Aspiring mental health workers thread.

Keyboard Warrior · 13-07-2011, 10:04 PM

Or... AMHW's ;)

Any fellow AMHWs out there?

I have no idea what I'm doing, I think I'm just seeing where things take me. But if you are training in mental health, considering working in mental health or even currently working in mental health, post here!

one_step_closer · 13-07-2011, 10:26 PM

I have worked as a support worker both in the community and in 2 psychiatric inpatient wards. I'm hoping to go on to study clinical psychology next year after I complet my msc in psychology and mental health which I should hopefully be starting in September.

Bellatrix · 13-07-2011, 10:45 PM

*raises hand*

Clinical psychologist to be here.

whirlpools · 13-07-2011, 10:47 PM

I have been/am considering a career in Occupational Therapy (MH-related) or Art Therapy. Not sure I have the skills though. Time will tell!

shadow-light · 13-07-2011, 10:49 PM

I'm hoping to become a forensic psychologist

Bellatrix · 13-07-2011, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disappear

I have been/am considering a career in Occupational Therapy (MH-related) or Art Therapy. Not sure I have the skills though. Time will tell!

You can train really easily to be an OT, and then it's just about building up experience. They're so short on them atm though so it's a good time to get into it.

whirlpools · 13-07-2011, 10:53 PM

Thanks Jodie, I appreciate it. I think I would really need to get a lot of practice with my communication skills as they will naturally be very important for working in MH, so I need to try and build up my skills in voluntary work.

shadow-light · 13-07-2011, 10:55 PM

voluntry work is a good idea anyway, it's a great way to get experiance while still gaining the required qualification for the actual career.

Though I feel like a hypocrite saying that as I don't have an voluntry work right now lol, am looking though

Bellatrix · 13-07-2011, 10:55 PM

^ Yeah best way. I'm starting with Age UK next week and have an interview with Camden's Victim Support Services end of this month. It's becoming harder to volunteer as it costs money to train people... so try and get a foot in as soon as you feel able.

shadow-light · 13-07-2011, 10:58 PM

Victim Support Services sounds impressive, did you contact them to get that or were they looking for volunteeers?

Bellatrix · 13-07-2011, 11:05 PM

I contacted them. I know I want to work in an acute setting and I thought it would be a good way to get some client centred work experience... they're reluctant to let volunteers on the ward normally... although when I was IP we had a volunteer come in... I must look into that

shadow-light · 13-07-2011, 11:09 PM

I never feel brave enough to contact organisations myself... I did contact the YOT (youth offending team) recently and start doing some work for them in september, but I only did that as on their website it says that they welcome volunteers, and my mum used to work for them so I've actually met some of the people I'd be working with/for.

Bellatrix · 13-07-2011, 11:12 PM

^ My mother worked with them too and loved every second of it. Def look into it again :) Maybe email and see if they have more on?

All I know is falling. · 14-07-2011, 06:31 AM

I just finished my first year of university. My overall goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and deal with teenagers who are struggling with mental health problems.

I really love the course so far, I'm looking forward to going back in August.

[Luna] · 14-07-2011, 07:23 AM

I'm hoping to become a psychotherapist :)

Snow White. · 14-07-2011, 10:25 AM

I'm studying Psychology, third year student here. It's getting touuuughhhhh.

Busby · 14-07-2011, 10:41 AM

Hi, I feel like a beginner here, but I have btec in heath and social care, I want to be a mental health support worker and was told that the btec would start to open doors for me. I want to further my studies by doing a tailor made degree with the OU, hopefully starting later this year, or early next year depending on finances. I'm more interested in social care than health care.

I've been looking into Voluntary work, for people with mental health problems, particularly the homeless, or threatened with homeless. Still waiting for responses to my applications.

Pi.R^2 · 14-07-2011, 12:09 PM

I want to be a psychiatric nurse!
Alas I am doing a maths degree, but will maybe consider postgrad training? I dunno.

I want to do voluntary work with MH people, someone give me a poke to go find some?

shadow-light · 14-07-2011, 12:12 PM

go look at do-it.org :P though to be honest I very rarely seem to get a response from any of the things on that site

but there are that many voluntry oppotunities on there and some of them do get back to you so it's worth a try :)

Pi.R^2 · 14-07-2011, 02:01 PM

thank you hazel!