Lesson 2: Is the Mental Health field the right career for me? Attention Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:
Teaching What is Mental Health? (Watch this video)
This is a great video on the topic of Mental Health and what it takes to be a mentally healthy person...the KVCC Mental Health program is designed to provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary to work with individuals who have Mental Health diagnoses, or Mental Illness. What is Mental Illness? Mental Illnesses or Mental Disorders are diagnosable medical conditions that directly or indirectly impact a person's Mental Health. The field of Psychology defines "Abnormal Behavior" in a number of ways:
There are a lot of human behaviors that fit into these categories.
What each of these examples shows is that "Abnormal" is defined not only by the nature of the behavior but also by its context in a society and how it impacts a person's life. Mental Illness, as we address it in this field, can be said to meet ALL of these criteria. Mental Illness is said to be chronic (it lasts a long time), persistent (it may never go away or it may continue to come back in cycles), and pervasive (the symptoms are so severe that they impact many major life functions.) Recovery and Rehabilitation The basic premise of the field essentially follows along the lines of these statements:
Diversity In this field you will encounter a wide diversity of individuals. This diversity expresses itself in economic differences, values differences, political differences, gender and sexual orientation differences, religious differences, criminal history, health and psychiatric history, etc. The general viewpoint of professionals in the helping fields comes from the work of Carl Rogers and his concept of Unconditional Positive Regard. Read this Wiki on Unconditional Positive Regard. What does it mean to work in Human Services? The field is deeply connected to a profoundly "liberal" point of view in terms of service provision and the responsibility for government funded services to be available to persons in need. The system is imperfect and those of who work in it need to understand that not all those who get services and benefits need them and that not all who need them, get them. Human Services Professionals A strong desire to help others is an important consideration for a job as a human services worker. Individuals who show patience, understanding, and caring in their dealings with others are highly valued by employers. Other important personal traits include communication skills, a strong sense of responsibility, and the ability to manage time effectively. Where Human Services Professionals Work? Despite differences in what they are called and what they do, human services professionals generally perform under the direction of professional staff. Those employed in mental health settings, for example, may be assigned to assist a treatment team made up of social workers, psychologists, and other human services professionals. The amount of responsibility these workers assume and the degree of supervision they receive vary a great deal. Some workers are on their own most of the time and have little direct supervision; others work under close direction. Human services professionals work in community, residential care, or institutional settings provide direct services such as leading a group, organizing an activity, or offering individual counseling. They may handle some administrative support tasks, too. Specific job duties reflect organizational policy and staffing patterns, as well as the worker's educational preparation and experience. Changes in the reimbursement criteria for Case Management and Community Integration services in the State of Maine have brought about changes in the kind of work that MHRT/Cs will do. Different agencies may define these roles in different ways. So, is the Mental Health field the right career for you? That is the question in front of you right now. In my experience the following criteria are critical to take into consideration when contemplating this question:
If these 10 characteristics seem to resonate with you, then this field may very well be for you! Assessment Lesson 2 Quiz Please answer all of the questions in this quiz. They relate to the Lesson and any links within the Lesson. Lesson 2 Survey This survey has you rate yourself on a scale in regard to the 10 criteria discussed at the end of the teaching session above. Be sure to record your results on this survey and discuss them below. Describe the differences between "mental health" and "mental illness" both from your own perspective and from what you have learned in the video. Share a bit about the personal experiences you have that help you to understand mental illness or may even limit or bias your understanding of mental illness. Lesson 2 Discussion B Based on the results of the survey and the reading in this Lesson, discuss how your personality and values are a fit (or not) in the field of Mental Health. Do you feel that this is a field that you are interested in and can do well in? Consider the diversity that you will encounter in this field (among clients and fellow staff alike). Do you think you can embody the concept of Unconditional Positive Regard in your professional practice?
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