4 answers
Meadow
Student
Manhattan, Kansas
1
Question
Asked
350 views
What should I do to learn more about mental health and the careers related to it?
I'm a college freshman and I want to go into the mental health field but I'm not sure what path to take to learn more about the mental health part of psychology. I'm not sure if I should go into social work to learn about working with people, or if there is another path I can take to learn more about mental health and the careers that come with it.
Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it!
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4 answers
Yasmin Mohamed Alamin
Clinical Nutrition Student
63
Answers
Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Updated
Yasmin’s Answer
Hi! It’s great that you’re thinking about your path in mental health early on. There are many ways to explore the field, and it really depends on what aspects interest you most.
If you’re curious about working directly with people and providing support, social work or counseling can be a good starting point. On the other hand, if you’re interested in understanding the science behind mental health, psychology, neuroscience, or clinical research might be a better fit.
You can also learn outside of classes:
1. Volunteer or intern at mental health organizations, hospitals, or community centers.
2. Join student clubs focused on psychology or mental health advocacy.
3. Take online courses or webinars on topics like clinical psychology, mental health first aid, or counseling techniques.
The key is to explore different paths while gaining practical experience. Over time, you’ll get a clearer idea of the role you enjoy most and the type of career that fits you.
If you’re curious about working directly with people and providing support, social work or counseling can be a good starting point. On the other hand, if you’re interested in understanding the science behind mental health, psychology, neuroscience, or clinical research might be a better fit.
You can also learn outside of classes:
1. Volunteer or intern at mental health organizations, hospitals, or community centers.
2. Join student clubs focused on psychology or mental health advocacy.
3. Take online courses or webinars on topics like clinical psychology, mental health first aid, or counseling techniques.
The key is to explore different paths while gaining practical experience. Over time, you’ll get a clearer idea of the role you enjoy most and the type of career that fits you.
Michelle M.
Actress
3276
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Meadow !
Mental Health is human behavior which is psychology. If you are a Freshman in college, did you enroll as an Undeclared Major ? Now would be the time to discover the exact career you want so that you can Major in something that connects with the path you need to take and the career. Your first step would be to take Introduction to psychology next semester or in the summer if your college offers summer sessions.
With a Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Clinical Psychology, you can be a Psychologist. To be a Psychiatrist, you'd have to go to Medical School after you obtain your Bachelors Degree. To be a Mental Health Counselor you'd need a Masters Degree, but any mental heath/behavioral health career is best to begin with a degree in Psychology as the foundation and perhaps making the Masters path more smooth.
To be a Social Worker, you can obtain a Bachelors Degree in Social Work or Psychology and a Masters in Clinical Social Work. All of the careers I have mentioned work with people as you were wondering about. You would work with mild to chronic severely mentalis ill people and as a Psychologist, in addition to seeing patients, you would do formal assessment testing on individuals that need testing for developmental disabilities and other mental or learning disorders. As a Psychiatrist, you would be allowed to prescribe medication to mentally ill patients as well as therapy.
The information about these careers is very lengthy to write here, so I will refer you to a book and videos that can easily give you a clear view. One book that you can read is Careers in Mental Health: Opportunities in Psychology, Counseling, and Social Work by Kim Metz.
It's often very helpful to watch presentation videos about careers. I left links below to some videos for you to watch. In addition, the Psychology Department may have some books available or your campus Library. That would be the best way to understand the basic careers and what each position does.
Because you've mentioned it, there is no path to take at college to figure out what you'd want to do in the mental health field. You should decide the career first and then you'd know which "path" to take and what to major in. You can become familiar with the careers by reading about them online and the book I mentioned, watching videos and asking focused questions here about one career at a time. I think that you'll soon be more acquainted with the careers and I do hope this has helped.
Best wishes in all you do !
ABOUT BEING A PSYCHIATRIST https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=what+it%27s+like+being+a+psychiatrist
ABOUT BEING A PSYCHOLOGIST https://youtu.be/wgZwf0W5cLc?si=IfglhZ3F7mJBbQxZ
WHAT PSYCHOLOGISTS DO https://youtu.be/SPtCkhh1ZUo?si=AWVF3L-O6YhSxLP9
ABOUT BEING A SOCIAL WORKER https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=what+it%27s+like+to+be+a+social+worker
Mental Health is human behavior which is psychology. If you are a Freshman in college, did you enroll as an Undeclared Major ? Now would be the time to discover the exact career you want so that you can Major in something that connects with the path you need to take and the career. Your first step would be to take Introduction to psychology next semester or in the summer if your college offers summer sessions.
With a Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Clinical Psychology, you can be a Psychologist. To be a Psychiatrist, you'd have to go to Medical School after you obtain your Bachelors Degree. To be a Mental Health Counselor you'd need a Masters Degree, but any mental heath/behavioral health career is best to begin with a degree in Psychology as the foundation and perhaps making the Masters path more smooth.
To be a Social Worker, you can obtain a Bachelors Degree in Social Work or Psychology and a Masters in Clinical Social Work. All of the careers I have mentioned work with people as you were wondering about. You would work with mild to chronic severely mentalis ill people and as a Psychologist, in addition to seeing patients, you would do formal assessment testing on individuals that need testing for developmental disabilities and other mental or learning disorders. As a Psychiatrist, you would be allowed to prescribe medication to mentally ill patients as well as therapy.
The information about these careers is very lengthy to write here, so I will refer you to a book and videos that can easily give you a clear view. One book that you can read is Careers in Mental Health: Opportunities in Psychology, Counseling, and Social Work by Kim Metz.
It's often very helpful to watch presentation videos about careers. I left links below to some videos for you to watch. In addition, the Psychology Department may have some books available or your campus Library. That would be the best way to understand the basic careers and what each position does.
Because you've mentioned it, there is no path to take at college to figure out what you'd want to do in the mental health field. You should decide the career first and then you'd know which "path" to take and what to major in. You can become familiar with the careers by reading about them online and the book I mentioned, watching videos and asking focused questions here about one career at a time. I think that you'll soon be more acquainted with the careers and I do hope this has helped.
Best wishes in all you do !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1186
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Meadow,
That's a really intelligent question, and it makes perfect sense to be unsure at this point. It's actually a great place to start if you're a freshman in college and are already intentionally thinking about how to explore mental health rather than just choosing a subject. Your current goal is exposure and clarity, not commitment, so you don't need to have everything mapped out yet.
Learning about mental health from a variety of perspectives before focusing on just one is a wonderful place to start. Public health, psychiatry, psychology, social work, counseling, and even education all deal with mental health, though in various ways. While social work is firmly rooted in direct human connection, systems, and advocacy, psychology typically focuses more on understanding behavior, assessment, and research. Neither is "better"; they just develop unique skill sets. Exploring both viewpoints in the early stages through seminars, guest talks, and campus events is acceptable (and wise).
Hands-on experience outside of the classroom is when things begin to make sense. Look out for volunteer positions or part-time employment that places you in close contact with mental health settings, such as crisis hotlines, peer support programs, youth mentoring, hospitals, community NGOs, or counseling offices on campus. These encounters give you a genuine understanding of what it's like to engage with people in difficult situations and enable you to distinguish between what gives you energy and what zaps it. That self-awareness is priceless.
Additionally, you should speak with those who are currently working on the project. Ask professors, academic advisers, graduate students, or experts in social work and psychology about their daily lives. The majority of individuals are surprisingly responsive to educational discussions, and learning about their experiences can often offer clarification that textbooks are unable to provide. You can map out various occupations in mental health and the education needed for each, with the assistance of career services offices.
Above all, allow yourself to freely explore. Many students go on to have fulfilling jobs despite delaying their decision between psychology, social work, or counseling until later in college or even after graduation. Your current task is to maintain your curiosity, get visibility, and honestly consider the kind of influence you hope to have and how you hope to do it.
You're asking the right questions at the appropriate moment. Don't rush the decision; instead, continue to lean toward discovery and have faith that experience will provide clarity.
Best wishes!
That's a really intelligent question, and it makes perfect sense to be unsure at this point. It's actually a great place to start if you're a freshman in college and are already intentionally thinking about how to explore mental health rather than just choosing a subject. Your current goal is exposure and clarity, not commitment, so you don't need to have everything mapped out yet.
Learning about mental health from a variety of perspectives before focusing on just one is a wonderful place to start. Public health, psychiatry, psychology, social work, counseling, and even education all deal with mental health, though in various ways. While social work is firmly rooted in direct human connection, systems, and advocacy, psychology typically focuses more on understanding behavior, assessment, and research. Neither is "better"; they just develop unique skill sets. Exploring both viewpoints in the early stages through seminars, guest talks, and campus events is acceptable (and wise).
Hands-on experience outside of the classroom is when things begin to make sense. Look out for volunteer positions or part-time employment that places you in close contact with mental health settings, such as crisis hotlines, peer support programs, youth mentoring, hospitals, community NGOs, or counseling offices on campus. These encounters give you a genuine understanding of what it's like to engage with people in difficult situations and enable you to distinguish between what gives you energy and what zaps it. That self-awareness is priceless.
Additionally, you should speak with those who are currently working on the project. Ask professors, academic advisers, graduate students, or experts in social work and psychology about their daily lives. The majority of individuals are surprisingly responsive to educational discussions, and learning about their experiences can often offer clarification that textbooks are unable to provide. You can map out various occupations in mental health and the education needed for each, with the assistance of career services offices.
Above all, allow yourself to freely explore. Many students go on to have fulfilling jobs despite delaying their decision between psychology, social work, or counseling until later in college or even after graduation. Your current task is to maintain your curiosity, get visibility, and honestly consider the kind of influence you hope to have and how you hope to do it.
You're asking the right questions at the appropriate moment. Don't rush the decision; instead, continue to lean toward discovery and have faith that experience will provide clarity.
Best wishes!
Tosha Covington
LCDC
11
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Tosha’s Answer
There are many ways to explore mental health careers. When I was trying to figure out what i wanted to do i actually worked at a mental health "psychiatric hospital" as a tech ", support staff". This allowed me to see all the age ranges and severity of mental health issues. It allowed me to see the different diagnosis in person and connect with all kinds of counselors and therapists. I am a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (Drug Counselor). I have a BS in Criminology and Psychology. I specialize in trauma, mental health and the prison system as it relates to substance use. This has allowed me to work on mental health hospitals, inpatient/out patient rehabilitation centers and the prisons.