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Mental health and disability

The field of mental health-related issues offers a broad range of opportunities in a variety of settings.

Positions exist for individuals with all levels of education and experience. Many of the occupations involve face-to-face contact with people with mental health issues or disabilities, but there are also many that do not.

Individuals who work in this field have the opportunity to work with other caring professionals, and to perform work that has a positive impact on the lives of others. Advances in scientific research and technology continue to enhance the treatment and services to this population. Opportunities in this field will continue to grow much faster than the average.

What opportunities exist?

Job opportunities can be divided into clinical and non-clinical.

Clinical positions

Clinicians provide direct service or treatment to clients with mental health and disability issues, and are available for professionals at all educational levels.

Jobs which require a high school diploma and on-the-job training, or an associate degree generally work under the direction of professionals in nursing, psychology, psychiatry, vocational rehabilitation, social work, physical rehabilitation, or adaptive technology.

They include titles such as:

  • mental health assistant
  • recreation worker
  • crisis intervention worker
  • home health aide
  • childcare worker
  • residential counselor
  • case management aide
  • gerontology aide
  • life skills worker
  • paraprofessional
  • sign language interpreter
  • human services assistant

Other roles require a minimum of a bachelor's degree, and in many cases a master's degree such as:

  • clinical psychologist
  • school psychologist
  • psychiatric nurse
  • mental health counselor
  • social worker
  • case manager
  • psychiatrist
  • physical therapist
  • occupational therapist
  • agency executive director
  • vocational counselor

Some positions in psychiatry and psychology require doctorates, licenses, and/or certifications.

Non-clinical positions

Indirect support service positions include accounting, advocacy, office management, computer and network operations, meeting planning, fundraising (development), public relations, human resources, marketing research, design and development of adaptive equipment and/or software, research, and lobbying to name just a few.

Do you have what it takes?

To be successful in this field the following attributes are necessary:

  • Good physical and emotional health
  • A genuine liking for people
  • An understanding of people's fears and needs
  • Tolerance and empathy
  • Ability to deal with confidential information appropriately
  • Reliability and a sense of responsibility
  • Flexibility and a good sense of humor

Ask yourself these questions:

  • Do I possess excellent communication skills?
  • Can I handle exposure to pain and suffering?
  • Can I handle exposure to mental disturbance and human sorrow?
  • Am I willing to continually update myself on advances and changes in the field?
  • Am I willing to earn advanced degrees and certifications if necessary?
  • Am I willing to work evenings or weekends, or be "on-call" if that is required?
  • Am I able to be encouraging while still allowing people to make their own decisions?

What are the rewards?

Both monetary and non-monetary rewards are important.

Salaries and wages

The monetary rewards vary greatly from low salaries for entry-level positions, especially in small local organizations, to very high salaries in highly specialized areas such as psychology or psychiatry. Agency executive directors in large regional or national organizations may also be highly compensated. Salary ranges will also vary based upon geographic location. Salaries tend to be lower in social service and human services organizations, and more competitive in healthcare settings, research organizations, foundations and professional associations.

Other rewards

The non-monetary rewards may include:

  • Opportunities for career advancement
  • Coworkers who tend to be pleasant associates
  • Satisfaction from positively impacting the health and welfare of others
  • A certain prestige that comes with working in fields that require licensure and/or certification
  • The opportunity to work as part of a team with other caring and committed individuals

Where can I do this work?

The work settings in this field are highly diverse, and fall into three basic categories.

  • Those providing direct treatment or service to clients.
  • Those that raise money to support the field and/or provide advocacy.
  • Those that conduct research related to mental health and disabilities.

Direct service

Those that provide direct treatment or service can be found at the local, regional or national level, while those that raise money or conduct research are usually found at the regional or national level.

The majority of opportunities will be found in settings that provide some type of direct treatment or service to those with mental health or disability challenges:

  • Community mental health organizations
  • Treatment centers for substance abusers
  • Hospitals
  • Residential treatment centers
  • Nursing homes
  • Outpatient clinics
  • Organizations that provide in home services
  • Group homes for developmentally disabled
  • Sheltered workshops
  • Adult day care programs
  • Shelters for homeless, runaway children, or victims of domestic violence
  • Rehabilitation facilities
  • Halfway houses
  • Schools for special needs populations
  • Public and private schools that provide services and programs for special needs populations

These facilities may be government run, or may receive some funding from government sources. Others may be funded by private or religious organizations. Here are some selected Web sites:

  • Perkins School for the Blind provides diagnostic and educational services to persons who are blind and/or possess multiple disabilities.
  • National Industries for the Blind creates employment opportunities for the blind.
  • Landmark College is a college for high potential students with learning disabilities and AD/HD.
  • KidsPeace provides residential and outpatient treatment and education for children and adolescents with behavioral and mental health issues.
  • Center for Independent Living of Central PA is a nonresidential organization that offers services to people with disabilities to empower them to participate fully in society. There are many CIL organizations across the U.S.

Indirect service

Work settings that do not provide direct service include advocacy groups, professional organizations, scientific and research organizations, and foundations.

Note that even if the organization offers direct service, it still probably employs staff in indirect service roles.

Here are some sites to check out:

How do I find out more?

The field of mental health and disability-related issues is very broad and the associated occupational opportunities are exceptionally diverse. Changes within the field are occurring rapidly as scientific research and technology lead to advancements in the prevention, treatment and services available to this population. It is important to understand that while one area in particular may not suit you, another might be the perfect fit providing a challenging and rewarding career. Learning as much as you can, particularly before embarking on advanced degrees and specializations, is extremely important. Here are a number of ways to find out more about this field:

Career resource books:

  • Careers in Social and Rehabilitation Services by Geraldine Garner
  • Great Jobs for Psychology Majors by Julie DeGalan and Stephen Lambert

Works of fiction that deal with mental health issues or disabilities:

  • The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
  • Ten Things I Learned from Bill Porter by Shelly Brady and William Macy
  • Saving Bernice by Jody Raphael