Each year, the mental health field becomes more and more diverse, dynamic, and adaptable to society’s changes. As our own awareness and understanding of what is involved with mental health grows, so too does the demand for skilled and compassionate professionals to join this field.
For a tertiary student, choosing the path of a mental health professional offers a wealth of benefits, from strong and reliable job prospects to opportunities to create a positive and lasting impact on people’s lives. The diversity of the mental health sector means there are multiple pathways towards joining it, from taking on a master’s degree in mental health nursing to a bachelor of nursing focusing on mental health outside clinical settings.
No matter someone’s skills, setting, and situation, the first step to joining a mental health profession is understanding what each career pathway entails.
Psychologist
A psychologist is a mental health professional who uses evidence-based psychological therapies to assess, diagnose, and treat patients. They help people (individuals, families, and groups) manage mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more.
In Australia, it is a relatively straightforward path to becoming a psychologist. First, you must complete an undergraduate degree in psychology, followed by one honours year. You can then complete a master’s or doctorate in psychology with supervised practice. Registration with the Psychology Board of Australia is the last and final step to becoming a psychologist.
Psychology can be a rewarding career, best suited to students who thrive on research, critical thinking, and in-depth therapeutic work.
Psychiatrist
Yes, the titles ‘psychologist’ and ‘psychiatrist’ are often used interchangeably. But the truth is, they are very different roles. The biggest difference? A psychiatrist is, in fact, a medical doctor, meaning they are qualified to prescribe medication and treatment to handle simple and complex mental illnesses and conditions. Psychiatrists can also lead multidisciplinary care teams, making their roles essential and variable day by day.
Compared to other careers in the mental health sector, the path to becoming a psychiatrist is longer and can be far more intensive. You will first need a medical degree, followed by a requisite internship and residency. Then, you will need specialist training, provided by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).
Do you have a strong interest in neuroscience and complex clinical decision-making? Then perhaps psychiatry may warrant further investigation. Yes, it can be demanding, but the role of a psychiatrist offers the unique opportunity to work in a space where mental and physical health intersect.
Mental Health Nurse
A career in mental health nursing builds upon the skills and duties of a registered nurse (RN) by specialising in the care and support necessary for people experiencing mental illness. The settings remain the same: hospitals, community clinics, outreach settings, and the like. A mental health nurse takes charge of administering medication while also monitoring a patient’s well-being, providing therapeutic support and patient advocacy within the healthcare system.
If this pathway interests you, then you will need to follow the traditional nursing route: a Bachelor of Nursing followed by registration. Follow these steps, and you can pursue the requisite postgraduate qualifications required to specialise in mental health nursing.
Again, like an RN, this career is often hands-on and people-focused, providing people with strong job security and flexibility. If you are the kind of student who thrives when the goal is building lasting relationships with patients, then a mental health nurse could be the role for you.
Social Worker
A social worker focuses on the various factors that can affect someone’s well-being, with social, emotional, and environmental factors being the main ones. For patients, they provide counselling, crisis support, case management, and advocacy. In more ways than one, social workers strive to ensure patients have extensive and reliable support beyond clinical settings. Social workers play a critical role in the mental health care system, given that they often work with patients and families facing complex challenges such as trauma, family violence, housing insecurity, and more.
How does one become a social worker, then? First, you must complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work that is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). This is then followed by considerable supervised practice. Like nursing, you can branch out and seek additional training in mental health speciality care.
Why choose social work for a career? If you are someone who is passionate about social justice, systemic change, and holistic care, then this is a career that provides the opportunity to engage with all three in tandem.
Counsellor
As a counsellor, you would provide support through talk-based therapies, helping people to navigate different mental issues like trauma, emotional distress, grief, and relationship challenges. The scope of practice in counselling is super broad, with a strong and vital focus on early intervention and continuous, ongoing support.
Typically, the path to becoming a counsellor involves receiving a diploma, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree in counselling. You will then need professional accreditation through an organisational body such as the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). Similar to a career in social work, counselling suits students who can communicate well with others and who value relational work that centres on the patient.
Explore All Your Options
A career in the mental health sector is not one single pathway, nor is it a one-size-fits-all space. Each career, from psychology to social work to counselling, offers diverse and unique opportunities to support the well-being of individuals and communities alike. The right path for you will depend on many things, namely your strengths, interests, passions, and academic preferences, among other things.
At the end of the day, the key to securing a healthcare career is holding determination while keeping an open mind. And being patient helps, too! The right career for you might not be apparent at first glance, so explore all the options available to you. Eventually, you will find a role for you that can be both meaningful and deeply rewarding.
