embraces several new learning objectives, educational methodologies, and novel technological developments, especially in education, management, and IT.
Reflective learning, interaction with peer groups, comprehensive inclusion, workshops, and professional publications educate, influence, support, and foster lifelong enlightenment in all career-grade Mental Health Aides.
Most employers provide on-the-job training for new hires to learn facility-specific procedures and practices, including computer systems and software, under the supervision of senior colleagues. You may observe other workers, complete a training manual/online course comprising mandated tasks or attend workshops, seminars, and in-service activities.
Incumbents lacking such qualifications may want to pursue certificate and associate degree programmes in mental health assistance from community colleges to prepare themselves for roles with increased responsibility.
Mental Health Aides who wish to become licensed mental health professionals must complete an accredited master’s degree in counselling, psychology, or social work and pass a government-approved examination to obtain a license.
Attend training programmes and learn about the latest treatments and therapies to gain patients' confidence and communicate effectively with their families. Familiarity with diverse treatment options will enable you to recommend the best course of action for individual patients and collaborate efficiently with other treatment team members.
In addition to offering the opportunity to continually upskill, regardless of one’s age, job, or level of knowledge, CPD also enables the periodic renewal of desirable certifications, which increase your chances of advancement and becoming an independent consultant.
More Than One Way to Assist
Residential aides provide daily living support to residential care facility inmates with mental health conditions in addition to helping them manage their medications and therapies.
Psychiatric hospitals and other inpatient facilities employ inpatient aides to help monitor vital signs, administer medications, and provide emotional support to patients. Outpatient aides assist with patient intake, scheduling appointments, and monitoring patient progress in outpatient mental health clinics.
Emergency mental health establishments engage crisis intervention aides to help de-escalate crises, provide emotional support, and coordinate follow-up care.
Mental Health - A Growing Global Concern
At least one person in five worldwide will experience a mental disorder during their lifetime. Recent reports note that many stigmas surrounding mental health issues are declining in developed nations.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared depression the number one cause of shortened life due to a disability. Depression is responsible for more missed work hours than arthritis or cancer. The body’s supply of serotonin, the hormone that regulates a person’s mood, is located in the gastrointestinal tract, not the brain.
Current Scenario
The employment outlook of Mental Health Aides may be impacted by diverse factors, such as location, employment turnover, occupational growth, size of the occupation, and industry-specific trends and events that affect overall employment.
As the baby boomer population ages, they are more likely to experience cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Mental Health Aides trained to care for patients affected by such conditions will be in demand, as will those who can take care of people with substance abuse issues.
Increasing awareness and acceptance of mental health issues leads to a growing demand for experts in mental health services, especially in community settings. In addition, a much-needed shift in focus towards prevention also highlights the need for qualified Mental Health Aides.
Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment
Freelancing Mental Health Aides have more flexible work schedules and locations. They fully own the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.
On the other hand, full-time Mental Health Aides have company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.
When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.
Locum Tenens
Locum tenens (“place holder”) is an alternative to more permanent employment. Locum tenens positions are temporary (up to a year) and offered by practices, hospitals, or healthcare organisations with an unfilled clinical need.
The compensation rate is generally higher than what the permanent position would suggest. Locum tenens allows Mental health Aides to gauge a specific type of practice or location without committing to long-term employment.
Challenging as it is to provide appropriate medical care, housekeeping, and recreation to patients experiencing acute mental health symptoms or crises, Mental Health Aides find it highly rewarding to generate hope in the lives of patients living with mental illness.
Manage your diet to boost energy levels, aid digestion, and sleep well. Exercise and stretching release endorphins and increase serotonin levels. Practice meditation and hobbies to unwind. Share your feelings with loved ones. Journal.
Three disruptive mental health disorders that take the most significant toll on human life are schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder.
What do Mental Health Aides do?
A Mental Health Aide would typically need to:
Accredited
$37,038
