21 Dec Why You Should Resolve To Start A Career In Mental Health Services In 2019
Each year, one in five Americans suffer from a mental health illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. A serious fact, but you can do something about it in 2019. After the holiday season, you could be continuing the season of helping others by taking up a career in mental health services.
Mental health professionals serve a wide-range of roles, but all are equally rewarding. As a mental health services professional, you can be on the cutting edge of research and practice. You can build a stable career that helps people when they’re at their most vulnerable. Whether it’s one-on-one counseling, direct patient work, or research-driven psychology, inpatient or outpatient treatment, you can have an opportunity to make an impact.
Here are two reasons why 2019 is the year you should start a career in mental health services:
#1: An In-Demand Skillset
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) notes that, “mental health problems are among the most important contributors to the burden of disease and disability worldwide. Five of the 10 leading causes of disability worldwide are mental health problems.” Mental health professionals are in demand across the country, and around the world — in 2016, only 43 percent of Americans with mental health illness accessed treatment.
There are not enough mental health professionals to go around, and with so many Americans needing assistance, professionals will be more important than ever before. With anticipated professional growth of 23 percent by 2026, careers in mental health are improving as society realizes healthy minds are just as important as healthy bodies. There are so many opportunities in mental health services, you can find something that fits your personality — researching new practices or prescriptions; working with special needs children and their families; assisting adult individuals with intellectual disabilities; and many more opportunities.
#2: Improve Your Community
Beyond the stable career path, a career in mental services will be fulfilling work. You can help members of your community when they’re at their most vulnerable and provide guidance for them to get through their challenges. Whether it’s one-on-one counseling, direct patient work, or research-driven psychology, you can have an opportunity to make an impact. As ILO notes, “disability not only affects individuals but also impacts on the entire community.” In 2019, you could improve your local community as a mental health professional. You can improve the opportunities of your neighbors, friends, and other community members by ensuring they can have access to mental health services.
By starting a career in mental health services, you can champion the issues of your community as well. If you’d like to see improved services for individuals with intellectual disabilities, you can develop your expertise in that field. If you think veterans need more providers, you can find a career working with them. Perhaps your own family has been impacted by mental health illness, and you’ve found the services lacking — fill that gap with your own career opportunity. You can tailor your career to the services you’d like to see in your community.
Are you ready to come grow with us? For more information on joining the team at Pathways, click here for a list of job opportunities and to apply today!
Pathways of Pennsylvania has been serving communities in Pennsylvania since 1981. Every individual has a right to lead a meaningful and positive life, and we are changing lives, one day at a time. Pathways of Pennsylvania is comprised of four companies: Children’s Behavioral Health, Inc., Pathways Community Services, LLC, Raystown Developmental Services, Inc., and The ReDCo Group, Inc.