AOHS Health Careers Exploration Unit 4 Lesson 12

AOHS Health Careers Exploration Unit 4, Lesson 12 Careers in Mental Health Copyright © 2012‒ 2015 NAF. All rights reserved.

Emotional well-being is essential to health Signs of emotional well-being: • Making meaningful contributions at school, work, or in the community • Managing stress and coping with hard times • Building strong relationships • Being physically active • Having healthy eating habits • Getting plenty of rest • Having a positive attitude • Feeling content Laughing and having fun with friends is a sign of emotional well-being. What are other signs of emotional well-being?

People from all walks of life seek help from mental health professionals • Some want to improve their emotional wellbeing and mental health. • Some seek diagnosis and treatment for a mental health disorder. What might be another reason that people seek the help of mental health professionals?

Mental disorders are medical conditions that can disrupt people’s lives Here are some facts about mental disorders: • They can affect a person’s ability to carry out everyday tasks. • They can affect the way a person thinks, feels, and relates to other people. • They affect all types of people: young, old, rich, poor, educated, uneducated, every ethnicity. What other characteristics of mental disorders do you know about?

Mental health professionals look for specific criteria when diagnosing mental illness Mental disorders that have similarities are grouped together in categories. Examples of categories are: • Anxiety disorders • Substance-related disorders Each category includes several disorders. Examples of anxiety disorders are: • Obsessive-compulsive disorder • Panic disorder • Phobia disorder What other mental health disorders do you know about?

People who work in mental health have a variety of skills and expertise Mental Health Clinicians • Psychiatrist • Psychologist • Social worker • Marriage and family therapist Collaborative Care Providers • Psychiatric technician and aide • Substance-abuse counselor • Art, music, and dance therapist What other mental health professions do you know about?

Confidentiality is important for all people who do mental health work Confidentiality builds trust In trusting relationships, patients speak openly and honestly Open and honest communication is necessary for proper diagnosis and treatment What other types of work do you know about in which confidentiality is important?

People in the mental health field work with a variety of populations Examples of populations: • Senior citizens • Veterans • Teens with eating disorders • Children with developmental disorders • People with terminal illnesses • People with addictions • Victims of physical and/or emotional abuse Couples and families are a population some professionals choose to focus on. What other populations can you think of that a mental health worker might choose to focus on?

Mental health work happens in a variety of places Mental health clinics Hospitals Rehab facilities Private offices Community centers Schools Nursing homes Military bases and hospitals Substanceabuse clinics How might the work of a mental health professional who works in a nursing home differ from that of a mental health professional working at a college?

Psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in mental disorders What psychiatrists do: • Help prevent mental disorders from occurring • Diagnose and treat mental disorders • Use treatment methods, including prescription medicine and psychotherapy Psychiatrists are the only mental health professionals who can prescribe medication for mental disorders. What do you think are some of the rewards and challenges of being a psychiatrist?

Psychotherapy is an important type of treatment that psychiatrists and psychologists use Psychotherapy involves: • Teaching patients strategies and tools to deal with daily stress and unhealthy thoughts or behaviors • Helping patients deal with their symptoms • Helping patients function in their everyday lives

Psychologists diagnose mental disorders and develop treatment plans What psychologists do: • Help clients maintain emotional well-being • Identify and diagnose mental disorders • Examine how clients relate to each other and to their environments • Develop treatment plans, including psychotherapy Psychologists help people understand their emotions and behaviors.

Social workers specialize in connecting people with resources What social workers do: • Identify people who need help • Help people solve and cope with everyday problems • Work with people who are experiencing major life changes A social worker may help a war veteran by connecting him with a support group or an employment recruiter. What personal characteristics do you think social workers have?

MFTs focus on personal development, communication skills, and relationship issues What marriage and family therapists (MFTs) do: • Work with people on issues like low selfesteem, stress, addiction • Listen and ask questions to help understand their clients’ problems • Help clients set personal goals and make plans to reach them Marriage and family therapists work with individuals, couples, and families with children.

Psychiatric technicians and aides are collaborative providers Typical duties of a psychiatric technician Typical duties of a psychiatric aide • Help to admit and discharge patients • Serve meals • Monitor vital signs • Keep facilities clean by doing tasks like changing bed linens • Help patients with daily activities, like bathing and • Participate in group eating activities, like playing games • Listen to a patient’s concerns • Help transport patients

Substance-abuse counselors work with people who have addictions Substance-abuse counselors might help clients: • Learn how to talk about their addiction • Develop a plan for recovering from their addiction • Set realistic goals for improving their lives Substance-abuse counselors work with individuals and groups. What do you think might be some of the challenges of being a substance-abuse counselor?

Art therapists use creative expression to help people improve their emotional well-being Creating art can help people: • Cope with stress, symptoms, and traumatic experiences • Find pleasure • Explore feelings and reconcile emotional conflicts Art therapists use a variety of mediums, like clay, pencils, and paint. Do you think you need to be an artistic person to enjoy the benefits of art therapy? Why or why not?

Helping people improve their emotional well-being can be very fulfilling • Psychiatrists use both psychotherapy and medication to treat patients with mental disorders. • Psychologists use psychotherapy to help people understand their emotions and make changes to their behavior. • Social workers help connect people with resources. • Marriage and family therapists help people tackle problems in their relationships. Why do you think people enter the field of mental health?