Are you considering taking up a mental health degree? Do you want to find reasons to study this emotionally fulfilling career path?
Our mental health greatly affects how we interact with the world, so it’s only understandable to know more about it.
Let’s look at five reasons to study a mental health-related degree.
There’s an alarming rise of people experiencing depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues in Australia.
According to a report released by Australian Institute for Health and Welfare (AIHW), one in five people experienced mental and behavioural conditions in 2017-2018.
In New South Wales, one in eight people experience anxiety-related conditions. One in ten had depression or experienced bouts similar to depression.
With a global pandemic, millions of people feel the adverse effects impacting their lives, spiking mental health issues alongside it.
Needless to say, mental health specialists are important now more than ever to assist a growing population of citizens.
Whether it’s helping the population to fight against stigmatization, promoting aid for cross-cultural care, or support by other various means, a mental health specialist provides a much-needed lending hand of support for these lives.
A report by BeyondBlue shared some key findings. Over 91% of Australian employees believe mental wellbeing in the workplace is important (compared to 88% who find physical health more important).
Despite that, the same population stated that only 52% of employees believe their workplace is mentally healthy, compared to 76% for physical safety.
What’s more, 75% of Australian employees believe that workplaces should provide support for someone who is experiencing anxiety and depression.
Not only does promoting mental health make for pleasant and happy employees, but it also increases productivity among teams.
Over 72% of respondents believe that an organisation that promotes positive mental health is conducive to a productive environment. (71% leaders, 72% employees)
Needless to say, a person who specialises in mental health can be a quiet but vital asset for any team.
So to leaders who rule with an iron fist, awareness of the importance of mental health is key.
Never underestimate the power of taking care of the mental health needs of your company.
While the IT and tech industries look like lucrative career paths, not everyone is destined to land in that field. At the end of the day, we’re all just humans that have basic needs that need to be met.
But let’s face it, leveraging technology is an incredibly potent asset in this day and age. And marrying both technology and mental health services is a tool that can be leveraged to great advantage.
One example is telehealth, which allows you to connect with professionals with just your smartphone or PC. It handles close to all the informational processing, locked behind secure software, and connects you with mental health specialists remotely.
Another great way to use technology is to scour the internet online for related courses, like the mental health course from Train Smart.
With courses, you can study a done-for-you mental health course at the comfort of your own home. Train Smart’s courses, in particular, are achievable in 12 months either individually or online — whichever best suits your needs.
A mental health-related course like psychology will equip you with specialised knowledge in key areas in the mental health industry. Some of these knowledge bases include understanding your and others’ wellbeing needs, learning what to do during crises, and providing actionable wellness plans for clients.
Aside from learning many technical skills, you can also learn many core competencies and soft skills too. This may include:
Observation skills - learning to distinguish people’s needs at the moment with verbal and nonverbal cues
Genuineness - provide appropriate and well-meaning responses to patients
Strong communication skills - written and oral skills to better relay info to clients and agencies
Empathy - understanding and practicing emotional receptiveness to a client’s needs
Suicide prevention - practical steps against suicide
Effective interpersonal skills - develop skills to interact with people
With those competencies, you can gain insights on people not just during practice, but out in the real world too.
Just like any life-changing decision, you have to stop and reflect on the action you’re about to take. Choosing a mental health degree is no different. This is especially true since the course itself deals with understanding why people behave the way they do.
Ask questions that get in touch with your motives. Some examples are listed below:
Is it because I want to help others and heal the world?
Do I want to understand myself?
What do I want to do with a mental health degree in the first place?
Will I find happiness and fulfillment in this course?
Are external forces driving me to take up this course?
While you don’t have to be a perfect human to help others, practicing self-introspection can shed light to you and answer the ultimate question: “Am I pursuing a mental health degree for myself, or for others?”
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