Mental Health Courses

What is mental health?

Mental health encompasses social and psychological wellbeing, and the ability to handle everyday stressors. One in five Australians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, and the detrimental effects associated with it. Seeking help from a professional is one of the best ways to treat such issues, and can be found at clinics, schools, hospitals, universities, government agencies and businesses.

Since mental illness has become more accepted in recent year, people are more likely to see a professional, and subsequently, employment in Australia for these roles are expected to grow in the next ten years.

Qualities and skills needed for a mental health worker

Apart from having knowledge of mental illness, and their respective treatments, mental health workers need to have empathy above all else. To be empathetic is to listen carefully to your clients and learn more about who they are and their issues. You’ll also need to communicate psychological concepts in simple terms, and be aware of other significant factors that can influence their treatment, such as cultural safety and other community services that the client can take advantage of.

Duties of mental health

While your responsibilities will differ depending on your role, here are some that those in the mental health sector generally conduct:

• Conversing with clients, to gather knowledge on their experiences and thought patterns
• Collaborate with them to set goals and establish a treatment plan
• Explore the factors that influence your clients’ wellbeing, like family matters, school and work stress, substance use, etc, and help them become more aware of these issues.

Jobs in the mental health sector

• Psychologist
• Psychiatrist 
• Occupational therapist
• Counsellor 
• Social worker
• Psychiatric nurse
• Social service worker
• Disabilities service officer

Training and education

The jobs above all require a qualification of some kind, typically further education at a university or training institutes. Though not necessary for all the relevant roles, work placement is also commonly integrated into the programs, providing you with the chance to apply your knowledge and understand how to navigate high-pressure situations.

To become a psychologist, psychiatrist or occupational therapist, you’ll need to complete a master’s degree, but at training.co.nz, we offer short online courses to qualify you for other roles or to simply introduce yourself to the mental health sector.

Explore our mental health courses today.