Careers in mental health

Psychological wellbeing, also referred to as mental health, is the ability to manage your moods and feelings. Experiencing great amounts of stress, negative emotions or physical pain, can affect your overall mental health. This can affect rational thinking, decision-making and emotional regulation, which can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms and other physical or mental health problems.

It is important to note that a person can experience bad days or periods, and still have good overall emotional wellness. Mental illnesses often have deeper causes like a chemical imbalance or trauma.

Emotional resilience is built with good emotional regulation, awareness, and coping skills. Strategies to improve emotional health can be taught to, and used by, people with or without a mental illness.

Although is not always easy, it can be a very rewarding career path for those who are dedicated to improving the lives of others.

There are a variety of different occupations within this sector. Some roles will require you to help others to identify and create emotional resilience, recognise and process both positive and negative emotions, and to cope with stress and life challenges. 

Other roles require more extensive training and leads to diagnosing and treating mental health conditions.

"Mental health is a state of [emotional] wellbeing that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. It has intrinsic and instrumental value and is integral to our wellbeing." 

World Health Organisation