Working in the mental health sector can be an incredibly rewarding career. But as with a career in any field, it's important you put in the effort and take the steps needed to set yourself up for success. If you are considering a career in mental health, there are some steps you can take to prepare yourself early and give yourself the best start before you even begin.
Start Practicing Self-Care Early
Working in the mental health sector means you need to be able to care for your patients' mental health. To look after another person's mental health, you need to make sure you are first looking after your own. Self-care means doing activities that improve your well-being and better both your physical and mental health. Small acts of self-care can have a large impact on your life; you can increase your energy, lower your risk of illness, and manage your stress levels.
Self-care can take the form of regular physical exercise, which offers plenty of health benefits, such as helping prevent health conditions and diseases, improving your mood, boosting your energy, and helping you sleep better. The risk of conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, and some cancers can all be lowered by regular exercise. Exercise can also improve your own mental health and your cognitive function.
Another form of self-care is to practice meditation. Meditation can benefit your health both mentally and physically. It can help you manage stress, become more self-aware, and reduce negative feelings. Working in mental health can be stressful at times, and getting into the habit of meditating early will prepare you to combat this stress.
Other ways to practice self-care include eating a healthy diet, prioritizing sleep, staying connected with friends and family, and practicing gratitude. Incorporating self-care into your lifestyle will hugely benefit you when you begin working in the mental health sector.
Build a Network of Like-Minded Professionals
Building relationships and career networking for mental health professionals are incredibly important for both establishing a support network and furthering your career development. Networking can connect you with like-minded professionals, which has numerous benefits. Building professional relationships through networking can give you access to job opportunities, resources and information, and career advice. You can gain a competitive edge in your career through your connections.
Working in the mental health sector can sometimes be challenging. Networking can help you to establish a support network. You can connect with other professionals in the mental health sector through shared experiences. These individuals can offer you support and advice when needed.
There are several ways in which you can build your network. You can create a LinkedIn profile and intentionally reach out to other mental health professionals online. Another way to network is to attend in-person events and conferences. There are many events purely for the purpose of networking. You can meet other people working in the mental health sector as well as industry leaders. These events provide you with the opportunity to build relationships in real life. Joining a professional association or community is another way to network. Clubs such as the American Psychiatric Association provide their members with networking opportunities that non-members do not have access to. If you work in the mental health sector, you should consider joining a similar association that is relevant to your specialization.
Prepare Yourself for Confronting Conversations and Situations
Working in the mental health sector means you are likely to experience confronting conversations and situations at some point in your career. You may be exposed to uncomfortable situations, extremely difficult cases, hostile patients, and more. It is important that you prepare yourself to handle these situations. It is difficult to know how you will react in certain scenarios, but you can educate yourself on what to do if you find yourself having experienced a confronting situation.
Firstly, you must recognize what you have experienced. Acknowledging what you went through and the emotional impact the situation is having on you is crucial. You should look out for symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, flashbacks, a negative mood, and disassociation. Recognizing your symptoms is the first step in getting help.
Secondly, you need to prioritize your recovery. You can talk to your colleagues and managers and inform them of what you are going through. You can also reach out to family and friends for support. Recovery can take time, and patience with yourself is crucial. Seeing a therapist can help you work through recovering from traumatizing events.
To further prepare yourself for confronting conversations and situations, you can research scenarios that you may encounter. This will make you more prepared and allow you to learn how to act appropriately.
Master Your Communication Skills
A career in mental health requires many skills, and one of the most important is communication. Communication is an essential skill in many mental health roles, so you must be able to speak clearly with intent and confidence. Listening is another important aspect of communication, and you must learn how to listen to your patients in a nonjudgmental way.
There are several ways to improve your verbal communication skills. You can practice using reflection, which is when you paraphrase and restate what a person has just said to you to ensure that you understand. You can also practice clarification and seek more information by asking questions to inform your understanding. To make sure you are asking the right questions, you can work on your questioning skills. When using verbal communication, it is important that you communicate appropriately to your audience. For example, if speaking to a child, you would choose a different tone of voice and words than an adult.
Listening is a communication skill that is equally as important as speaking. We spend 45 percent of our time listening. Active listening requires focus and concentration. To show that you are actively listening, you can use both verbal signs and body language. You can smile, make eye contact, refrain from fidgeting, and mirror the speaker. You can also question, remember what the speaker has said, and give positive reinforcement.
You can begin practicing your communication skills with your friends and family and the people you interact with to master your communication skills before beginning your mental health career.
Set Yourself Up for Success
Working in the mental health sector is a profession that has many rewards as well as challenges. If you follow the tips above, you can give yourself a head start and feel more prepared for your career in mental health.