Mental health technicians provide care for people with severe mental instabilities. Training can be obtained through community colleges or vocational schools, and courses may include patient care, psychology, counseling, and mental illness. The job can include direct patient care and talking to patients. The median wage is $11 USD per hour.
A mental health technician is a vital part of the care team in psychiatric hospitals and other care facilities that provide care for people with severe mental instabilities. There are generally two levels of training that people can take if they want to work in this field. With a small amount of training, sometimes just on the job, some people can become a mental health or psychiatric aide. The title of mental health technician is generally reserved for those with more extensive training in the field, although sometimes psychiatric technician, psychiatric assistant, and mental health technician are used interchangeably.
Most people who want to become a mental health coach have at least a high school diploma. If you are interested in working with the mentally ill, taking some high school electives can help prepare you for further study in this field. Taking psychology can help you understand some of the basics of mental illness. Participating in peer counseling programs can be an excellent way to start developing good interpersonal skills. Keeping physically fit is also important, as coaches need to be reasonably strong and able to move quickly.
After high school graduation, there are several different ways to get training. Many community colleges and vocational schools have certificate programs or even degree programs that can help train people. This training may not result in certification as a mental health coach. Students generally must earn, at a minimum, certification as a licensed practical nurse, which qualifies them to work in most hospitals or care facilities. This certification can be included in community college or vocational school programs that train a person to become a mental health coach.
However, there is no specific mental health technician certificate in most states. People with training as licensed practical nurses can become psychiatric aides and learn their job on the job. Participating in a training program can still be beneficial because technology enters the workforce better trained to do its job.
Even if it does not result in certification, it is helpful to participate in a specific training program to help the mentally ill or disabled, as the technician better understands the community they serve. More studies can also give you a competitive edge in getting jobs. Some of the likely courses in professional and community college programs to become a mental health coach include those focusing on patient care, psychology, counseling, mental illness, and psychopharmacology. Training in these programs usually takes one year, and if an associate degree is earned, two years may be required. There are some online training programs, but these may not include practical studies (practices), which are a useful part of the training.
Most people want to know what types of work they will be doing when they become mental health coaches. This often includes direct patient care such as helping with cleaning and bathing and direct patient contact or talking and observing patients to ensure they are safe and comfortable. Strength may be needed in this field, as it is occasionally necessary to subdue patients who become upset.
The downside for many people considering whether to work as a mental health coach is the pay. The median wage in the mid-2000s was $11 USD (USD) per hour. This is quite low as the job can include some physical hazards, particularly when serving a population that can be unpredictable. Extra training can help boost earnings, but given the dollar costs and extra training time, some people prefer a higher-paying profession.
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