Mental health has been increasingly destigmatized over the past few decades, with people becoming more vocal about their experiences and the importance of self-care. While this trend is positive for everyone, it’s excellent news for those who dream of pursuing a career in the mental health field.
Working in mental health doesn’t just mean becoming a therapist. There are various job options in the field, from professor to writer to public speaker. In fact, USC has dedicated a doctoral program to helping people become leaders in the mental health landscape: the Doctor of Education in Mental Health Leadership (MHL) online program from the USC Rossier School of Education.
To learn more about the degree — and the wide-ranging job options for mental health professionals — USC Online spoke with two USC Rossier faculty members, Mary Andres and Theodore Burnes. Here’s what you need to know about the mental health field today.
What Are Mental Health Careers?
Those who work in the mental health field help others who are dealing with emotional and psychological challenges. That may mean diagnosing health issues, creating treatment plans and providing support. The ultimate goal is to promote mental well-being for every patient.
Most think of psychologists, therapists, social workers or counselors when they hear “mental health career,” but there are many lesser-known options, as well.
Do You Need a Doctorate to Work in Mental Health?
No, you don’t need a doctorate to work in mental health. Some jobs require only a bachelor’s degree, while many will require a master’s degree in a psychology-related field.
However, there are key benefits to earning a doctorate in mental health. Not only does a doctorate give you increased knowledge and the opportunity to increase your compensation, but the credentials themselves can also open more doors.
“You will have the added credibility of having a research-supported degree so that people know you’re speaking from an informed, educated place,” Andres said. “You’re not just giving your opinion, you have that education to back up what you’re saying.”
What Is the Doctor of Education in Mental Health Leadership?
The Doctor of Education in Mental Health Leadership is for professionals who want to pursue a leadership role in the mental health field like education, policy or administration. Students not only learn about mental health practices, but also advocacy, policy and societal effects, allowing them to assess mental health services holistically.
The MHL program explores problems of practice in the field and possible solutions so that students can become “transformational agents of change in the field of mental health,” Andres said.
The program is also unlike many other advanced degrees, particularly for those with a background in mental health services. Practitioners who have already completed a significant amount of clinical hours during their master’s degrees are able to advance their academic and professional careers without repeating the same work. This is different from traditional post-master’s programs like a PsyD, which requires an additional set of clinical hours.
“We really believe that leaders in mental health want doctorates, but they obviously don’t get them at pretty alarming rates because people don’t want to wipe out all the hours that they’ve gotten toward their master’s level licensure to get a doctoral-level license,” Burnes said.
The program is also appealing to those with master’s degrees who were trained to do clinical work with patients. However, they may feel they’re missing the skills to become a manager in an organization or a professor at a school. The Doctor of Education in Mental Health Leadership allows people to get that training in a short amount of time while continuing to practice with their master’s license, Burnes said.
Who Should Pursue a Doctor of Education in Mental Health Leadership?
Those interested in the program should have a master’s degree related to the field, such as psychology, social work, education or public health. Some experience with working in mental health or a leadership position is preferred as well.
In terms of personal skills, Andres emphasized that empathy and self-awareness are important traits for any mental health professional: “When I think about who makes successful colleagues, who makes successful leaders, oftentimes, it’s the person that knows how to take care of themselves so that they can first be well-resourced, and then they’re able to turn their attention and their care towards others.”
Burnes added that the program is ideal for students who want to make a positive impact on the field and work toward necessary change.
“I think there are individuals who are really thinking about … larger-scale solutions,” Burnes said. “They are leaders who are really wanting to not only analyze and critique existing infrastructure and mental health, but also who are really driven to think about solutions and changes.”
What Types of Mental Health Careers Are Available?
While most people pursuing a mental health career choose to become a psychologist, therapist, counselor or social worker, there are a diversity of options available, especially for those with a doctorate:
- Professors or teachers
- Pundits or public speakers
- Writers
- Consultants
- Government employees at the local, state or federal level
- Nonprofit leaders
- Hospital managers
- Clinical supervisors
- Program directors in mental health organizations
- Research analysts
- Policymakers
- Community leaders
What Is the Future of Mental Health Leadership?
The mental health field will likely see promising job growth, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting mental health-related professions will grow faster than the average of other occupations from 2023 to 2032.
Burnes also predicts it will be a good field for job options and stability, due to an increasing demand for mental health services. As there has been an uptick in high-profile acts of violence and injustice often caused by mental health issues, mental health is top of mind for many.
“What I tell people all the time is, if you are interested in mental health, you are also interested in job security,” Burnes said. “I wish that weren’t the case, but we, unfortunately, are in a public mental health crisis right now.”
Andres noted that although that may sound stressful, most people in the field are passionate about what they do.
“The nice thing about the field of mental health is that I know therapists well into their 80s who are working and thriving. … I think in leadership, it’s the same thing in academic positions. There’s a lot of faculty that stay on well past retirement age because they just enjoy the work so much,” she concluded.
Learn more about the Doctor of Education in Mental Health Leadership (MHL) online program today.